Iran has the highest number of executions per capita in the world.
Justice & Anti-CorruptionMiddle East
- Omissions
- China's execution numbers are classified as state secrets, so exact global comparisons are inherently limited; however, even high estimates of Chinese executions would yield a far lower per capita rate given China's population of approximately 1.4 billion.
- The claim does not specify a time period, but data from 2024 and 2025 both support the assertion.
- The MEP attributes the warning generically to 'human rights organizations' without naming specific ones; the key organizations documenting this are Amnesty International, Iran Human Rights (IHR), and ECPM.
- Sources
- PrimaryECPM (Together Against the Death Penalty) – BarometerIran holds the appalling record of being the country with the highest execution rate per capita: at least 1,639 people were executed in 2025.
- SecondaryEuronewsRights groups including Amnesty International say Iran carries out the most executions of any nation worldwide per capita, and the most of any country where official figures are available.
- SecondaryFrance24Iran executed at least 1,639 people last year, an average of more than four executions per day, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights and ECPM.