Colombia and Brazil deadliest countries for environmental activists, report says
Latin America remains the world's most dangerous region for environmental and land defenders, accounting for 85 percent of global fatalities in 2025. According to a Global Witness report, at least 124 people were killed worldwide last year while safeguarding forests, rivers, and homelands. Colombia ranks as the most lethal country globally for the fourth consecutive year with 39 murders, while Brazil recorded 26 deaths, more than double its total from the previous year. Together, Colombia and Brazil account for 52 percent of all documented killings globally.
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- ✓ At least 124 people were killed in 2025 for protecting their land and livelihoods, according to a Global Witness report.
- ✓ Latin America concentrated 85 percent of all global murders of territorial and environmental defenders in 2025.
- ✓ Colombia leads the global list with 39 murders, marking its fourth consecutive year at the top.
- ✓ Brazil recorded 26 deaths in 2025, which is more than double its total from the previous year.
What changed
New reporting explicitly confirms that Colombia held the global top rank for killings for the fourth consecutive year, while Brazil's fatalities more than doubled compared to the previous year.
Live updates
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Colombia and Brazil Lead Deadliest Nations for Environmental Defenders
Latin America remains the world's most dangerous region for environmental and land defenders, accounting for 85 percent of global fatalities in 2025. According to a Global Witness report, at least 124 people were killed worldwide last year while safeguarding forests, rivers, and homelands. Colombia ranks as the most lethal country globally for the fourth consecutive year with 39 murders, while Brazil recorded 26 deaths, more than double its total from the previous year. Together, Colombia and Brazil account for 52 percent of all documented killings globally.
Why it matters
Environmental and territorial defenders face extreme violence driven by organized crime, drug trafficking, and extractive industries such as illegal mining, commercial logging, and agribusiness. Widespread state protection failures and impunity further exacerbate the crisis across the region, putting both human lives and vulnerable ecosystems at severe risk. Indigenous guards and local protectors often monitor territories independently to counter these threats.
What is confirmed
- At least 124 people were killed in 2025 for protecting their land and livelihoods, according to a Global Witness report.
- Latin America concentrated 85 percent of all global murders of territorial and environmental defenders in 2025.
- Colombia leads the global list with 39 murders, marking its fourth consecutive year at the top.
- Brazil recorded 26 deaths in 2025, which is more than double its total from the previous year.
- Colombia and Brazil combined accounted for 52 percent of the documented killings globally.
What to watch next
- Actions or enforcement policies implemented by state authorities in Colombia and Brazil to curb the rise in activist murders
- Further reports or policy responses from international bodies regarding organized crime and extractive industries in Latin America
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (11)
- english.elpais.com — Colombia in EL PAÍS English
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- citizen4sustainability.substack.com — Al menos 124 defensores ambientales fueron asesinados en 2025 ...
- www.resumenlatinoamericano.org — Extractivismo. América Latina es la región más letal para ...
- www.scidev.net — América Latina, epicentro de agresiones contra defensores ...
- elcomercio.pe — América Latina concentró el 85 % de los asesinatos de ...
- interlira-reports.com — BRAZIL RANKS 2ND IN THE NUMBER OF MURDERED ENVIRONMENTALISTS
- alemdarena.blogspot.com — América Latina, epicentro de ataques contra defensores do ...
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Colombia and Brazil lead global fatalities for environmental defenders
At least 124 people were killed in 2025 for protecting forests, waterways, farms and homelands from pollution and other harms. A Global Witness report names Colombia as the most dangerous country with 39 murders. Brazil follows with 26 deaths, a figure that is double its 2024 total. Latin America represents 85% of these global fatalities, resulting in a defender being killed every three days. Some protectors have established self-defence units to mitigate these risks.
Why it matters
The high death toll reflects the danger faced by individuals resisting industrial pollution and land encroachment. The concentration of violence in Latin America suggests a regional crisis in environmental governance.
What is confirmed
- At least 124 people were killed in 2025 for protecting their homelands, forests, farms and waterways from pollution and other harms.
- Colombia recorded 39 murders of environmental defenders in 2025.
- Brazil recorded 26 deaths of environmental defenders in 2025, which is double its 2024 total.
- Latin America accounts for 85% of global fatalities for environmental defenders.
- An environmental defender is murdered every three days.
What to watch next
- Reports on the effectiveness of self-defence units in reducing defender fatalities
- Updated murder statistics for environmental defenders in 2026
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (2)
- jen.jiji.com — Brazilian model, 25, found dead in car trunk: ex-boyfriend arrested
- www.nationalobserver.com — An environmental defender is murdered every three days: report
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Colombia and Brazil lead world in environmental activist killings
Colombia and Brazil are the deadliest countries for land and environmental defenders. A Global Witness report identifies Colombia as the most dangerous nation with 39 murders out of 124 worldwide in 2025. Brazil follows with 26 deaths, which is double its 2024 total. Latin America accounts for 85% of these global fatalities, meaning a defender is killed every three days. Some protectors have created self-defence units to counter these threats.
Why it matters
Violence against nature protectors often stems from conflicts over land rights and resource extraction. The concentration of deaths in Latin America highlights a systemic risk for those opposing industrial or illegal land use.
What is confirmed
- Colombia recorded the highest number of environmental defender murders in 2025 with 39 cases.
- Brazil recorded 26 murders of land and environmental defenders in 2025.
- Latin America accounted for 85% of the 124 global environmental defender killings in 2025.
- Brazil's 2025 death toll for defenders is double the figure from 2024.
What to watch next
- Reports on the effectiveness of activist self-defence units
- Official government responses from Colombia and Brazil regarding the Global Witness findings
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (2)
- www.genocidewatch.com — Latin America: Deadliest Region for Defenders in 2025
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Colombia and Brazil Most Dangerous for Environmental Activists
Colombia and Brazil are the deadliest countries for environmental activists according to a new report. Global Witness and other sources indicate that at least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed globally in 2025. Latin America accounted for 85% of these fatalities. The violence has reached a frequency where an environmental defender is murdered every three days. In response to these threats, some nature and land protectors have established self-defence units to prevent further killings.
Why it matters
Environmental defenders often face violence when opposing extractive industries or protecting indigenous lands. The high concentration of deaths in Latin America highlights a systemic failure in state protection for activists. These killings often occur in regions with weak rule of law.
What is confirmed
- At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed globally in 2025.
- Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025.
- Colombia and Brazil are the deadliest countries for environmental activists.
Still unconfirmed
- An environmental defender is murdered every three days.
- Trump-driven lawlessness and aid cuts contributed to the 124 deaths of land defenders in 2025.
What to watch next
- Reports on the effectiveness of self-defence units in protecting activists
- Official government responses from Colombia and Brazil regarding the report
- Updated fatality data for 2026 environmental defenders
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (9)
- BBC — Colombia and Brazil deadliest countries for environmental activists, report says
- Global Witness — Collective power: The struggle for protection for land and environmental defenders
- The Guardian — People protecting nature and land set up self-defence units amid threat of murder
- AP News — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- Common Dreams — 124 Land Defenders Killed in 2025 Amid Trump-Driven Lawlessness and Aid Cuts
- Inside Climate News — An Environmental Defender Is Murdered Every Three Days
- Geographical — At least 124 land and environmental defenders killed globally in 2025
- Modern Ghana — From Peru to the Philippines, defending the land comes at a deadly cost
- jen.jiji.com — Russia, Putin votes online
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