0+

Open Doors Youth, PO Box 6, Witney, Oxon, UK, OX29 6WG

+44 (0) 1993 460015 / youth@opendoorsuk.org

We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.

THE PROBLEM
At least 388 million Christians are facing persecution and discrimination – that’s one in every seven Christians on the planet.

Around the world, followers of Jesus face impossible challenges; exclusion, threats, arrest, imprisonment, violence, torture and even death. Over 388 million Christians face such impossible persecution.Yet, despite the impossible challenges, they still choose to follow Jesus. How? Why?“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Explore the map on this page for a ranking of the 50 places where faith is seemingly impossible; places where being known as a Christian could mean being cut off from family, shunned by community, facing an unjust prison sentence or being on the end of violent attacks. Use the map to guide your prayers and see where your support is urgently needed.
Around the world, followers of Jesus face impossible challenges; exclusion, threats, arrest, imprisonment, violence, torture and even death. Over 388 million Christians face such impossible persecution.Yet, despite the impossible challenges, they still choose to follow Jesus. How? Why?“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Explore the map on this page for a ranking of the 50 places where faith is seemingly impossible; places where being known as a Christian could mean being cut off from family, shunned by community, facing an unjust prison sentence or being on the end of violent attacks. Use the map to guide your prayers and see where your support is urgently needed.
pattern
three triangles Discover
WORLD WATCH LIST 2026

View country profiles

CHOOSE COUNTRY
  • 1. North Korea
  • 2. Somalia
  • 3. Yemen
  • 4. Sudan
  • 5. Eritrea
  • 6. Syria
  • 7. Nigeria
  • 8. Pakistan
  • 9. Libya
  • 10. Iran
  • 11. Afghanistan
  • 12. India
  • 13. Saudi Arabia
  • 14. Myanmar
  • 15. Mali
  • 16. Burkina Faso
  • 17. China
  • 18. Iraq
  • 19. Maldives
  • 20. Algeria
  • 21. Mauritania
  • 22. Central African Republic
  • 23. Morocco
  • 24. Cuba
  • 25. Uzbekistan
  • 26. Niger
  • 27. Tajikistan
  • 28. Laos
  • 29. Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 30. Mexico
  • 31. Tunisia
  • 32. Nicaragua
  • 33. Bangladesh
  • 34. Bhutan
  • 35. Turkmenistan
  • 36. Ethiopia
  • 37. Cameroon
  • 38. Oman
  • 39. Mozambique
  • 40. Kyrgyzstan
  • 41. Turkey
  • 42. Egypt
  • 43. Comoros
  • 44. Qatar
  • 45. Kazakhstan
  • 46. Nepal
  • 47. Colombia
  • 48. Chad
  • 49. Jordan
  • 50. Brunei
“BD” – Bangladesh Capital City – Dhaka Population – 168,957,745 “BF” – Burkina Faso Capital City – Ouagadougou Population – 13,228,000 “BN” – Brunei Capital City – Bandar Seri Begawan Population – 422,675 “BT” – Bhutan Capital City – Thimphu Population – 777,486 “CF” – Central African Republic Capital City – Bangui Population – 4,216,666 “CU” – Cuba Capital City – Havana Population – 11,008,112 “ER” – Eritrea Capital City – Asmara Population – 3,573,563 “ID” – Indonesia Capital City – Jakarta Population – 267,663,435 “KG” – Kyrgyzstan Capital City – Bishkek Population – 7,101 “LK” – Sri Lanka Capital City – Colombo Population – 21,919,000 “MM” – Myanmar Capital City – Naypyidaw Population – 57,526,449 “MR” – Mauritania Capital City – Nouakchott Population – 3,359,185 “MX” – Mexico Capital City – Mexico City Population – 126,577,691 “NE” – Niger Capital City – Niamey Population – 24,484,587 “OM” – Oman Capital City – Muscat Population – 4,520,471 “QA” – Qatar Capital City – Doha Population – 2,795,484 “SO” – Somalia Capital City – Mogadishu Population – 19,350,082 “SY” – Syria Capital City – Damascus Population – 25,620,427 “TJ” – Tajikistan Capital City – Dushanbe Population – 9,119,347 “VN” – Vietnam Capital City – Hanoi Population – 97,338,579 “YE” – Yemen Capital City – Sanaa Population – 41,213,386 “ET” – Ethiopia Capital City – Addis Ababa Population – 112,269,301 “ML” – Mali Capital City – Bamako Population – 21,473,764 “TR” – Turkey Capital City – Ankara Population – 80,810,525 “TM” – Turkmenistan Capital City – Ashgabat Population – 5,636,011 “TN” – Tunisia Capital City – Tunis Population – 11,403,800 “KP” – North Korea Capital City – Pyongyang Population – 26,537,548 “KW” – Kuwait Capital City – Kuwait City Population – 4,052,584 “CN” – China Capital City – Peking Population – 1,411,750,000 “CO” – Colombia Capital City – Bogotá Population – 51,895,000 “MA” – Morocco Capital City – Rabat Population – 36,910,560 “DZ” – Algeria Capital City – Algeria Population – 43,851,044 “LY” – Libya Capital City – Tripoli Population – 7,422,440 “TD” – Chad Capital City – N’Djamena Population – 18,280,000 “SD” – Sudan Capital City – Khartoum Population – 51,092,737 “SA” – Saudi Arabia Capital City – Riyadh Population – 34,218,000 “IQ” – Iraq Capital City – Baghdad Population – 40,462,701 “JO” – Jordan Capital City – Amman Population – 6,500,000 “IR” – Iran Capital City – Tehran Population – 92,417,681 “MZ” – Mozambique Capital City – Maputo Population – 28,829,476 “CD” – Democratic Republic of Congo Capital City – Kinshasa Population – 89,561,403 “NG” – Nigeria Capital City – Abuja Population – 235,256,271 “NI” – Nicaragua Capital City – Managua Population – 6,851 “CM” – Cameroon Capital City – Yaounde Population – 16,322,000 “KZ” – Kazakhstan Capital City – Nur-Sultan Population – 18,690,115 “LA” – Laos Capital City – Vientiane Population – 6,477,211 “UZ” – Uzbekistan Capital City – Toshkent Population – 31,100,500 “AF” – Afghanistan Capital City – Kabul Population – 43,400,000 “PK” – Pakistan Capital City – Islamabad Population – 253,384,751 “IN” – India Capital City – New Delhi Population – 1,407,563,842 “NP” – Nepal Capital City – Kathmandu Population – 29,694,614 “EG” – Egypt Capital City – Cairo Population – 107,770,524

