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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 365 million Christians are facing persecution and discrimination – that’s one in every seven Christians on the planet.

Yet, they choose to follow Jesus despite the fear of arrest, prison, rejection, threats and violence.

Across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, millions of Christians risk everything, simply because they choose to believe. But, despite the risks, many are bravely still trying to shine God’s love.
The map on this page shows the Open Doors 2024 World Watch List, a ranking of the 50 places where faith in Jesus costs the most; 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.
Across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, millions of Christians risk everything, simply because they choose to believe. But, despite the risks, many are bravely still trying to shine God’s love.
The map on this page shows the Open Doors 2024 World Watch List, a ranking of the 50 places where faith in Jesus costs the most; 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 2024

View country profiles

CHOOSE COUNTRY
  • 1. North Korea
  • 2. Somalia
  • 3. Libya
  • 4. Eritrea
  • 5. Yemen
  • 6. Nigeria
  • 7. Pakistan
  • 8. Sudan
  • 9. Iran
  • 10. Afghanistan
  • 11. India
  • 12. Syria
  • 13. Saudi Arabia
  • 14. Mali
  • 15. Algeria
  • 16. Iraq
  • 17. Myanmar
  • 18. Maldives
  • 19. China
  • 20. Burkina Faso
  • 21. Laos
  • 22. Cuba
  • 23. Mauritania
  • 24. Morocco
  • 25. Uzbekistan
  • 26. Bangladesh
  • 27. Niger
  • 28. Central African Republic
  • 29. Turkmenistan
  • 30. Nicaragua
  • 31. Oman
  • 32. Ethiopia
  • 33. Tunisia
  • 34. Colombia
  • 35. Vietnam
  • 36. Bhutan
  • 37. Mexico
  • 38. Egypt
  • 39. Mozambique
  • 40. Qatar
  • 41. Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 42. Indonesia
  • 43. Cameroon
  • 44. Brunei
  • 45. Comoros
  • 46. Tajikistan
  • 47. Kazakhstan
  • 48. Jordan
  • 49. Malaysia
  • 50. Turkey
“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 – 3,684,032 “ID” – Indonesia Capital City – Jakarta Population – 267,663,435 “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 – 10,251,568 “SY” – Syria Capital City – Damascus Population – 22,142,061 “TJ” – Tajikistan Capital City – Dushanbe Population – 9,119,347 “VN” – Vietnam Capital City – Hanoi Population – 97,338,579 “YE” – Yemen Capital City – Sanaa Population – 30,984,689 “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 – 25,713,000 “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 – 6,754,507 “SD” – Sudan Capital City – Khartoum Population – 43,849,260 “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 – 86,758,304 “MY” – Malaysia Capital City – Kuala Lumpur Population – 27 140 000 “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 – 206,139,589 “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 – 33,928,493 “PK” – Pakistan Capital City – Islamabad Population – 231, 402, 117 “IN” – India Capital City – New Delhi Population – 1,407,563,842 “NP” – Nepal Capital City – Kathmandu Population – 28,825,709 “EG” – Egypt Capital City – Cairo Population – 107,770,524

View country profiles

CHOOSE COUNTRY
  • 1. North Korea
  • 2. Somalia
  • 3. Libya
  • 4. Eritrea
  • 5. Yemen
  • 6. Nigeria
  • 7. Pakistan
  • 8. Sudan
  • 9. Iran
  • 10. Afghanistan
  • 11. India
  • 12. Syria
  • 13. Saudi Arabia
  • 14. Mali
  • 15. Algeria
  • 16. Iraq
  • 17. Myanmar
  • 18. Maldives
  • 19. China
  • 20. Burkina Faso
  • 21. Laos
  • 22. Cuba
  • 23. Mauritania
  • 24. Morocco
  • 25. Uzbekistan
  • 26. Bangladesh
  • 27. Niger
  • 28. Central African Republic
  • 29. Turkmenistan
  • 30. Nicaragua
  • 31. Oman
  • 32. Ethiopia
  • 33. Tunisia
  • 34. Colombia
  • 35. Vietnam
  • 36. Bhutan
  • 37. Mexico
  • 38. Egypt
  • 39. Mozambique
  • 40. Qatar
  • 41. Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 42. Indonesia
  • 43. Cameroon
  • 44. Brunei
  • 45. Comoros
  • 46. Tajikistan
  • 47. Kazakhstan
  • 48. Jordan
  • 49. Malaysia
  • 50. Turkey
Level of persecution:
  • redExtreme
  • orangeVery High
  • yellowHigh
365,000,000

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

4,998

Christians were killed last year for faith related reasons

14,766

Church buildings were attacked, looted or forcibly closed.

278,761

Christians were forced to leave their homes or go into hiding

2024 ranking:
  1. North Korea
  2. Somalia
  3. Libya
  4. Eritrea
  5. Yemen

THE TOP FIVE

Discover the places on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 where Christians are counting the cost for following Jesus

MORE ON THE WORLD WATCH LIST

WORLD WATCH LIST 2024 TRENDS: PersecutiON IS GROWING, BUT SO IS THE CHURCH…
Sadly, persecution against Christians is growing, but that is in part to the fact the church is also growing. Learn more about what the 2024 World Watch List reveals…
WORLD WATCH LIST 2024: TAKE ON THE QUIZ!
Test your knowledge of where Christians are counting the cost for their faith in Jesus by taking on the online World Watch List Quiz. See how many points you can get, and challenge your friends to beat your score!

GET A FREE 2024 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 comes with a temporary tally tattoo to help you count your prayers for your church family around the world!

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…

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

WORLD WATCH LIST VIDEOS

NORTH KOREA: Ji Ho’s BRAVE FAITH

Ji Ho* in North Korea counts the cost of following Jesus every day. Her father was taken away by police agents when his Bible was discovered, and she has to keep her faith secret – or face terrible consequences. 

Watch the video to find out more…

9 months ago

YEMEN: SALEH’S STORY

Saleh* was used to the risk of death for his faith. Because of his Christian ministry, Saleh’s name is on the ‘wanted’ list of extremists in Yemen. The authorities would actually grant a reward to anyone who is able to hand him in. Being hunted was nothing new.

Watch the video to find out more…

9 months ago

World Watch List 2024: Top 10 countries

The Open Doors World Watch List 2024 ranks the countries where Christians count the highest cost for following Jesus. These are the 10 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.

9 months ago
Videos on countries featuring in the 2023 World Watch List.
NORTH KOREA: Ji Ho's BRAVE FAITH 3:08
NORTH KOREA: Ji Ho’s BRAVE FAITH
9 months ago

Ji Ho* in North Korea counts the cost of following Jesus every day. Her father was taken away by police agents when his Bible was discovered, and she has to keep her faith secret – or face terrible consequences.

YEMEN: SALEH'S STORY 4:06
YEMEN: SALEH’S STORY
9 months ago

Saleh (name changed) is a Christian from one of the most dangerous places in the world to follow Jesus: Yemen. Despite threats and great dangers, he is determined to disciple the church in Yemen.

World Watch List 2024: Top 10 countries 03:48
World Watch List 2024: Top 10 countries
9 months ago

The Open Doors World Watch List 2024 ranks the countries where Christians count the highest cost for following Jesus. These are the 10 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.

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