Alarming rise in Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
More than 380 million Christians around the world now face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith (up by 15 million from last year’s figure of 365 million) – a record number, representing one in seven Christians worldwide (up from one in eight four years ago). It’s an increase of a staggering 140 million since 2018.
These are the disturbing findings of Open Doors International’s 2025 World Watch List (WWL), released today. This annual list, now in its 32nd year, ranks the top 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution and discrimination worldwide and creates awareness of the hardships that persecuted Christians face every day. Countries are ranked by the severity of persecution and discrimination endured by the Christians who live in them.
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In this worldwide survey, the overall trend shows that the persecution of Christians has risen at an alarming rate all over the world, especially in Central Asia and Africa. In the WWL top 50 countries alone, 310 million Christians face very high or extreme levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. During the past year, many shocking incidents of persecution in Africa and elsewhere reached the news headlines.
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Intensified danger in Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
The Open Doors 2025 World Watch List reveals that violence and authoritarian restrictions against Christians have risen globally during the past year, most notably in Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. No country stood out more than Kyrgyzstan, which rose sharply on the WWL, the annual ranking of the countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian.
Along with the suffocating oppression that North Korea’s underground Christians have long endured, the 2025 list continues to document other trends that have spanned the years, such as the continuing deadly violence across much of the African continent. If there is a new development for 2025, it is found in Central Asia.
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Alarming statistics
Over the 32 years of Open Doors’ World Watch List reporting, the number of countries where Christians face extreme, very high or high levels of persecution nearly doubled from 40 countries in 1993 to 78 countries in 2025. It can be divided as follows:
- Extreme levels of persecution: Numbers one to 13.
- Very high levels of persecution: Numbers 14 to 60.
- High levels of persecution: Numbers 61 to 78.
Top 5 countries
North Korea once again holds the number one spot on the World Watch List for the third straight year and the 23rd time since the first WWL in 1993. Since 2002, this country has been nnumber 1 every year but 2022, when it ranked second to Afghanistan in the wake of its fall to the Taliban.
Somalia is once again in the second place this year – the same as last year. Yemen follows it in third place, Libya in fourth place and Sudan in fifth place.
WWL 2025 in numbers
The most important trends of the 2025 WWL are:
- A total of 4 476 Christians were killed worldwide for their faith.
- Five of the top 10 countries on the 2025 WWL are in Africa.
- There were 28 368 attacks on Christian homes, shops or businesses for faith-related reasons.
- A total of 16 million Christians in sub-Saharan Africa were forcibly displaced due to violence.
- More than 380 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination.
Key drivers of this year’s list
The two key drivers of this steep increase could be described as chaos and control:
- Chaos: Caused by ongoing conflicts, organised crime and Islamist insurrections. Amidst these areas of lawlessness, enemies of Christianity can act with impunity.
- Control: As authoritarianism continues to rise, regimes are ramping up pressure and violence against Christian minorities.
Other notable findings (WWL position in brackets)
Some of the biggest concerns on this year’s list are the shocking situation in North Korea, the drastic rise in persecution in Central Asia, the ongoing violence and displacement crisis in Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the disappearance of the Church in several countries because it is driven underground, the influence of civil wars and advanced surveillance in China and other autocratic states.
North Korea still number one on the list
This year, the violence score in North Korea rose even further, with Christians facing possible public execution if they are discovered. Despite this, China (15) is arresting and repatriating hundreds of North Korean (1) escapees as “illegal immigrants” with no concern for the fate they face – a fate considerably more severe for Christian converts.
Sharpest rises in Central Asia
Several countries have risen sharply in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan (47) climbed 14 places, the largest rise of any country and its first appearance in the top 50 since 2013. The nation, previously known as the least authoritarian country in the region, has seen religious freedom restrictions and violence against churches.
“Before the current president, Sadyr Japarov, came to power in January 2021, Kyrgyzstan was known as the least authoritarian country in the Central Asia region,” said World Watch Research analyst, Rolf Zeegers. “Since then, a whole range of more restrictive legislation was introduced. We have been noting an increase in religious freedom restrictions. The country saw a sharp uptick in violence against churches, including stone-throwing incidents and raids on worship services.”
