Saudi Arabia hanged 356 people in 2025, which is its biggest record in a year. Experts say that this increase is due to the country’s strict policy against drugs. Many people, who were arrested earlier, were now hanged after getting legal process and punishment.

According to government data, in 2025, 243 people were hanged in drug-related cases. This is the second time in a row that saudi arabia Has broken the record of hanging. In 2024, 338 people were hanged. Saudi Arabia reintroduced the death penalty for drugs crimes in late 2022, after keeping it on hold for almost three years.

Which countries are at second and third place?

The exact figures for the cases of hanging in 2025 for other countries have not been released. In 2024, Iran and Iraq were in second and third place. According to Amnesty International, 972 people were hanged in Iran in 2024. There were 63 hanging cases in Iraq. It is believed that the maximum number of people are hanged in China, but the figures here are never made public.

Captagon drug smuggling in Saudi

There is a big market for banned drugs like Captagon in Saudi Arabia. These drugs were previously Syria’s biggest export item during the reign of former leader Bashar al-Assad. The country has increased police checkpoints on highways and border areas as part of its crackdown on drugs. Lakhs of drug pills have been seized and dozens of smugglers have been arrested. This campaign has had the biggest impact on foreign citizens.

There has been constant criticism over the use of death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Human rights groups consider this excessive and wrong. He says that this policy is contrary to the modern and open image that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to show in his Vision 2030 plan. Saudi Arabia is investing in tourism and sporting events and is preparing to host the football World Cup in 2034.