Over 360 million Christians suffer persecution and discrimination. They follow Jesus, no matter the cost. With your help, we’re bringing them resources and hope.

Get involved

Your support helps persecuted Christians continue to courageously follow Jesus. Together, we can reach those where persecution hits hardest.

Make hope last in the Middle East and North Africa
Order your Women’s World Cup wallchart
You’re helping restore Christians in Syria
Latest stories and thanks from Manipur, India
How is Baher finding hope in Egypt?

World Watch List

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

Bangladesh Capital city – Dhaka Christian Population – 168,957,745 Burkina Faso Capital city – Ouagadougou Christian Population – 13,228,000 Brunei Capital city – Bandar Seri Begawan Christian Population – 422,675 Bhutan Capital city – Thimphu Christian Population – 758,288 Central African Republic Capital city – Bangui Christian Population – 4,216,666 Cuba Capital city – Havana Christian Population – 11,239,004 Eritrea Capital city – Asmara Christian Population – 6,086,495 Indonesia Capital city – Jakarta Christian Population – 267,663,435 Myanmar Capital city – Naypyidaw Christian Population – 54,409,800 Mauritania Capital city – Nouakchott Christian Population – 3,359,185 Mexico Capital city – Mexico City Christian Population – 126,577,691 Niger Capital city – Niamey Christian Population – 24,206,644 Oman Capital city – Muscat Christian Population – 3,424,386 Qatar Capital city – Doha Christian Population – 2,795,484 Somalia Capital city – Mogadishu Christian Population – 10,251,568 Syria Capital city – Damascus Christian Population – 22,142,061 Tajikistan Capital city – Dushanbe Christian Population – 7,417,400 Vietnam Capital city – Hanoi Christian Population – 97,338,579 Yemen Capital city – Sanaa Christian Population – 25,408,000 Ethiopia Capital city – Addis Ababa Christian Population – 112,269,301 Mali Capital city – Bamako Christian Population – 20,250,833 Turkey Capital city – Ankara Christian Population – 80,810,525 Turkmenistan Capital city – Ashgabat Christian Population – 5,942,000 Tunisia Capital city – Tunis Christian Population – 11,403,800 North Korea Capital city – Pyongyang Christian Population – 25,713,000 China Capital city – Peking Christian Population – 1,412,600,000 Colombia Capital city – Bogotá Christian Population – 51,895,000 Morocco Capital city – Rabat Christian Population – 36,910,560 Algeria Capital city – Algeria Christian Population – 43,851,044 Libya Capital city – Tripoli Christian Population – 5,670,688 Sudan Capital city – Khartoum Christian Population – 43,849,260 Saudi Arabia Capital city – Riyadh Christian Population – 34,218,000 Iraq Capital city – Baghdad Christian Population – 39,127,900 Jordan Capital city – Amman Christian Population – 6,500,000 Iran Capital city – Tehran Christian Population – 79,966,230 Malaysia Capital city – Kuala Lumpur Christian Population – 27,140,000 Mozambique Capital city – Maputo Christian Population – 28,829,476 Democratic Republic of Congo Capital city – Kinshasa Christian Population – 89,561,403 Nigeria Capital city – Abuja Christian Population – 206,139,589 Nicaragua Capital city – Managua Christian Population – 6,751,000 Cameroon Capital city – Yaounde Christian Population – 16,322,000 Kazakhstan Capital city – Nur-Sultan Christian Population – 18,690,115 Laos Capital city – Vientiane Christian Population – 6,477,211 Uzbekistan Capital city – Toshkent Christian Population – 31,100,500 Afghanistan Capital city – Kabul Christian Population – 33,928,493 Pakistan Capital city – Islamabad Christian Population – 206,139,589 India Capital city – New Delhi Christian Population – 1,414,843,757 Egypt Capital city – Cairo Christian Population – 102,333,440
Bangladesh World Watch – 30 Christian Population – 168,957,745 Burkina Faso World Watch – 23 Christian Population – 13,228,000 Brunei World Watch – 46 Christian Population – 422,675 Bhutan World Watch – 40 Christian Population – 758,288 Central African Republic World Watch – 24 Christian Population – 4,216,666 Cuba World Watch – 27 Christian Population – 11,239,004 Eritrea World Watch – 4 Christian Population – 6,086,495 Indonesia World Watch – 33 Christian Population – 267,663,435 Sri Lanka Capital City – Colombo Population – 21,919,000 Myanmar World Watch – 14 Christian Population – 54,409,800 Mauritania World Watch – 20 Christian Population – 3,359,185 Mexico World Watch – 38 Christian Population – 126,577,691 Niger World Watch – 28 Christian Population – 24,206,644 Oman World Watch – 47 Christian Population – 3,424,386 Qatar World Watch – 34 Christian Population – 2,795,484 Somalia World Watch – 2 Christian Population – 10,251,568 Syria World Watch – 12 Christian Population – 22,142,061 Tajikistan World Watch – 44 Christian Population – 7,417,400 Vietnam World Watch – 25 Christian Population – 97,338,579 Yemen World Watch – 3 Christian Population – 25,408,000 Ethiopia World Watch – 39 Christian Population – 112,269,301 Mali World Watch – 17 Christian Population – 20,250,833 Turkey World Watch – 41 Christian Population – 80,810,525 Turkmenistan World Watch – 26 Christian Population – 5,942,000 Tunisia World Watch – 36 Christian Population – 11,403,800 North Korea World Watch – 1 Christian Population – 25,713,000 Kuwait Capital City – Kuwait City Population – 4,052,584 China World Watch – 16 Christian Population – 1,412,600,000 Colombia World Watch – 22 Christian Population – 51,895,000 Morocco World Watch – 29 Christian Population – 36,910,560 Algeria World Watch – 19 Christian Population – 43,851,044 Libya World Watch – 5 Christian Population – 5,670,688 Sudan World Watch – 10 Christian Population – 43,849,260 Saudi Arabia World Watch – 13 Christian Population – 34,218,000 Iraq World Watch – 18 Christian Population – 39,127,900 Jordan World Watch – 49 Christian Population – 6,500,000 Iran World Watch – 8 Christian Population – 79,966,230 Malaysia World Watch – 43 Christian Population – 27,140,000 Mozambique World Watch – 32 Christian Population – 28,829,476 Democratic Republic of Congo World Watch – 37 Christian Population – 89,561,403 Nigeria World Watch – 6 Christian Population – 206,139,589 Nicaragua World Watch – 50 Christian Population – 6,751,000 Cameroon World Watch – 45 Christian Population – 16,322,000 Kazakhstan World Watch – 48 Christian Population – 18,690,115 Laos World Watch – 31 Christian Population – 6,477,211 Uzbekistan World Watch – 21 Christian Population – 31,100,500 Afghanistan World Watch – 9 Christian Population – 33,928,493 Pakistan World Watch – 7 Christian Population – 206,139,589 India World Watch – 11 Christian Population – 1,414,843,757 Nepal Capital City – Kathmandu Population – 28,825,709 Egypt World Watch – 35 Christian Population – 102,333,440
Levels of persecution:
  •   Extreme
  •   Very High
  •   High
View country profiles
2023  ranking
  1. North Korea
  2. Somalia
  3. Yemen
  4. Eritrea
  5. Libya
Explore the list

