388 Million Christians Face a New Era of Persecution, Shocking Report Reveals
Over 388 million Christians face severe persecution worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa as a critical hotspot, highlighted by Nigeria’s brutal violence and Syria’s sharp deterioration, raising urgent global concerns.
Open Doors, a global charity that has documented religious persecution for over three decades, reports that one in seven Christians experiences high levels of persecution.
In Africa, this ratio rises to one in five, reflecting a serious deterioration in security and religious freedom in significant parts of the continent.
Syria has witnessed one of the most dramatic deteriorations in ranking, rising from 18th to 6th place within a year—one of the sharpest shifts in the history of the World Watch List.
Hopes for improvement in the situation following the political upheaval of December 2024 have not materialized. At least 27 Christians were killed for their faith during the reporting period, while the daily lives of many believers are marked by intimidation, public calls for conversion, and demands for taxation.
Despite the difficult situation of religious minorities, several European governments have expressed willingness to cooperate with Syria’s new authorities, a stance that has drawn criticism from human rights organizations concerned about the treatment of Christians and other minorities.
Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as the epicenter of global violence against Christians. The recent report shows that fourteen of the fifty countries where confirmed deaths are linked to Christian faith are located in the region.
Nigeria appears as the deadliest country for Christians, ranking 7th globally in all forms of persecution. According to Open Doors data covering the period up to the end of September 2025, 4,849 Christians were killed for their faith worldwide, with 3,490 of those deaths occurring in Nigeria, accounting for 72% of the total number.
Although Muslims have also been killed in the violence in Nigeria, Open Doors argues that Christians face disproportionate persecution. In Benue State, 1,310 Christians were killed compared to 29 Muslims. In Plateau State, 546 Christians were killed versus 48 Muslims, while in Kaduna State, 1,116 Christians were kidnapped in 2025 compared to 101 Muslims.
“Every number on the World Watch List represents people suffering because of their faith,” stated Markus Rode, CEO of Open Doors Germany. “This ranking is a cry for help. The critical question is whether churches, civil society, and politicians are truly listening—and whether they are taking action.”
Erietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors United Kingdom, said the figures reflect a clear religious dimension to the violence. “Those who have seen their families killed and homes destroyed by Islamist militias report that the attackers told them: ‘We will destroy all Christians.’ If we do not recognize the clear religious aspect of the violence, it will not be possible to properly address this tragic situation.”
Open Doors identifies a broader pattern across sub-Saharan Africa, asserting that Islamist terrorists exploit areas with weak law and order created by military juntas and prolonged civil conflicts.
According to the organization, this allows such groups to operate unchecked in areas like Burkina Faso, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Senegal, with the aim of establishing “Sharia states” based on their own interpretation of Islamic law.
