Amnesty International reports that executions worldwide reach their highest recorded level since 1981, with a sharp increase driven largely by Iran. Amnesty says it confirmed at least 2,707 executions across 17 countries in 2025, up 78% from 1,519 documented in 2024. Within that total, Iran accounts for at least 2,159 executions—more than double the at-least 972 recorded there the previous year. Multiple outlets highlight that this surge significantly increases Iran’s share of global executions, with one report estimating Iran represents nearly 80% of the worldwide total in 2025. Amnesty also says some executions in Iran occur in secrecy, including recent cases in which four men—described as including two Kurdish political activists—are reportedly executed without informing their families. Other coverage notes that while Iran is a major driver of the 2025 increase, China remains the “leading executioner” according to Amnesty’s broader assessment. The reporting consistently attributes the global rise to the scale of Iran’s death penalty use during 2025 and frames it as a notable shift in recent international execution trends.