Similarly, neighbouring Kazakhstan (38) and Tajikistan (39) also rose in the ranking. Tightening government controls in Kazakhstan increased its WWL score, which helped to push it up nine places to number 38. Researchers logged reports of police raids on worship meetings, as well as sexual abuse of Christian women.
“The threat from authoritarian regimes in Central Asia has intensified to the point where many Christians in the region are in a state of fear,” says Frans Veerman, managing director of Open Doors World Watch Research. “Christians are purposefully targeted or extra vulnerable in countries beset by increasingly autocratic regimes and radical elements.”
Ongoing violence in sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the most violent place in the world for Christians. Chronic government instability and civil conflict have created a vacuum, which is filled by opportunistic Islamic militants, in several nations in SSA.
Parts of Nigeria (7) rank as perhaps the most dangerous places to be a Christian in the world. Christian communities are relentlessly targeted by jihadist groups and Fulani militias – the religious nature of the targeting clearly shown in a shocking 2024 report.
The fractures in governance and security have opened the door for jihadist activities in the Central African Republic (27), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (35), Mali (14), Burkina Faso (20) and Niger (28). The growing violence is also causing a displacement crisis, as millions of Christians are forced to flee from their homes.
Sudan has moved up three spots on the list to no. 5, driven by the intensification of civil war. The country saw increases in Christians killed, sexually assaulted, and attacks on Christian homes and businesses. More than 7.7 million people were internally displaced by mid-2024, making it the largest displacement crisis in the world.
The Open Doors Arise Africa campaign is a multi-year response to the persistent violence waged upon Christians in the region. Working with Christian leaders throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the campaign intends to enable the African church to stand in faith where persecution is most extreme.
The disappearing Church
The Church is driven out or driven underground in several countries. In the Middle East especially, several Christian communities are dwindling and, in some cases, on the verge of extinction.
Syria (18) has seen a continuing exodus of its Christian communities, with only a tiny fraction remaining following the civil war, the rise of ISIS and the earthquake of 2023. The fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December (not accounted for in the WWL statistics) creates further uncertainty, as Christians face an uncertain future under the rule of the primary rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Meanwhile, the Christian population is being driven deeper underground in several countries. In countries like Algeria (13), Libya (4) and Afghanistan (10), the visible Christian presence is diminishing, forcing believers into isolation or underground worship. They are doing it to evade more sophisticated surveillance and ever-harsher laws regulating or outlawing their existence.
Algeria’s persecution score has fallen, but only because there are no more Protestant churches to close. The Church in Afghanistan is all but invisible to outsiders now, as those Christians remain hidden from view to avoid violent punishment at the hands of the Taliban.
Influence of civil wars
The ongoing civil war in Sudan (number five, from number eight in 2024) has caused unimaginable suffering and has seen a sharp uptick in persecution against Christians, who have been killed, assaulted or driven from their homes.
Yemen has risen to the third place on the list. The ongoing civil war and the increasing influence of the Houthis rebels have forced dozens of Christian house churches to cease their meetings. The fighting between Myanmar’s (13) army and a host of opposition militants drove its score into the “extreme persecution” category, which encompasses the top 13 countries on the list.
Surveillance states
Christians in China (15) and other autocratic states are increasingly cautious about openly expressing their faith due to advanced surveillance.
Severe situation
Lynette Leibach, executive director of Open Doors Southern Africa, says: “Every year, one is apprehensive to hear where the situation has deteriorated for fellow Christians. This year is no different, with the intensifying of both chaos and control.
“In such a severe situation, where more than 380 million people are affected by persecution and discrimination for their faith, Jesus’ words captured in John 16:33 come to mind: ‘I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ How critical it is to reach and assist those believers whilst working for peace. Open Doors provides this opportunity.”
More information
Visit www.opendoors.org.za to view and download the full 2025 World Watch List, the top 50 country profiles and persecution statistics, as well as the top 50 countries’ media and advocacy dossiers.
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