Watchdog highlights nations where Christians face persecution around the globe

While Christians successful America bask spiritual freedom, galore Christians astir the satellite endure persecution, and immoderate are adjacent martyred for their faith.

Open Doors' World Watch List 2026 discusses the anti-Christian persecution successful dozens of nations astir the globe.

The database includes 50 countries — here's a person look astatine respective of them:

North Korea

This representation taken connected Dec. 10, 2025 and released by North Korea's authoritative Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) connected Dec. 11, 2025 shows North Korean person Kim Jong Un giving closing remarks astatine the second-day sitting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea astatine an unconfirmed determination successful North Korea. ( KCNA VIA KNS / AFP via Getty Images)

North Korea, a notoriously autocratic state ruled by Kim Jong Un, is 1 of the nation's included successful the list.

"If you are recovered to beryllium a Christian successful North Korea, you and your household could beryllium instantly executed oregon sent to a unspeakable labour campy – forever," Open Doors notes. 

"North Koreans whitethorn lone wage homage to the Kim regime, not God. Christian gatherings indispensable beryllium wholly secret; a neighbour could pass connected you with devastating results."

Somalia

Somalia, a federation located successful the Horn of Africa, is besides included connected the list.

"Anybody becoming a Christian successful Somalia faces information connected each sides: from the authorities, from your clan and from anti-Christian extremists," the study notes. "It’s amerciable for a Muslim to go a Christian. Christians person nary ineligible extortion and tin beryllium harassed and intimidated by the authorities. Leaving Islam is besides seen arsenic earnestly dishonoring your household and clan: they whitethorn disown, onslaught oregon adjacent termination you."

Al-Shabaab — which is designated arsenic a overseas violent enactment by the U.S. — has grown "more ascendant successful definite areas," Open Doors notes, explaining that the radical seeks "to eradicate Christianity, openly executing suspected believers."

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Soldiers of the Somalia National Army (SNA) locomotion adjacent the frontlines astatine Sabiid, 1 of the towns they person liberated from the Al-Qaeda-linked militants, Al-Shabaab, successful Somalia's lower-Shabelle portion connected Nov. 11, 2025. (TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images)

Yemen

Yemen, a federation successful the Middle East, comes adjacent connected the list.

Most Christians determination person "converted from Islam," according to the list, which says they "must signifier their religion successful implicit secrecy oregon hazard a decease sentence." 

"Last year, Western airstrikes were framed by the Houthis arsenic ‘Christian aggression,’ pushing believers further underground," Open Doors says.

The study highlighted the idiosyncratic communicative of Aweis, whose ain begetter told him that if helium became a Christian, helium would termination him.

"Aweis knew the dangers of pursuing Jesus successful Somalia the infinitesimal helium showed his begetter a New Testament, which helium obtained aft becoming funny astir Christianity," Open Doors explains.

"I cannot halt you from speechmaking your Bible," his begetter noted, according to the report. "But if you go a Christian, I’ll beryllium the 1 to termination you."

The study adds, "Aweis aboriginal gave his beingness to Jesus."

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A combatant loyal to Sudan's service main Abdel Fattah al-Burhan holds up a limb backdropped by the minaret of a mosque, during a graduation ceremonial successful the southeastern Gedaref authorities connected May 27, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images)

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Sudan

A civilian warfare successful Sudan has caused the globe's "largest humanitarian crisis," the database says. "The Christian assemblage is hungry, connected the tally and facing beardown persecution astatine the aforesaid time."

Sudan is located successful Africa.

"Sudan’s little play of spiritual state has been rowed back, and oppressive ‘morality policies’ are backmost successful force. Christians tin look carnal punishment to person to Islam, with religion leaders arrested. Many religion buildings person been closed, bombed oregon taken implicit by militia groups," according to Open Doors. "New Christians look rejection from their families and unit from Islamic extremist groups. In a lawless vacuum, they person nary protection."