A new report from Open Doors US reveals that global persecution of Christians has reached unprecedented levels. The 2026 World Watch List, released Wednesday, ranks the top 50 countries where believers face the most extreme persecution. The data shows that 388 million Christians, more than one in seven worldwide, now experience high levels of persecution or discrimination for their faith, an increase of over 8 million from the previous year.
Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors US, explained that rising violence is a key driver, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where 14 nations are listed. Nigeria remains the deadliest country for Christians, with 3,490 of the 4,849 faith-related killings globally occurring there.
Brown also highlighted growing “squeeze persecution” in countries like China. “The Chinese government has really sought to close down a number of the unregistered churches, those that were not officially aligned with the Communist Party, and close those churches out,” he said.
North Korea remains the most dangerous country for Christians, with increasing surveillance using artificial intelligence.
