Only two South American countries – Colombia and Brazil – accounted for 52 per cent of the killings in 2025
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At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed in 2025, bringing the total documented killings and disappearances since 2012 to 2,375, a new report by Global Witness has found.
Land and environmental defenders are individuals who strive to promote and protect human rights related to the environment peacefully, according to the UN. They remain highly vulnerable and under attack around the globe, facing threats from murder to harassment, intimidation, stigmatisation and criminalisation.
The new Global Witness report has found eighty-five per cent of all killings of land and environmental defenders recorded in 2025 took place in Latin America, which has now officially ranked as the world’s deadliest region for the groups every year since 2012.
Land disputes were linked with more than 50 per cent of the killings documented in 2025, with extractive and commercial interests continuing to feature in attacks against defenders. Mining and extractive industries were linked to 11 killings, logging interests to eight and agribusiness to six.
Globally, more than one-third of killings were linked to organised crime or hitmen.
In Colombia, 39 killings took place in 2025, and it was ranked the world’s deadliest documented country for the fourth consecutive year. The second deadliest country was Brazil – with 25 defenders killed in 2025, more than double the figure from the year before.
Other deadly countries include Honduras and the Philippines – each with 12 documented killings – followed by Mexico (10) and Guatemala (8).
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Around the world, more than three-quarters of those killed were small-scale farmers, Indigenous Peoples or Afro-descendant Peoples. In 2025 alone, Global Witness documented the killings of 44 Indigenous defenders in 2025.
‘Defenders are the world’s eyes and ears on the ground. It’s thanks to them that we know when ecosystems are being destroyed, where forests are being cleared or rivers polluted. The violence that defenders face, including killings in the most extreme cases, reflects a much broader struggle over the world’s land and resources. But beyond these tragic stories, we can’t forget the thousands of defenders around the world who are working every day to protect their territories and cultures under increasing pressure,’ said lead author and land and environmental defenders investigator Toby Hill.
Global Witness produces its annual data in partnership with more than 30 local, national and regional organisations in more than 20 countries.
