World Watch List 2023

The World Watch List is Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Explore the country profiles to find information, stories and prayers for each of the countries, along with ways that you can stand with your persecuted church family in prayer and action. More about the World Watch List.

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
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  1. North Korea
  2. Somalia
  3. Yemen
  4. Eritrea
  5. Libya
  6. Nigeria
  7. Pakistan
  8. Iran
  9. Afghanistan
  10. Sudan
  1. India
  2. Syria
  3. Saudi Arabia
  4. Myanmar
  5. Maldives
  6. China
  7. Mali
  8. Iraq
  9. Algeria
  10. Mauritania
  11. Uzbekistan
  12. Colombia
  13. Burkina Faso
  14. Central African Republic
  15. Vietnam
  16. Turkmenistan
  17. Cuba
  18. Niger
  19. Morocco
  20. Bangladesh
  1. Laos
  2. Mozambique
  3. Indonesia
  4. Qatar
  5. Egypt
  6. Tunisia
  7. Democratic Republic of Congo
  8. Mexico
  9. Ethiopia
  10. Bhutan
  11. Turkey
  12. Comoros
  13. Malaysia
  14. Tajikistan
  15. Cameroon
  16. Brunei
  17. Oman
  18. Kazakhstan
  19. Jordan
  20. Nicaragua

Levels of persecution:

  •   Extreme
  •   Very High
5,621
Christians were murdered for their faith last year
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Order the World Watch List: Top 50
Find out more View all WWL resources
Read the 2023 Advocacy Report
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