Iran alone accounts for nearly 80% of worldwide executions in 2025, says report

Amnesty International’s 2025 report documents a record 2,707 state executions across 17 countries, the highest in 44 years. Iran alone accounted for 2,159 of these, nearly 80% of the global total, up from 972 in 2024—a 127% increase. The spike occurred primarily in the second half of the year, with executions rising from 654 in the first half to 1,505 in the latter months, following escalated tensions with Israel in June. The report attributes Iran’s surge to its use of the death penalty as a tool for political control amid domestic unrest and regional conflicts. Nearly half of Iran’s executions were linked to drug-related offenses, which Amnesty International argues violate international human rights standards restricting capital punishment to the 'most serious crimes.' Observers warn the figures may underrepresent the true scale, as secret executions or undocumented cases could remain unaccounted for. Outside Iran, Saudi Arabia recorded 356 executions, Yemen 51, and the U.S. 47. Other countries with documented executions included Somalia (17), Singapore (17), Afghanistan (6), the UAE (3), and South Sudan (1). China, where thousands of executions are believed to occur annually, was excluded due to its refusal to disclose death penalty statistics. The report highlights a global trend of rising executions, with Iran’s dramatic increase overshadowing other nations. Human rights advocates emphasize the need for international pressure to curb the use of capital punishment, particularly in countries where it is employed for non-violent or politically motivated offenses. Amnesty International called for immediate moratoriums on executions worldwide, urging governments to align with international standards. The organization also stressed the importance of transparency in reporting execution data to prevent abuses and ensure accountability.