GLOBAL – January 15, 2025
In its latest annual report, the evangelical advocacy group Open Doors International estimates that more than 380 million Christians around the world faced high-level persecution or discrimination in 2024, up 15 million from the previous year.
The “World Watch List 2025” ranks the 50 countries where Christians endure the most severe threats. According to the report:
- Approximately 4,476 Christians were killed for their faith in 2024, with Nigeria alone accounting for 3,100 of those deaths.
- 4,744 Christians were detained, arrested, or imprisoned without trial; India recorded 1,629 detentions.
- 1 in 7 Christians globally faced “very high” or “extreme” levels of persecution according to the criteria used by Open Doors.
Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors USA, said:
“While the numbers and rankings only partially tell the story, they do help draw the world’s attention to the 380 million believers who are suffering for their faith.”
Peter Paulsson, secretary-general of Open Doors Sweden, added:
“As democratic freedoms erode, challenges intensify, especially in regions where Christians are minorities.”
Why It Matters
The new figures reflect a steady global trend of increasing pressure on Christian communities, whether through violence, legal restrictions, forced displacement, or social discrimination. The data underscores that Christian persecution is not confined to one region or type of regime, but is a multi-faceted global phenomenon.
Source for Publication
Source: EEW Magazine Online News Editors, “Report: 380 Million Christians Face Growing Persecution Worldwide”, August 28 2025.
