Iran alone is responsible for nearly 80% of global executions in 2025, the report

A new Amnesty International report has revealed a dramatic increase in executions worldwide in 2025, with the total number of documented state executions reaching a 44-year high. The report highlights the central role of Iran, which alone accounts for nearly 80% of all recorded executions worldwide.

According to Amnesty International, at least 2,707 executions were carried out in 17 countries in 2025, a staggering 78% increase from the 1,519 executions documented in 2024. Iran was responsible for at least 2,159 of those executions — more than double the total of at least 972 the previous year.

Iran is escalating the use of the death penalty

The report said Iran sharply accelerated executions during the second half of 2025, particularly after tensions and hostilities with Israel escalated in June. Amnesty recorded 654 executions from January to June, compared to 1,505 executions from July to December.

Human rights observers say the increase reflects the Iranian government’s growing reliance on the death penalty as a tool of political control and intimidation during a period of domestic unrest and regional conflict. The report also notes that official figures may underestimate the true scale of executions, as additional death sentences and alleged secret executions have yet to be documented.

Almost half of Iran’s executions have reportedly been linked to drug-related offences. The report argued that such executions violate international human rights standards that limit the use of the death penalty to only the “most serious crimes”.

Global trends in the death penalty

Outside of Iran, several other countries also reported high executions in 2025. Saudi Arabia recorded at least 356 executions, surpassing its own figures from 2024. Yemen carried out at least 51 executions, while the United States recorded 47.

Additional performance totals included:

* Egypt — 23 executions

* Somalia — 17 executions

* Kuwait — 17 executions

* Singapore — 17 executions

* Afghanistan – 6 executions

* United Arab Emirates — 3 executions

* South Sudan – 1 execution

Notably, the report does not include China, where thousands of executions are believed to take place each year. Amnesty International says the Chinese government continues to treat death penalty statistics as a state secret, making independent verification impossible.