The Latest Research on christian persecution
THE 2025 WORLD WATCH LIST
Christian persecution is a reality.
More than 380 million Christ-followers face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus.
The World Watch List is your source for current information and prayer points about the 50 countries where faith costs the most.
World Watch List Prayer Guide
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Open Doors’ annual World Watch List is the product of extensive desk and field research, is independently audited by the International Institute of Religious Freedom, and is the most trusted source of information concerning persecuted Christians.Â
The World Watch List Prayer Guide is designed to help you learn about and pray for Christians in the top 50 countries where persecution is most prevalent.
Download your free copy of the 2024 World Watch List by filling out the form and you’ll get a copy of the prayer guide in your inbox so you can start praying today!Â
Explore the most world's most persecuted countries
Methodology of the World Watch List
The key areas in measuring Christian persecution
Private Life
This sphere measures the extent to which freedom is restricted when relating to God one-on-one in one’s own private space. Persecution in this sphere could restrict private worship, possession of religious material, or freedom of expression.
Family Life
This sphere measures the extent to which freedom has been restricted to live out Christian convictions within the family circle. Persecution in this sphere could involve forced allocations of religious identity, weddings, baptisms, burials, adoptions, child rearing, separation of families, pressure to divorce, or inheritance rights.
Community Life
This sphere examines persecution involving the workplace, business, health care, education, local public life and civic order. It could include dress codes, monitoring, abduction, restricted access to community resources and/or health care, and employment or education discrimination or disadvantages.
National Life
This sphere examines the interaction between Christians and the nation they live in, including rights and laws, the justice system and public life. Persecution in this sphere could include blasphemy accusations, unequal treatment in court, toleration of public disrespect, travel restrictions, or discrimination by authorities.
Church Life
This sphere examines the collective exercise by Christians of worship, service and public expression of faith without undue interference. Persecution could involve requiring church registration, monitoring preaching material, harassment of leaders and their families, or restricting the printing or distribution of religious materials.
Violence
Violence is defined as the deprivation of physical freedom or as serious bodily or mental harm to Christians or serious damage to their property and can occur in all spheres of life. has context menu
Each of these "persecution spheres" is given a score out of 16 2/3, adding up to a total score out of 100: the higher the number, the worse the Christian persecution. To see each country's persecution score and learn about how you can pray, download your World Watch List prayer guide above.
So what?
Why the world Watch List matters
1. It shows us where God is at work
As a ministry, we don’t exist to end persecution. The reality is, wherever the Gospel is being shared, persecution exists. Instead, we work to strengthen the Church to continue sharing the message of Jesus. The World Watch List shows us where persecution is on the rise, how God is at work and where the Gospel is advancing.
2. It is trustworthy
For almost 30 years, Open Doors has produced the World Watch List, compiled by a group of eight full-time persecution analysts, all experts in their field of study. The list is audited externally by the International Institute for Religious Freedom, and is accepted as the most authoritative list of its kind.
3. It impacts the church in Canada
Our two-fold mission is to strengthen Christians living under persecution, and to mobilize the Canadian Church to identify with the global body of Christ. Your support helps our persecuted family around the world to be the light of Jesus in their communities. And as their stories make their way into our churches, Bible studies and homes, we become bolder in our faith.
4. It affects the work we do
Open Doors works to strengthen the persecuted church to withstand Christian persecution and to continue sharing the Gospel in their nation. As persecution in each country changes, we are able to adapt and to fine-tune how we can best serve the persecuted church.
5. It impacts you
The World Watch List reminds us we shouldn’t be trying to avoid persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Instead, we should be prepared to stand firm in courageous obedience, committed to standing with our persecuted family through prayer and encouragement.
Watch the 2025 World Watch List Release Event!
Prayer, analysis, and the reveal of the top 50 countries on the 2025 World Watch List.Â