New york: Amnesty International recorded at least 2,707 executions in 2025 across 17 countries, marking a 78% increase from the 1,518 executions in 2024. This represents the highest number of executions recorded by Amnesty International since 1981. China remains the world’s leading executioner, although the exact figures remain undisclosed due to state secrecy. Thus, the global execution figures exclude the thousands believed to have occurred in China, as well as those in Viet Nam and North Korea.
According to Amnesty International, the countries with the highest number of executions in 2025 were China (thousands), Iran (2,159+), Saudi Arabia (356+), Yemen (51+), and the USA (47). Women faced execution in five countries including China, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The total number of countries carrying out executions rose to 17 in 2025, up from 15 in the previous year.
Amnesty International reported that 1,257 executions were carried out unlawfully for drug-related offenses across five countries, with Iran accounting for 998 of these cases. Public executions were reported in Afghanistan and Iran. The report highlights that at least three individuals executed were minors at the time of their alleged crimes. Methods of execution in 2025 included beheading, hanging, lethal injection, shooting, and nitrogen gas asphyxiation.
The year 2025 saw a rise in new death sentences, with at least 2,334 recorded across 48 countries, compared to 2,087 in 2024. Six countries, including Bahrain and Taiwan, imposed death sentences after a hiatus. Commutations or pardons were recorded in 24 countries, and the USA noted one exoneration from death row.
At the end of 2025, 113 countries were fully abolitionist, with 145 having abolished the death penalty in law or practice. In the Americas, the USA continued to be the only country executing people, with a notable increase in executions driven by Florida. Trinidad and Tobago, alongside the USA, imposed new death sentences.
In the Asia-Pacific region, executions were conducted in seven countries, with Japan and Taiwan resuming after a hiatus. Viet Nam abolished the death penalty for eight offenses. Europe and Central Asia saw no new executions or death sentences in Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan’s Constitutional Court ruled against reintroducing the death penalty.
The Middle East and North Africa experienced a significant rise in executions, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia. The UAE resumed executions after a four-year hiatus. Efforts to abolish the death penalty were noted in Lebanon.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, executions decreased by 47%, with Somalia and South Sudan being the only countries executing people. However, recorded death sentences in the region increased significantly. Legislative efforts to abolish the death penalty were noted in Gambia, Liberia, and Nigeria.