The Persecuted Church
More than 388 million Christians face persecution daily. Their courage, faith, and perseverance inspire us to stand with them and pray.
Data sourced from Open Doors US - advocates for the persecuted church
There is only one Church. One body. No divisions.
But Scripture also shows us that some parts of that body walk through intense suffering while others don't. In 1 Corinthians, we're told that when one part suffers, every part suffers with it.
So the phrase "persecuted church" isn't meant to create a separate category — it's meant to wake up the rest of the body to stand with those under pressure.
It's not a different church.
It's our brothers and sisters carrying a heavier cost right now.
And if we're truly one body, their suffering isn't distant. It's ours too.
The Crisis in Numbers
388 million
Christians suffer persecution & discrimination globally
4,849
Christians murdered for their faith last year
3,632
Churches & Christian properties attacked
224,129
Christians forced to flee or hide
15
Countries with extreme persecution levels
2026 World Watch List
Open Doors' annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. The list below shows the top 15.
North Korea
Somalia
Yemen
Sudan
Eritrea
Syria
Nigeria
Pakistan
Libya
Iran
Afghanistan
India
Saudi Arabia
Myanmar
Mali
View the complete list of all 50 countries with detailed country profiles and persecution information.
Explore Full World Watch ListForms of Persecution
Violent Attacks
Physical violence against Christians and churches
Discrimination
Social exclusion and unfair treatment
Imprisonment
Arrest and detention for faith practices
Family Pressure
Persecution within families and communities
Stories of Persecution
Real testimonies from brothers and sisters who have walked through the fire — and whose faith has not been shaken.
How You Can Help
Pray
Intercede for persecuted Christians and those working to help them.
Give
Support organizations like Open Doors that aid persecuted believers.
Advocate
Raise awareness and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Data Attribution
The statistics, World Watch List rankings, and persecution data on this page are sourced from Open Doors USA. Open Doors is a non-profit organization that serves persecuted Christians through leadership training, Bible distribution, emergency assistance, and advocacy. All statistics are from their 2026 World Watch List. We are grateful for their tireless work documenting and helping the persecuted church worldwide.