More Than 388 Million Christians Face Persecution Worldwide, According to Open Doors’ 2026 Watch List

Open Doors released its 2026 World Watch List on Wednesday, ranking the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution because of their faith. According to the organization, more than 388 million Christians experienced high levels of persecution or discrimination between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025 — a record-breaking figure.

Each year, Open Doors publishes its global watch list to highlight the countries where followers of Christ face the greatest pressure, hostility, and violence. This year's report points to what the organization describes as an unprecedented level of persecution.

Open Doors estimates that more than 388 million Christians are now exposed to persecution worldwide, an increase of 8 million compared to last year. That amounts to roughly one in seven Christians around the world.

In the top 15 countries on the list, persecution is classified as extreme. According to Open Doors, those countries are led by North Korea, followed by Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya, and Iran.

Syria Sees the Sharpest Deterioration

According to the report, Syria saw the most significant deterioration in 2025. Previously ranked 18th, the country has now risen to 6th place, entering the top 10 of the 2026 index.

Open Doors says that after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the rise to power of the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, conditions for the Church worsened dramatically. Since the June 22, 2025 suicide bombing at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Elias in Damascus — attributed to an ISIS-linked terrorist — many Christians no longer feel safe.

As a result, churches across the country have sharply reduced their activities. Before 2011, Syria was home to an estimated 1 to 2 million Christians. Today, that number has reportedly dropped to around 300,000.

3,490 Nigerian Christians Killed in 2025

Several countries on the watch list are located in sub-Saharan Africa, a region facing deep challenges including poverty, foreign influence, and political instability. Open Doors says the weakening of the rule of law has created a power vacuum that extremist groups are exploiting, often targeting Christians with near-total impunity.

Among those countries, Nigeria ranks 7th. In 2025 alone, 3,490 Christians were killed, bringing the total number of Christian victims in the country to 44,642 since 2011.

Drawing on statements from extremist groups, victim testimonies, and the methods used in the attacks, Guillaume Guennec, Director of Advocacy at Open Doors, said:

Countries with significant Christian populations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and Mozambique, have also been heavily affected.

A Call to Support and Hope

Open Doors documented several especially violent attacks in 2025, including the massacre of 258 Christians in Yelewata, Nigeria, carried out by Fulani extremists; the suicide bombing at Saint Elias Church in Damascus; and an attack on a church during a prayer vigil in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where more than 38 Christians were killed.

Open Doors also announced that it will host a live broadcast on YouTube and Facebook on January 16 at 8 p.m. to explain the findings of the 2026 Watch List and answer questions from viewers. The organization will be joined by Jean-Pierre Elikia, a church leader in Central Africa who has personally faced attacks because of his Christian faith.

According to Open Doors, the event will also include a time of prayer for persecuted Christians around the world.