World Watch List 2025

The World Watch List is Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.

Explore each country profile and download the detailed dossiers for in-depth information about following Jesus in the most dangerous places. Read their stories and learn how you can stand with them in prayer and action.

☰ Ranking
Malaysia
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  • Leader
  • No. of Christians
  • Main Religion
  • Government
Persecution Level
0100
  • Private Life
  • Family Life
  • Community Life
  • National Life
  • Church Life
  • Violence
View full profile
1
10
2
4
8
6
5
3
9
11
18
7
12
16
17
40
19
25
13
22
44
29
15
23
27
21
41
20
14
39
50
34
38
45
48
24
33
46
32
36
43
31
35
26
37
42
28
47
49
30
Country
Persecution Source
Score
No. of Christians
Government
Region
Main Religion
1North Korea
Communist and post-Communist oppression98400,000 (Open Doors estimate)Dictatorship, Single-party communist stateAsiaAgnosticism
2Somalia
Islamic oppression94Hundreds (Open Doors estimate)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAfricaIslam
3Yemen
Islamic oppression94Small number (Open Doors estimate)In transitionAsiaIslam
4Libya
Islamic oppression9135,500 (0.5% of population)In transitionAfricaIslam
5Sudan
Islamic oppression902,028,000 (4.1%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
6Eritrea
Dictatorial paranoia891,687,000 (44%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
7Nigeria
Islamic oppression88106,608,000 (46.5%)Federal Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
8Pakistan
Islamic oppression874,526,000 (1.8%)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAsiaIslam
9Iran
Islamic oppression86800,000 (Open Doors estimate)Theocratic RepublicAsiaIslam
10Afghanistan
Islamic oppression85Thousands (Open Doors estimate)TheocraticAsiaIslam
11India
Religious nationalism8473,233,000 (5%)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAsiaHinduism
12Saudi Arabia
Islamic oppression812,274,000 (6%)Absolute MonarchyAsiaIslam
13Myanmar
Religious nationalism814,760,000 (8.7%)Military RegimeAsiaBuddhism
14Mali
Islamic oppression80542,000 (2.3%)Semi-Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
15China
Communist and post-Communist oppression7896,700,000 (Open Doors estimate)Communist Party-led stateAsiaAgnosticism
16Maldives
Islamic oppression78Hundreds (Open Doors estimate)Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
17Iraq
Islamic oppression78187,000 (0.4%)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAsiaIslam
18Syria
Dictatorial paranoia78579,000 (Open Doors estimate)Authoritarian Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
19Algeria
Islamic oppression77144,000 (Open Doors estimate)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
20Burkina Faso
Islamic oppression766,169,000 (26%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
21Morocco
Islamic oppression7433,000 (0.1%)Parliamentary Constitutional MonarchyAfricaIslam
22Laos
Communist and post-Communist oppression74224,000 (2.9%)Communist Party-led StateAsiaBuddhism
23Mauritania
Islamic oppression7411,000 (0.2%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
24Bangladesh
Dictatorial paranoia74950,000 (Open Doors estimate)Parliamentary RepublicAsiaIslam
25Uzbekistan
Dictatorial paranoia73406,000 (1.1%)Presidential Republic (Highly authoritarian)AsiaIslam
26Cuba
Dictatorial paranoia736,843,000 (61.2%)Communist StateLatin AmericaChristianity
27Central African Republic
Islamic oppression724,433,000 (75%)Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
28Niger
Islamic oppression7269,200 (0.2%)Semi-Presidential Republic (prior to military coup in July 2023)AfricaIslam
29Turkmenistan
Dictatorial paranoia71164,000 (2.5%)Authoritarian Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
30Nicaragua
Dictatorial paranoia716,775,000 (95%)Presidential RepublicLatin AmericaChristianity
31Mexico
Organized corruption and crime71123,265,000 (95.3%)Federal Presidential RepublicLatin AmericaChristianity
32Oman
Islamic oppression70187,000 (4%)Absolute MonarchyAsiaIslam
33Ethiopia
Christian denominational protectionism7077,509,000 (60%)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAfricaChristianity
34Tunisia
Islamic oppression7023,300 (0.2%)Parliamentary RepublicAfricaIslam
35Congo DR (DRC)
Islamic Oppression70100,566,000 (95%)Semi-Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
36Bhutan
Religious nationalism6918,800 (2.4%)Constitutional MonarchyAsiaBuddhism
37Mozambique
Islamic oppression6819,973,000 (57%)Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
38Kazakhstan
Dictatorial paranoia685,031,000 (25%)Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
39Tajikistan
Dictatorial paranoia6862,600 (0.6%)Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
40Egypt
Islamic oppression6810,084,000 (9%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
41Qatar
Islamic oppression67381,000 (14%)Absolute MonarchyAsiaIslam
42Comoros
Islamic Oppression675,500 (0.6%)Federal Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
43Cameroon
Islamic oppression6717,128,000 (58%)Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
44Vietnam
Communist and post - Communist oppression679,778,000 (9.8%)Communist Party-led StateAsiaBuddhism
45Türkiye
Islamic oppression67257,000 (0.3%)Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
46Colombia
Organized corruption and crime6649,693,000 (95%)Presidential RepublicLatin AmericaChristianity
47Kyrgyzstan
Islamic oppression66263,000 (3.8%)Paliamentary RepublicAsiaIslam
48Brunei
Islamic oppression6655,600 (12%)Absolute Monarchy or SultanateAsiaIslam
49Chad
Islamic oppression656,003,000 (32%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
50Jordan
Islamic oppression65170,000 (Open Doors estimate)Parliamentary Constitutional MonarchyAsiaIslam
High levels of persecution Very high levels of persecution Extreme levels of persecution

More than 380m Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.

In Open Doors’ World Watch List top 50 alone, 310m Christians face very high or extreme levels. 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.

1 in 7

Christians are persecuted worldwide

1 in 5

Christians are persecuted in Africa

2 in 5

Christians are persecuted in Asia

4,476

Christians murdered

7,679

Churches and Christian properties attacked

4,744

Christians imprisoned
4,476
Christian were killed for faith related reasons last year
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