North Korea tops list of most dangerous countries for Christians
The Open Doors organization has released the World Watch List, which indicates that North Korea is the most challenging country for Christians to live in. Last year, Nigeria recorded the highest number of Christian murders. The report covers 50 countries where persecution is most severe.
According to Open Doors, more than 380 million Christians in 78 countries face persecution and discrimination. In the 50 countries on the list, persecution reaches a "very high or extreme level," affecting approximately 310 million Christians.
The top ten countries where the situation is worst include North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
Tragic statistics
Last year, nearly 5,000 Christians were murdered, with 4,118 of those in Nigeria. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 261 Christians were killed. Nigeria also had the highest number of Christian kidnappings—3,300 out of 3,906 cases worldwide.
Persecution in Afghanistan has decreased, but life for Christians has not become safer. Although the Taliban has stopped actively searching for them, this does not signify an improvement in the situation.
India ranks 11th on the list, with the highest number of Christian arrests—more than 2,300 out of 4,100 worldwide. Persecution intensified in Nicaragua, and Syria and Saudi Arabia reached "extreme levels."
The report also notes over 14,000 attacks on churches and places of worship worldwide.
Nearly half of Nigeria's population are Christians
The statistics are particularly alarming as Nigeria has a population of about 229 million people, with about 106 million being Christians.
Attacks on Christian farmers in the Plateau state are particularly common. In 2023, the army had to intervene to restore order. Christian homes were looted and then set on fire. On Christmas Eve, 2023, there was a brutal attack on churches in northern Nigeria. At that time, at least 140 Christians were killed in a massive attack on 20 communities.
