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

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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 – 124,066,000 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 – 867,000 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 – 36,300 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
Levels of persecution:
  •   Extreme
  •   Very High
  •   High
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2026  ranking
  1. North Korea
  2. Somalia
  3. Yemen
  4. Sudan
  5. Eritrea
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Prayer and praise

PLEASE PRAY
For peace in Iran amidst great unrest and conflict, that believers in Iran would shine with the hope of the gospel and know God’s protection and care.
GIVE THANKS
For the release of Deacon Jang*, a Chinese church leader, from 11 years in prison in North Korea. Jang was taken in 2014 for his ministerial work and released without official explanation at the end of 2025. Praise God for His mercy on Jang and his family.
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    Courageous Christians

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

    Ariana Afghanistan
    ‘Ariana’ has faced death threats from her brother. As an Afghan Christian, she faces extreme danger from the Taliban and her own community.

    Meet Ariana
     
    Simin Iran
    ‘Simin’ had to flee Iran because of her faith. Her family still faces frequent threats – and, even in displacement, she knows she isn’t safe.

    Meet Simin
     
    Leah Nigeria
    Leah was kidnapped eight years ago. She remains in captivity because she refuses to denounce Jesus.

    Read more
     
    Zaira Central Asia
    Saying ‘yes’ to following Jesus meant stepping into a life of persecution for Zaira, but one from which she would never turn away.

    Meet Zaira
     
    Susanna Malaysia
    Susanna Koh’s husband, Pastor Raymond, was abducted – she has tirelessly sought justice against the authorities who took him for his faith.

    Read More
     
    Ngoc Vietnam
    Ngoc has been driven from home and left for dead by her husband because of her faith. She still says, “God is good all the time.”

    Meet Ngoc
     
    Lu Mei China
    ‘Lu Mei’s’ church was raided by police. She was arrested, interrogated and detained. It was only the beginning of her battle.

    Meet Lu Mei
     
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