Christians face severe persecution in dozens of countries worldwide, according to new data highlighted after Donald Trump cited attacks in Nigeria while announcing a US military strike carried out on Christmas Day.
Christian advocacy group Open Doors says believers continue to face violence, imprisonment, and execution across large parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, with Nigeria ranking among the most dangerous places.
Why Nigeria Is Back in Focus
In announcing the US action, Trump said militants in north-west Nigeria were targeting Christians “at levels not seen for many years.” Nigerian authorities, however, disputed that framing, stressing that terrorism in the country affects communities of all faiths.
Nigeria’s government said its counter-terrorism strategy prioritizes civilian protection regardless of religion or ethnicity and cautioned against portraying the security crisis as exclusively faith-based.
What the Open Doors Report Says
According to Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, more than 380 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution or discrimination. The group estimates:
- One in seven Christians globally is affected
- One in five Christians in Africa faces persecution
The report documents abuses ranging from public executions for owning a Bible to long-term imprisonment for belonging to unregistered churches.
Countries Where Christians Face the Greatest Danger
The Open Doors World Watch List 2025 identifies the following countries as the most dangerous for Christians:
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Libya
- Eritrea
- Yemen
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sudan
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- Central African Republic
- Mauritania
- Myanmar
- Mali
- Syria
- India
- Saudi Arabia
- Maldives
- China
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Morocco
- Burkina Faso
- Turkey
- Cuba
- Niger
- Ethiopia
- Laos
- Tajikistan
- Qatar
- Egypt
- Brunei
- Jordan
- Oman
- United Arab Emirates
- Colombia
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Mozambique
- Bangladesh
- Vietnam
- Bhutan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Kyrgyzstan
- Russia
- Sri Lanka
- Western Sahara
- Kosovo
- Bahrain
Global Reactions and Warnings
Henrietta Blyth, chief executive of Open Doors UK and Ireland, has described global persecution of Christians as “one of the great untold scandals of the 21st century,” citing examples from North Korea to Eritrea.
Jeff King said many victims are misunderstood, noting that most persecuted Christians live in the Global South, not the West.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that extremist violence targets multiple communities and said the country will continue working with international partners, including the US, to dismantle militant networks while strengthening domestic security institutions.
