Iran is the country with the highest number of executions in the world.
Justice & Anti-CorruptionMiddle East
- Error detected
- The claim states Iran is the country with the highest number of executions, but Amnesty International's 2025 report ranks China first (thousands), Iran second (2,159+).
- Omissions
- China consistently ranks first in global executions according to Amnesty International, with numbers estimated in the thousands, but exact data is classified as a state secret.
- Iran's position as the country with the highest known number of executions only applies when China is excluded from the ranking.
- The MEP did not cite any source or specify that the claim rests on verified/known data excluding China.
- Sources
- PrimaryAmnesty International AustraliaThe countries with the highest number of executions were China (1000s), Iran (2,159+), Saudi Arabia (356+), Yemen (51+), USA (47) – in that order.
- PrimaryAmnesty InternationalExecutions in 2025 soared to the highest figure recorded by Amnesty International since 1981, with 2,707 people executed across 17 countries. Iran was the main driver behind the spike.
- SecondaryIran InternationalIranian authorities carried out at least 2,159 executions in 2025, more than double the figure recorded the previous year and by far the largest known figure globally.