An iterative decoding method is disclosed and includes sequentially executing a number of iterative decoding cycles in relation to a parity check equation until the parity check equation is resolved, or a maximum number N of iterative decoding cycles is reached, during execution of the number of iterative decoding cycles, storing in a data buffer minimum estimated values for a set of variable nodes corresponding to a minimum number of bit errors, and outputting the minimum estimated values stored in the data buffer as a final decoding result when the number of iterative decoding cycles reaches N.