Persecution of Christians occurs across the world, but in some countries, it is especially harrowing. Many citizens of these countries are unable to gather and discuss their faith, while many others are senselessly murdered because of their beliefs.
Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List reports that over 365 million Christians globally face high persecution and discrimination for their faith, an increase from 360 million the previous year. This equates to one in seven Christians being targeted. The report, based on research from October 2022 to September 2023, identifies the 50 most dangerous countries for Christians.
In total, approximately 380 million Christians reside in countries where prejudice and persecution are prevalent. That represents 1 in 7 Christians globally, including 1 in 5 in Africa, 2 in 5 in Asia, and 1 in 16 in Latin America. 
The 10 Most Dangerous Places to Be a Christian in 2025
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Yemen
- Libya
- Sudan
- Eritrea
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Iran
- Afghanistan
North Korea remains the most dangerous country for Christians, having spent over 20 years at the top of the World Watch List. Being a Christian can lead to death or deportation to labour camps, where many die.
The regime considers Christians a threat, leading to severe penalties for worship or Bible ownership. Despite this, an underground church of 350,000 to 400,000 believers persists.
In Somalia, where all citizens are expected to be Muslim, Christians face persecution from extremist groups like al-Shabab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda.
Those converted from Islam face severe persecution from families and communities, who consider such conversions a betrayal, leading to harassment and even execution.
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The Most Violent Places For Christians in 2025
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- India
- Myanmar
- Sudan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Cameroon
- Uganda
- Mozambique
According to Open Doors, in Sudan, 100 homes and businesses have been attacked, 100 people have been sexually assaulted, and 44 people have been slain because of its civil conflict, which has had a terrible impact on the country’s population, especially Christians. Both Arab and Indigenous African groups are involved in the war; Christians, mostly from the conflict, have been displaced over 11 million people.
In Nigeria, churches are burnt down, pastors are kidnapped and killed, and many Christians have to flee their homes because of violent attacks. Christian deaths in the wider region fell from 4,998 to 4,476 between October 2023 and September 2024, even though it’s a decline, the number is still quite high.
Researchers caution that attacks by organisations like Boko Haram still pose a great danger to Christians living in Nigeria—this has led to them pleading with the international community to intervene.
The violence, assault, and displacement documented in these two countries are symptomatic of the persecution prevalent throughout the other countries on this list. Obviously, there is some sort of Christian persecution happening in many parts of the world, with African countries being the most severely affected.
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