“Abolitionism is progressing, but the diehards are killing en masse”: according to Amnesty International, at least 2,707 executions took place in 2025, a record number in recent decades

Amnesty International published its annual report on the death penalty this Monday, May 18. The non-governmental organization has recorded at least 2,707 executions worldwide, a figure up 78% compared to the previous year. This is the second deadliest year since this barometer was drawn up. This record level is explained in particular by the bloody repression in Iran against the population.

Figures that send shivers down your spine. At least 2,707 people were executed in 2025 worldwide after being sentenced to the death penalty, according to a count carried out by Amnesty International, a jump of 78% compared to 2024. This is the largest number executions observed since 1981.

The human rights organization, which was moved by rising levels last year, explains this increase in particular by the repression in Iran where some 2,159 people were executed by hanging (compared to 972 in 2024). Elsewhere in the world, Saudi Arabia executed 356 people, Yemen at least 51, the United States 47, Egypt 23, Somalia, Singapore and Kuwait 17. In total, 17 countries carried out executions.

Anne Denis, head of the death penalty, torture and health commission at Amnesty International for 16 years, deciphers this macabre count for BFM and wants to maintain hope in the march towards abolitionism.

How can we explain that these figures are so high?

In 1981, when we counted 3,191 executions, 34 states had practiced the death penalty. In 2025, 2,707 people were executed by 17 countries, or half. The few states that use capital punishment practice it more. Abolitionism is progressing, but the diehards are killing en masse.

In your annual report, you focus more specifically on the case of Iran and Saudi Arabia. For what ?

This year’s sharp increase is attributable to these two states (between them, they represent 93% of the world total, Editor’s note). The death penalty is used as a tool of terror. In Iran, for example, from January 1 to May 30, there were approximately 650 executions. In the meantime, there was the 12 Day War, which was followed by a new wave of repression. From June 1 to December 31, we counted nearly 1,500 executions.

Saudi Arabia has been breaking records for the number of executions for two years. This year, 356 people were executed and in 240 cases it was for offenses related to drug legislation. However, the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights reserves the use of the death penalty, in countries where it is not abolished, for the most serious crimes, namely assassinations.

Why don’t you give a figure for China?

Before 2009, Amnesty reported figures for China until we realized that the country was using our reports to its advantage. We’ve called it quits and now we’re just giving estimates. This year, several thousand people were executed there. Figures relating to the use of the death penalty are classified as state secrets.

Another notable fact in your ranking is the return of the United States in the top 5, how can we understand this?

The number of executions in the United States (47) has reached its highest level since 2009. Of the 50 states, 23 are abolitionist and among those which have not abolished the death penalty, ten have not practiced it for more than ten years. So executions today are concentrated among 17 states. Nearly half took place in Florida. The majority of the United States are abolitionist.

Moreover, the statistics undermine the argument of deterrence of crime since the southern states where the death penalty is still practiced are those where delinquency is the highest.

Despite this high execution number, how come you are optimistic?

Despite these figures, we must continue to fuel the small flame of abolitionism. Every year we see progress being made. Vietnam, for example, has abolished this punishment for several offenses which were until now punishable by death. The Gambia did the same thing. A parliamentary debate on the subject is underway in Nigeria. There are states which also give in under international pressure such as Tunisia which sentenced to death a father who had criticized the president on Facebook and who was finally pardoned.

Every two years, since 2007, a moratorium on the death penalty has been passed at the United Nations General Assembly. In 2024, 130 of the 193 states have passed it. I don’t want to prejudge what will happen this year, but the abolition of the death penalty is the meaning of history.