World Watch List 2023

The World Watch List is Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.
Explore the profiles for each country to find in-depth information about their situation, believers' stories, and specific prayer requests.

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Leader
No. of Christians
Main Religion
Government

Persecution Level

Violence
Private Life
Family Life
Community Life
National Life
Church Life

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High levels of persecution Very high levels of persecution Extreme levels of persecution

Country	Persecution Source	Region	Main Religion
1 North Korea	Communist and post-Communist oppression	Asia	Agnosticism
2 Somalia	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
3 Yemen	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
4 Eritrea	Dictatorial paranoia	Africa	Islam
5 Libya	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
6 Nigeria	Islamic oppression	Africa	Christianity
7 Pakistan	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
8 Iran	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
9 Afghanistan	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
10 Sudan	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
11 India	Religious nationalism	Asia	Hinduism
12 Syria	Dictatorial paranoia	Asia	Islam
13 Saudi Arabia	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
14 Myanmar	Religious nationalism	Asia	Buddhism
15 Maldives	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
16 China	Communist and post-Communist oppression	Asia	Agnosticism
17 Mali	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
18 Iraq	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
19 Algeria	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
20 Mauritania	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
21 Uzbekistan	Dictatorial paranoia	Asia	Islam
22 Colombia	Organized corruption and crime	Latin America	Christianity
23 Burkina Faso	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
24 Central African Republic	Islamic oppression	Africa	Christianity
25 Vietnam	Communist and post - Communist oppression	Asia	Buddhism
26 Turkmenistan	Dictatorial paranoia	Asia	Islam
27 Cuba	Dictatorial paranoia	Latin America	Christianity
28 Niger	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
29 Morocco	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
30 Bangladesh	Dictatorial paranoia	Asia	Islam
31 Laos	Communist and post-Communist oppression	Asia	Buddhism
32 Mozambique	Islamic oppression	Africa	Christianity
33 Indonesia	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
34 Qatar	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
35 Egypt	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
36 Tunisia	Islamic oppression	Africa	Islam
37 Congo DR (DRC)	Islamic Oppression	Africa	Christianity
38 Mexico	Organized corruption and crime	Latin America	Christianity
39 Ethiopia	Christian denominational protectionism	Africa	Christianity
40 Bhutan	Religious nationalism	Asia	Buddhism
41 Turkey	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
42 Comoros	Islamic Oppression	Africa	Islam
43 Malaysia	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
44 Tajikistan	Dictatorial paranoia	Asia	Islam
45 Cameroon	Islamic oppression	Africa	Christianity
46 Brunei	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
47 Oman	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
48 Kazakhstan	Dictatorial paranoia	Asia	Islam
49 Jordan	Islamic oppression	Asia	Islam
50 Nicaragua	Dictatorial paranoia	Latin America	Christianity