Latest stories

View more

Prayer and praise

PLEASE PRAY
Pray for young Christians in the Middle East and North Africa who feel hopeless and abandoned – pray that they will have futures filled with opportunity and hope.
GIVE THANKS
That 130 young Christians have received Bibles in Nigeria, thanks to your gifts and prayers. For most of them, it’s the first time they’ve had their own Bible.
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to our monthly email to hear stories of courageous faith from the field and hear how you can make an impact for persecuted Christians.

    Privacy Policy

    Courageous Christians

    These believers are bravely following Jesus despite enormous opposition, or raising support and awareness for the persecuted church. This is the worldwide family of Christians

    Baher Egypt
    Baher (name changed) felt hopeless after tragic accidents at the quarry where he worked – only unsafe jobs are offered to Christians in his community. Meet Baher
    Meet Baher
     
    Jubran Iraq
    Jubran runs a Centre of Hope which helps around 500 Iraqi Christians to heal from their trauma and strengthen them in their faith. Meet Jubran
    Meet Jubran
     
    Rebecca North Korea
    Rebecca (name changed) is an Open Doors fieldworker taking extraordinary risks to support North Korean refugee women through secret networks in China. Meet Rebecca
    Meet Rebecca
     
    ‘Melody’ Iraq
    ‘Melody’ are a group of young singers from the Nineveh Plain who have discovered joy and purpose through making music and sharing the gospel. Meet ‘Melody’
    Meet ‘Melody’
     
    Aminah Mauritania
    When Aminah’s husband discovered she’d converted to Christianity, he beat her and then isolated her from her new community. She is still standing strong. Meet Aminah
    Meet Aminah
     
    Mohan India
    Mohan* and his family had to leave their home, community and livelihood – all because they trust in Jesus. Open Doors supporters helped them rebuild their lives. More on India
    Meet Mohan
     
    Elizabeth Colombia
    Elizabeth (6) is from Colombia. Her parents work at the Children’s Centre run by Open Doors local partners. “When it’s dark, Jesus makes sure I don’t fall,” she says. Meet Elizabeth
    Meet Elizabeth
     
    Vian Iraq
    Vian found trauma care at an Open Doors Centre of Hope after she had to flee so-called Islamic State. Now she’s able to give that trauma support to others. Meet Vian
    Meet Vian