View country profiles

CHOOSE COUNTRY
  • 1. North Korea
  • 2. Somalia
  • 3. Yemen
  • 4. Sudan
  • 5. Eritrea
  • 6. Syria
  • 7. Nigeria
  • 8. Pakistan
  • 9. Libya
  • 10. Iran
  • 11. Afghanistan
  • 12. India
  • 13. Saudi Arabia
  • 14. Myanmar
  • 15. Mali
  • 16. Burkina Faso
  • 17. China
  • 18. Iraq
  • 19. Maldives
  • 20. Algeria
  • 21. Mauritania
  • 22. Central African Republic
  • 23. Morocco
  • 24. Cuba
  • 25. Uzbekistan
  • 26. Niger
  • 27. Tajikistan
  • 28. Laos
  • 29. Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 30. Mexico
  • 31. Tunisia
  • 32. Nicaragua
  • 33. Bangladesh
  • 34. Bhutan
  • 35. Turkmenistan
  • 36. Ethiopia
  • 37. Cameroon
  • 38. Oman
  • 39. Mozambique
  • 40. Kyrgyzstan
  • 41. Turkey
  • 42. Egypt
  • 43. Comoros
  • 44. Qatar
  • 45. Kazakhstan
  • 46. Nepal
  • 47. Colombia
  • 48. Chad
  • 49. Jordan
  • 50. Brunei
Level of persecution:
  • redExtreme
  • orangeVery High
388,000,000

Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith

4,849

Christians were killed because of their faith – 72% of those were from Nigeria

4,712

Christians were detained without trial, sentenced and imprisoned in 2025

29,426

Christian homes, shops and businesses were attacked for faith-based reasons

224,129

Christians were forcibly displaced due to violence

2026 ranking:
  1. North Korea
  2. Somalia
  3. Yemen
  4. Sudan
  5. Eritrea

The Top Ten

Explore the places on the Open Doors 2026 World Watch List where it’s seemingly impossible to follow Jesus…

PERSECUTION TRENDS: WORLD WATCH LIST 2026
As an evangelist to North Korean refugees – Cho’s job seemed impossible, but with God, all things are possible…
READ OUR YOUVERSION/DTI BIBLE PLAN: FAITH UNDER PRESSURE
When life gets tough, how do we hold on to the God who promises never to leave nor forsake us? Check out this four day YouVersion Bible reading plan we’ve created with our friends at DTI!

STORIES FROM COUNTRIES ON THE WORLD WATCH LIST

“ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.” CHO’S INCREDIBLE STORY
As an evangelist to North Korean refugees – Cho’s job seemed impossible, but with God, all things are possible…
“THERE IS NO PLACE WHERE CHRIST CANNOT BE FOLLOWED”
Read this incredible story of impossible faith: Aweis began following Jesus in Somalia, a place where Christians aren’t supposed to exist…

BRAVE FAITH STORIES

Check out these inspiring stories of brave faith from persecuted Christians around the world.

MALITH FROM SRI LANKA

“They fear that if they have connections with me, the teachers will start to look down on them, too”. Pray for 16-year-old student Malith…

Find out more
PAUL FROM ERITREA

“Even though they don’t know me, they prayed for me…” See how your prayers can encourage those in prison!

Find out more
SAENGCHAN FROM LAOS

“Even when I was in prison, I felt I was not alone. I felt your prayers.” Watch this video story of brave faith from Laos…

Find out more
PASTOR TIMOTHY FROM CHINA

Standing up to prison guards and seeing a fellow inmate healed. Meet the courageous Pastor Timothy…

Find out more
SARAH FROM EAST AFRICA

Read Sarah’s incredible story of healing and brave faith in East Africa

Find out more
DANIEL FROM ETHIOPIA

Daniel only wanted to prove the New Testament was wrong, instead he ended up following Jesus…

Find out more
AYUBA FROM NIGERIA

Ayuba was only 20 when his father was murdered by Islamic extremists. Watch his extraordinary story, from seeking revenge to choosing to forgive.

Find out more

GET A FREE 2026 WORLD WATCH LIST PRAYER MAP!

Get your free interactive map to learn where Christians are counting the cost for their faith in Jesus. This year’s map features some impossible folds to help you connect with the impossible faith of the persecuted church.

Order Now…

FREE WORLD WATCH LIST YOUTH SESSION OUTLINE

Get a free download of a youth session outline to help you learn more and pray for the places where Christians are counting the cost of following Jesus!

ORDER NOW…

WORLD WATCH LIST VIDEOS

NORTH KOREA: JO MIN’S JOURNEY

Joo Min* escaped North Korea – one of the darkest places on earth to be a Christian. After meeting Jesus in an Open Doors safe house, she chose to risk everything by returning with the gospel. Here’s her story.

*Name changed for security

1 year ago

YEMEN: ZAHRA’S BRAVE MINISTRY

Zahra* from Yemen has witnessed God move amidst persecution – and it’s made her bolder in her extraordinary ministry.

*Name changed for security reasons

1 year ago
Videos on countries featuring in the 2026 World Watch List.
NORTH KOREA: JO MIN'S JOURNEY 2:32
NORTH KOREA: JO MIN’S JOURNEY
1 year ago

Joo Min* escaped North Korea – one of the darkest places on earth to be a Christian. After meeting Jesus in an Open Doors safe house, she chose to risk everything by returning with the gospel. Here’s her story. *Name changed for security

YEMEN: ZAHRA'S BRAVE MINISTRY 4:06
YEMEN: ZAHRA’S BRAVE MINISTRY
1 year ago

Zahra* from Yemen has witnessed God move amidst persecution – and it’s made her bolder in her extraordinary ministry.

modal-gallery
btn-scroll