Over 388 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination – that’s one in seven believers worldwide. You can stand with believers courageously following Jesus, no matter the cost.

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World Watch List

Open Doors’ annual ranking of the countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.

Bangladesh Capital city – Dhaka Christian Population – 950,000 Burkina Faso Capital city – Ouagadougou Christian Population – 6,100,000 Brunei Capital city – Bandar Seri Begawan Christian Population – 53,000 Bhutan Capital city – Thimphu Christian Population – 19,300 Central African Republic Capital city – Bangui Christian Population – 4,500,000 Cuba Capital city – Havana Christian Population – 6,974,000 Eritrea Capital city – Asmara Christian Population – 1,700,000 Kyrgyzstan Capital city – Bishkek Christian Population – 207,000 Myanmar Capital city – Naypyidaw Christian Population – 4,632,000 Mauritania Capital city – Nouakchott Christian Population – 11,100 Mexico Capital city – Mexico City Christian Population – 123,300,000 Niger Capital city – Niamey Christian Population – 74,900 Oman Capital city – Muscat Christian Population – 191,000 Qatar Capital city – Doha Christian Population – 390,000 Somalia Capital city – Mogadishu Christian Population – 100 Syria Capital city – Damascus Christian Population – 300,000 Tajikistan Capital city – Dushanbe Christian Population – 55,000 Yemen Capital city – Sanaa Christian Population – 100 Ethiopia Capital city – Addis Ababa Christian Population – 81,400,000 Mali Capital city – Bamako Christian Population – 542,000 Türkiye Capital city – Ankara Christian Population – 251,000 Turkmenistan Capital city – Ashgabat Christian Population – 95,000 Tunisia Capital city – Tunis Christian Population – 23,000 North Korea Capital city – Pyongyang Christian Population – 400,000 China Capital city – Peking Christian Population – 96,700,000 Colombia Capital city – Bogotá Christian Population – 4,937,600 Morocco Capital city – Rabat Christian Population – 37,400 Algeria Capital city – Algeria Christian Population – 156,000 Libya Capital city – Tripoli Christian Population – 35,500 Chad Capital city – N’Djamena Christian Population – 6,000,000 Sudan Capital city – Khartoum Christian Population – 2,200,000 Saudi Arabia Capital city – Riyadh Christian Population – 2,300,000 Iraq Capital city – Baghdad Christian Population – 187,000 Jordan Capital city – Amman Christian Population – 170,000 Iran Capital city – Tehran Christian Population – 800,000 Mozambique Capital city – Maputo Christian Population – 19,900,000 DRC Capital city – Kinshasa Christian Population – 104,159,000 Nigeria Capital city – Abuja Christian Population – 107,300,000 Nicaragua Capital city – Managua Christian Population – 6,832,000 Cameroon Capital city – Yaounde Christian Population – 17,400,000 Kazakhstan Capital city – Nur-Sultan Christian Population – 3,594,000 Laos Capital city – Vientiane Christian Population – 219,000 Uzbekistan Capital city – Tashkent Christian Population – 395,000 Afghanistan Capital city – Kabul Christian Population – 1,000 Pakistan Capital city – Islamabad Christian Population – 4,800,000 India Capital city – New Delhi Christian Population – 72,326,000 Nepal Capital city – Kathmandu Christian Population – 1,480,000 Egypt Capital city – Cairo Christian Population – 10,184,000
Bangladesh World Watch: 33 Christian Population: 950,000 Burkina Faso World Watch: 16 Christian Population: 6,100,000 Brunei World Watch: 50 Christian Population: 53,000 Bhutan World Watch: 34 Christian Population: 19,300 Central African Republic World Watch: 22 Christian Population: 4,500,000 Cuba World Watch: 24 Christian Population: 6,974,000 Eritrea World Watch: 5 Christian Population: 1,700,000 Indonesia Capital City – Jakarta Population – 267,663,435 Kyrgyzstan World Watch: 40 Christian Population: 207,000 Sri Lanka Capital City – Colombo Population – 21,919,000 Myanmar World Watch: 14 Christian Population: 4,632,000 Mauritania World Watch: 21 Christian Population: 11,100 Mexico World Watch: 30 Christian Population: 123,300,000 Niger World Watch: 26 Christian Population: 74,900 Oman World Watch: 38 Christian Population: 191,000 Qatar World Watch: 44 Christian Population: 390,000 Somalia World Watch: 2 Christian Population: 100 Syria World Watch: 6 Christian Population: 300,000 Tajikistan World Watch: 27 Christian Population: 55,000 Vietnam Capital City – Hanoi Population – 97,338,579 Yemen World Watch: 3 Christian Population: 100 Ethiopia World Watch: 36 Christian Population: 81,400,000 Mali World Watch: 15 Christian Population: 542,000 Türkiye World Watch: 41 Christian Population: 251,000 Turkmenistan World Watch: 35 Christian Population: 95,000 Tunisia World Watch: 31 Christian Population: 23,000 North Korea World Watch: 1 Christian Population: 400,000 Kuwait Capital City – Kuwait City Population – 4,052,584 China World Watch: 17 Christian Population: 96,700,000 Colombia World Watch: 47 Christian Population: 4,937,600 Morocco World Watch: 23 Christian Population: 37,400 Algeria World Watch: 20 Christian Population: 156,000 Libya World Watch: 9 Christian Population: 35,500 Chad World Watch: 48 Christian Population: 6,000,000 Sudan World Watch: 4 Christian Population: 2,200,000 Saudi Arabia World Watch: 13 Christian Population: 2,300,000 Iraq World Watch: 18 Christian Population: 187,000 Jordan World Watch: 49 Christian Population: 170,000 Iran World Watch: 10 Christian Population: 800,000 Mozambique World Watch: 39 Christian Population: 19,900,000 DRC World Watch: 29 Christian Population: 104,159,000 Nigeria World Watch: 7 Christian Population: 107,300,000 Nicaragua World Watch: 32 Christian Population: 6,832,000 Cameroon World Watch: 37 Christian Population: 17,400,000 Kazakhstan World Watch: 45 Christian Population: 3,594,000 Laos World Watch: 28 Christian Population: 219,000 Uzbekistan World Watch: 25 Christian Population: 395,000 Afghanistan World Watch: 11 Christian Population: 1,000 Pakistan World Watch: 8 Christian Population: 4,800,000 India World Watch: 12 Christian Population: 72,326,000 Nepal World Watch: 46 Christian Population: 1,480,000 Egypt World Watch: 42 Christian Population: 10,184,000
Levels of persecution:
  •   Extreme
  •   Very High
  •   High
View country profiles
2026  ranking
  1. North Korea
  2. Somalia
  3. Yemen
  4. Sudan
  5. Eritrea
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Prayer and praise

