North Korea heads the new Open Doors ranking. North African countries such as Morocco and Algeria appear on the list. “If we lose religious freedom, then all other freedoms fall”.
North Korea continues to be the most dangerous country for Christians / Photo: Open Doors.
The World Watch List (WWL) 2025 shows that “more than 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution or discrimination for their faith. Far from receiving equal protection as citizens, in too many cases they are denied basic legal rights in societies hostile to their faith”.
That is the conclusion of the annual report by Open Doors, which has just been published and provides comprehensive figures on the situation facing Christians around the world.
“It is of the utmost importance to defend the rights of all people, of all religions. If we don't defend all the freedoms of all religions, we can become persecutors”, says Ted Blake, director of Open Doors Spain, to news website Protestante Digital.
In addition to the stifling oppression long endured by underground Christians in North Korea, the 2025 WWL records other trends that have been spreading for years, as well as the relentless lethal violence across much of the African continent. Another negative evolution can be seen in Central Asia.
These are the 10 countries where Christians suffer most because of their faith, according to the 2025 World Watch List:
1. North Korea (98)
2. Somalia (94)
3. Yemen (94)
4. Libya (91)
5. Sudan (90)
6. Eritrea (89)
7. Nigeria (88)
8. Pakistan (87)
9. Iran (86)
10. Afghanistan (85)
A score of 81 out of 100 or more indicates "extreme persecution".
Download the map and the WWL 2025 list in a PDF format here.
For the third year in a row and for the 23rd time since the first WWL in 1993, North Korea is at the top of the list.
Since 2002, North Korea has led the list every year except in 2022, when it moved to second place behind Afghanistan following its fall to the Taliban.
Persecution continues to be a worrying reality for Christians in some areas of Mexico and Colombia. In both countries, the role of drug traffickers and guerrillas in some areas leads to a situation of general insecurity, which directly affects Christians in the practice of their faith.
In Nicaragua, the regime of Daniel Ortega has increased its pressure on Roman Catholic and evangelical churches and organisations, restricting their capacity to act and blackmailing them in order for them to keep working in the country.
Cuba has continued its strategy of silencing any critical voice. When pastors or Christian leaders have taken part in demonstrations, they have been monitored, their freedoms curtailed and even imprisoned.
[photo_footer]Pastor Miguel, in Cuba, holds a Bible after suffering imprisonment / Puertas Abiertas [/photo_footer] Morocco remains on the list as a country where Christians cannot practice their faith in complete freedom, as legislation prevents them from “undermining the faith of Muslims”.
Christian gatherings are in many cases clandestine, in the face of social and governmental pressure.
Algeria is one of the places where legislation and government action has sought to curb the expansion and growth of churches.
“Religious gatherings that were not Islamic were outlawed, Christians have to meet clandestinely”, explained Blake; and as a result “the number of people arrested, awaiting trial, has increased significantly, something that directly affects the lives of Christians and their future”.
Kyrgyzstan's score on the WWL has risen 7.5 points (more than any other country on the list), which was enough to raise its position fourteen places to number 47, marking its first appearance in the Top 50 since 2013.
[photo_footer]Roshna Roy's son was martyred by Muslims in Bangladesh / Open Doors. [/photo_footer] “Before the current president, [Sadyr] Zhaparov, took power in January 2021, Kyrgyzstan could claim to be the only truly democratic country in Central Asia”, said Rolf Zeegers, an analyst at the World Watch Research.
Since then, “a broad set of more repressive laws has been introduced. We have seen an increase in restrictions on religious freedom”, he added.
The country has experienced a sharp rise in violence against churches, including incidents of stone throwing and raids during worship services.
Tighter government controls in neighbouring Kazakhstan have also raised its score three points on the WWL, pushing it up nine places to 38th.
Investigators have reported police raids during worship services, as well as sexual abuse of Christian women.
According to Frans Veerman, Executive Director of Open Doors World Watch Research, “the threat from authoritarian regimes in Central Asia has worsened to such an extent that many Christians in the region are increasingly afraid”.
“Christians are being targeted or are particularly vulnerable in countries plagued by increasingly autocratic regimes and radical elements”, underlined Veerman.
Sudan's score has risen three points, pushing the country up three places to 5th, due to the intensification of the civil war.
[photo_footer] A Christian woman, forcibly displaced by her faith in the face of violence in Benue, Nigeria / Open Doors. [/photo_footer] There has been an increase in the number of Christians killed and sexually assaulted, as well as attacks on Christian homes and businesses. Over 7.7 million people were internally displaced by mid-2024, making it the world's worst displacement crisis.
Nigeria, in 7th place, remains one of the most dangerous places for Christians. Attacks by Fulani militia and jihadist groups continue, with Christians being disproportionately harmed.
The Open Doors Arise Africa campaign is a multi-year response to the overwhelming violence against Christians in the region. Along with Sub-Saharan African Christian leaders, the campaign aims to help the African church to stand firm in the faith where persecution is at its most extreme.
Civil war
Yemen's score on the WWL has risen by 4.6 points, raising the country to third place on the list. The ongoing civil war has increased oppression against minorities, including Christians.
The fight between the Myanmar army and a multitude of opposition militias has increased its score to the level of extreme persecution, which unites the top thirteen countries on the WWL.
Driven out or underground church
In countries such as Algeria, Libya and Afghanistan, the visible Christian presence is diminishing, driving believers into isolation or clandestine meetings.
“Governments in the region need to take meaningful action to address the growing influence of jihadist groups and prioritize protecting the vulnerable from aggressors. Without this action, once thriving Christian communities will disappear”, pointed out Veerman.
Surveillance states
Christians in China and other autocratic countries are increasingly wary of openly expressing their faith because of heightened surveillance.
The WWL is an annual report published by the international NGO Open Doors that ranks and analyses in depth the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, where their religious freedom is most violated.
The list is compiled on the basis of levels of violence, the number of government restrictions and the level of social hostility towards Christians in those places.
The methodology is audited by the International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF). This year's list covers the period from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024.
Open Doors International has 25 national bases that support and strengthens persecuted Christians, doing so for more than 60 years and in 70 countries. It provides persecuted Christians with practical help such as food, medicine, post-trauma care, legal assistance, safe houses and schools, as well as spiritual support through accompaniment or Christian literature, training and resources.
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