The World Watch List is compiled by Open Doors’ analysts using real-world data from experts on the ground.
They measure the number and severity of violent incidents against Christians and the degree of pressure exerted against the practice of their faith in the following five spheres of life: private life, family life, community life, national life and church life.
More than 365 million Christians suffer high and extreme levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Christ
Today, approximately 1 in every 7 Christians around the world is persecuted because of their commitment to Christ as Saviour and Lord. Many are killed or left to die. Churches are attacked. Christians are detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned. Some are denied employment. Others are severely intimidated or brutally beaten.
Persecution against Christians continues to intensify. We must pray for them. Here a few urgent requests from the field.
- Pray for restrictions to be lifted so that Christians may move about safely, and carefully bring the gospel message to others.
- Pray for God’s peace and protection on believers as many fear what may happen to them and their loved ones if their Christian faith is discovered.
- Pray for the courage to withstand pressure, intimidation, violence and injustice without compromise.
- May God’s kingdom come, and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
In these 50 nations, faith in Christ cost the most.
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Libya
- Eritrea
- Yemen
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sudan
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- India
- Syria
- Saudi Arabia
- Mali
- Algeria
- Iraq
- Myanmar
- Maldives
- China
- Burkina Faso
- Laos
- Cuba
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Uzbekistan
- Bangladesh
- Niger
- Central African Rep.
- Turkmenistan
- Nicaragua
- Oman
- Ethiopia
- Tunisia
- Colombia
- Vietnam
- Bhutan
- Mexico
- Egypt
- Mozambique
- Qatar
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Indonesia
- Cameroon
- Brunei
- Comoros
- Tajikistan
- Kazakhstan
- Jordan
- Malaysia
- Turkey