Amnesty International Reports Record High Global Executions in 2025, Highlighting Iran's Doubling of Death Penalty Cases
Amnesty International has released a report indicating that the global use of the death penalty reached its highest level in 44 years in 2025, with at least 2,707 documented executions. The report highlights that Iran was a significant contributor to this increase, with its execution rate more than doubling from the previous year, accounting for at least 2,159 executions. The report also notes that while China is believed to have conducted thousands of executions, the exact numbers remain unverified due to the country's secrecy. Other countries with notable execution numbers include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United States. Amnesty International emphasizes that a small group of countries, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia, are using the death penalty to instill fear and suppress dissent. 
