Iran executes at least 1,639 in 2025, the most since 1989, NGOs report

Iran executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, marking the highest annual total since 1989 and representing a 68% increase from the previous year, according to multiple NGOs including Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights (Euronews, Al-Monitor). This figure positions Iran as having one of the highest execution rates globally, second only to China, where reliable data is limited.

The rise in executions coincides with heightened domestic unrest and ongoing protests, with reports highlighting the government’s use of capital punishment as a means of political repression (The National, Vanguard Nigeria). Ethnic minorities such as Kurds and Balochs are disproportionately targeted, alongside an increase in executions of women, with at least 48 women reportedly executed in 2025 (Al-Monitor).

Human rights organizations emphasize concerns over the expansion of the death penalty amidst Iran’s broader conflicts, including tensions involving Israel and the US that may be influencing internal security measures (Al-Monitor). Experts warn that the spike in executions could escalate further if the current crisis continues, potentially deepening repression of dissent and minority groups (Vanguard Nigeria, The National).

The reported toll of 1,639 executions is considered a conservative estimate and may underrepresent the actual scale, as monitoring remains challenging within Iran’s opaque legal system (The Straits Times). Calls for urgent international action to address Iran’s use of capital punishment and protect human rights have intensified in response to these figures (The National).

Looking ahead, close attention will be paid to Iran’s judicial policies and responses to both international pressure and domestic protests, as the death penalty figures may serve as a key indicator of state repression intensity and political stability in 2026.