The 2025 World Watch List

When God's people are struck down, attacked and even killed ... what responsibility do we have as their brothers and sisters?

The World Watch List is Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. You can scroll down to read about individual countries, or you can download the entire prayer guide booklet for free! You can also order a free physical copy of the booklet to be sent to your home. Each country's profile will give you a snapshot of what Christians face there, quotes from believers risking so much to follow Jesus and, most importantly, how you can pray.   

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☰ 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)Single-party DictatorshipAsiaAgnosticism
2Somalia
Islamic oppression94Hundreds (Open Doors estimate)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAfricaIslam
3Yemen
Islamic oppression94Small number (Open Doors estimate)In transitionAsiaIslam
4Libya
Islamic oppression9135,100 (0.5% of population)In transitionAfricaIslam
5Sudan
Islamic oppression902,013,000 (4.3%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
6Eritrea
Dictatorial paranoia891,739,000 (47%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
7Nigeria
Islamic oppression88102,988,000 (46%)Federal Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
8Pakistan
Islamic oppression874,195,000 (1.8%)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAsiaIslam
9Iran
Islamic oppression861,245,000 (Open Doors estimate)Theocratic RepublicAsiaIslam
10Afghanistan
Islamic oppression85Thousands (Open Doors estimate)Islamic EmirateAsiaIslam
11India
Religious nationalism8471,120,000 (5%)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAsiaHinduism
12Saudi Arabia
Islamic oppression812,194,000 (6%)Absolute MonarchyAsiaIslam
13Myanmar
Religious nationalism814,479,000 (8%)Parliamentary RepublicAsiaBuddhism
14Mali
Islamic oppression80497,000 (2.2%)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 oppression78154,000 (0.4%)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAsiaIslam
18Syria
Dictatorial paranoia78579,000 (3%)Authoritarian Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
19Algeria
Islamic oppression77144,000 (0.3%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
20Burkina Faso
Islamic oppression765,315,000 (23.4%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
21Morocco
Islamic oppression7431,200 (0.1%)Parliamentary Constitutional MonarchyAfricaIslam
22Laos
Communist and post-Communist oppression74212,000 (2.8%)Communist StateAsiaBuddhism
23Mauritania
Islamic oppression7411,100 (0.2%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
24Bangladesh
Dictatorial paranoia74950,000 (0.6%)Parliamentary RepublicAsiaIslam
25Uzbekistan
Dictatorial paranoia73352,000 (1.0%)Authoritarian Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
26Cuba
Dictatorial paranoia736,966,000 (61.7%)Communist StateLatin AmericaChristianity
27Central African Republic
Islamic oppression723,807,000 (74%)Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
28Niger
Islamic oppression7266,600 (0.2%)Semi-Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
29Turkmenistan
Dictatorial paranoia7166,000 (1.1%)Authoritarian Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
30Nicaragua
Dictatorial paranoia716,506,000 (95%)Presidential RepublicLatin AmericaChristianity
31Mexico
Organized corruption and crime71126,876,000 (95.5%)Federal Presidential RepublicLatin AmericaChristianity
32Oman
Islamic oppression70196,000 (3.6%)Absolute MonarchyAsiaIslam
33Ethiopia
Christian denominational protectionism7074,679,000 (60%)Federal Parliamentary RepublicAfricaChristianity
34Tunisia
Islamic oppression7022,200 (0.2%)Parliamentary RepublicAfricaIslam
35Congo DR (DRC)
Islamic Oppression7093,396,000 (95%)Semi-Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
36Bhutan
Religious nationalism6919,500 (2.4%)Constitutional MonarchyAsiaBuddhism
37Mozambique
Islamic oppression6819,184,000 (56%)Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
38Kazakhstan
Dictatorial paranoia684,859,000 (25%)Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
39Tajikistan
Dictatorial paranoia6863,100 (0.6%)Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
40Egypt
Islamic oppression689,797,000 (9%)Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
41Qatar
Islamic oppression67414,000 (13.7%)Absolute MonarchyAsiaIslam
42Comoros
Islamic Oppression674,700 (0.5%)Federal Presidential RepublicAfricaIslam
43Cameroon
Islamic oppression6717,647,000 (62%)Presidential RepublicAfricaChristianity
44Vietnam
Communist and post - Communist oppression679,635,000 (9.7%)Communist StateAsiaBuddhism
45Turkey
Islamic oppression67169,000 (0.2%)Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
46Colombia
Organized corruption and crime6649,079,000 (95%)Presidential RepublicLatin AmericaChristianity
47Kyrgyzstan
Islamic oppression66Presidential RepublicAsiaIslam
48Brunei
Islamic oppression6654,200 (12%)Absolute Monarchy or SultanateAsiaIslam
49Chad
Islamic oppression65Presidential 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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