Your gift will support Christians who risk everything for Christ

Find out where Christians risk everything for Christ.

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.

Support Christians facing extreme persecution

1 in 7 Christians are persecuted. Learn more

Sister R and Sister J support North Korean refugees

Order World Watch List Resources

Prayer Webinar - Pray for Nigeria - February 23

World Watch List

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

World Watch List Map

World Watch List Map

Levels of persecution:

Extreme
Very High

1 in 7

Christians around the world are persecuted for their faith

80,000

North Korean Christians were given emergency food and medicine through Chinese networks

5,621

Christians were murdered for their faith last year

2,110

churches and Christian buildings were attacked last year

5,259

Christians were abducted last year

View country profiles

2023 ranking

North Korea
Somalia
Yemen
Eritrea
Libya

Explore the list

Latest stories

Burkina Faso | February 03, 2023

Update: Women and children freed from captivity one week after capture in Burkina Faso

Myanmar | February 01, 2023

“We see a lot of suffering” – a Q&A to mark two years of military rule in Myanmar

Myanmar | February 01, 2023

Suspicious neighbours, bomb shelters and praying in the mountains – two years of military rule in Myanmar

North Korea | January 26, 2023

“God does a lot of signs and wonders in North Korea” – a Q&A with Brother Simon

View more

Prayer and praise

Please pray

Pray for all courageous Christians who take extraordinary risks to follow Christ, and that the World Watch List 2023 will highlight the plight of our global church family.

Give thanks

Praise God for a courageous group of young Christians from a Muslim background in the Philippines who recently chose to get baptised.

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.

World Watch List top 10

These are the ten countries where Christians risk most for following Jesus.
Follow the link to find more about each country.

1. N.Korea

Being discovered as a Christian in North Korea means being killed or sent to an appalling political prison.
Read more

2. Somalia

Insurgent group al-Shabaab are intensifying their violent hunt for Christians.
Read more

3. Yemen

Yemen is strongly tribal and it’s illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity.
Read more

4. Eritrea

At least a thousand Eritrea Christians are being held in prison for their faith.
Read more

5. Libya

Libya is effectively a lawless land where native and migrant Christians face extreme danger.
Read more

6. Nigeria

More Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria last year than the rest of the world combined.
Read more

7. Pakistan

Christians in Pakistan are considered second-class citizens and face discrimination in every aspect of life.
Read more

8. Iran

Iran is ruled by an increasingly strict Islamic regime, which views Iranian house churches as a threat.
Read more

9. Afghanistan

Afghan Christians remain in grave danger. Many have fled or been forced further underground, making them less visible for attack.
Read more

10. Sudan

Once a ‘good news story’, instability in Sudan has led to Christian persecution intensifying.
Read more

Get involved

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

Support Christians facing extreme persecution

1 in 7 Christians are persecuted. Learn more

Sister R and Sister J support North Korean refugees

Order World Watch List Resources

Prayer Webinar - Pray for Nigeria - February 23