Iran more than doubled executions in 2025 as global use of the death penalty hit 44-year high, report says
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- In 2025, documented executions worldwide reached at least 2,707, the highest number since 1981, with Iran accounting for more than double its executions from the previous year, according to Amnesty International.
- China likely conducted thousands of executions, but exact figures remain unverified due to state secrecy; excluding China, executions still rose 78% compared to 2024.
- Other countries with notable execution numbers included Saudi Arabia (356), Yemen (51), the U.S. (47), Egypt (23), and Kuwait (17), with several nations like Kuwait, Egypt, Singapore, and the U.S. seeing significant increases.
- Japan, South Sudan, Taiwan, and the UAE resumed executions in 2025, contributing to the global rise, while countries consistently responsible for most executions include China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S.
- Amnesty International highlighted that the surge is driven by a small group of states using the death penalty to instill fear and suppress dissent, despite a global trend toward abolition.