According to a recent report by Amnesty International, at least 2,707 people were executed globally in 2025 across 17 countries. This figure marks a dramatic increase of 78 percent compared to the previous year, an amount the organization states has not been seen since 1981.
The spike in executions is largely attributed to the actions of just a few nations, particularly China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, over two-thirds of the world’s countries have either abolished the death penalty or ceased practicing it.
In specific regions, the numbers rose significantly. Iran alone reported at least 2,159 executions in 2025, more than double the previous year’s count. Saudi Arabia recorded 356 executions, while other nations also saw marked increases, including the USA (up from 35 to 47), Singapore (up from 9 to 17), Egypt (up from 13 to 23), and Kuwait (up from 6 to 17). Other countries that carried out executions in 2025 include Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan, Yemen, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
Amnesty International cautions, however, that the 2,707 reported executions only represent a fraction of the true scope, as executions in China were uncounted, with corresponding data classified as state secrets. The group estimates that thousands of people are executed annually in China.
Of the documented executions in 2025, nearly half were linked to drug-related crimes. For instance, 998 of the executions in Iran and 240 in Saudi Arabia were related to drug offenses. Singapore accounted for 15, and Kuwait for 2. This trend of using the death penalty in the name of fighting drugs has driven the expansion of capital punishment. Countries such as Algeria, Kuwait, and the Maldives have introduced legislative drafts to broaden the scope of the death penalty to include drug offenses. Furthermore, other nations, including Burkina Faso and Chad, are preparing to reinstate the death penalty for crimes like treason, terrorism, and espionage.