PLEASE PRAY
For the ongoing unrest and violence in Iran amidst protests and political fragmentation. Pray for the protection of believers and for justice to be brought about in the nation.
GIVE THANKS
For the safe escape of 80 Christians who were kidnapped by bandits from Kurmin Wali village, Nigeria, on 18 January during their Sunday church worship. Pray for the release of the remaining believers and for God’s comfort in their distress.
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    Courageous Christians

    These believers are bravely following Jesus despite the threat of violence, persecution and displacement.

    1. North Korea
    The most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian. North Korean believers must keep their faith an absolute secret.

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    2. Somalia
    Christians in Somalia live in one of the harshest environments in the world. Extremist groups execute anyone they suspect of being a Christian.

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    3. Yemen
    All Christians are in danger. If secrets Christians are discovered, they risk arrest, rejection by community and even death.

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    4. Sudan
    Sudanese Christians are caught in the crossfire of civil war. Church buildings have been destroyed and leaders threatened.

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    5. Eritrea
    Christians who worship illegally face brutal punishment and indefinite imprisonment. “We live in fear of who will be arrested next,” said one believer.

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    6. Syria
    Pressure has increased on Christians in Syria since the regime change in 2024. Levels of violence have significantly increased.

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    7. Nigeria
    More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. Millions are displaced, many traumatised and living in poverty.

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    8. Pakistan
    Christians face challenges, from the threat of violence to everyday discrimination. False accusations of blasphemy and mob violence mean some are even killed.

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    9. Libya
    Christians in Libya must exercise extreme caution. They can be arrested, attacked – even kidnapped and enslaved.

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    10. Iran
    Christian converts are seen as spies. Intelligence agents raid house churches and leaders face long jail terms.

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