Global executions surged alarmingly in 2025, reaching their highest level in years, according to a new report from Amnesty International. The sharp increase was primarily driven by two nations: Saudi Arabia and the United States, both of which recorded their highest number of judicial killings in recent memory.
Saudi Arabia's Alarming Surge and US Reversal
The data reveals a deeply concerning trend. In Saudi Arabia, executions skyrocketed, with the kingdom putting to death at least 195 people in 2025. This figure marks the highest annual total recorded by Amnesty International for the country in over three decades. The report notes that a significant portion of these executions, over 40%, were for drug-related offences, which do not meet the international legal threshold of the "most serious crimes" for which the death penalty can be applied.
Simultaneously, the United States witnessed a dramatic and troubling reversal. After nearly two decades of a steady national decline in the use of capital punishment, 2025 saw a record-breaking number of executions. At least 33 people were executed across seven states, making it the deadliest year since 2001. This resurgence was concentrated in a few states, with Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma carrying out the majority of these judicial killings.
The Global Landscape and China's Opaque Role
While Saudi Arabia and the US drove the global increase, Amnesty International's report underscores that China remains the world's leading executioner. However, obtaining precise figures is impossible due to the Chinese state's classification of death penalty data as a state secret. The organization believes that thousands of executions and death sentences occur in China each year, far surpassing the totals of all other countries combined.
Globally, Amnesty International recorded executions in 22 countries in 2025, a slight increase from the previous year. The known worldwide total, excluding China, was at least 1,652. Iran followed as the second-largest executor globally (after China), with at least 834 executions, many for drug charges. Significant numbers were also recorded in Egypt, Somalia, and Iraq.
The report highlights that methods of execution included beheading, hanging, lethal injection, and shooting.
Regional Focus and International Condemnation
The Middle East and North Africa region accounted for a staggering 80% of all recorded executions outside of China. This regional concentration points to a persistent and severe human rights crisis. Amnesty International's Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, condemned the findings, stating that the record highs in Saudi Arabia and the US represent a "devastating blow" for human rights and a failure of leadership.
Callamard sharply criticized Saudi authorities for using the death penalty as a political tool to suppress dissent and the US for its "shameful" return to high levels of executions. The report calls for an immediate moratorium on executions as a step towards full abolition, urging all nations to adhere to international human rights law.
The findings for 2025 present a grim picture, indicating a significant setback in the global movement towards abolishing the death penalty. The actions of influential nations like Saudi Arabia and the United States risk legitimizing this ultimate punishment and encouraging its use elsewhere.
