Amnesty International's latest annual report reveals a record increase in death sentences and executions worldwide in 2025. At least 2,707 people were confirmed executed across 17 countries, marking the highest figure documented in recent years and the highest level since 1981. The organization notes that while these figures are confirmed, the actual number of executions is likely much higher.
Iran accounted for a staggering portion of these deaths, with 2,159 confirmed executions. This figure represents more than twice as many people executed in Iran compared to 2024. The report notes that Iran upped its use of the death penalty again in 2026 following the January protests and the war against the US and Israel. China also accounts for a high number of cases and is thought to be the world's lead executioner.
Chiara Sangiorgio, Amnesty International's death penalty specialist, argues that the contemporary resurgence of capital punishment is rooted in fear. She states that the death penalty is increasingly deployed as a tool of control and to crush dissent. Despite the scale of these executions, the human rights group indicated there are some indications of possible progress.