The death penalty saw a significant surge globally in 2025, with documented executions reaching their highest level since 1981. According to Amnesty International’s report, at least 2,707 people were executed worldwide, though this figure likely underestimates the total due to China’s secretive practices.
Iran led the increase, with execution rates doubling compared to 2024, when it accounted for over half of all documented executions globally. This was followed by Saudi Arabia and Yemen, which saw their execution numbers rise sharply as well.
The report noted that while Iran had the highest number of executions at least 2,159, other countries like Saudi Arabia (356), Egypt (47), and the U.S. (47) also recorded significant increases. Kuwait saw nearly tripled executions from 2024 to 2025, and Singapore and the U.S. experienced near-doubling.
Despite this global rise, Amnesty International emphasized that these countries represent a small minority responsible for most executions worldwide. The organization’s secretary general, Agnès Callamard, highlighted the disregard for international human rights law in these nations, which continue to use the death penalty despite global trends towards abolition.