Open Doors Report Warns Christian Persecution Reaches Record Levels Worldwide

January 16, 2026

A new report from Open Doors US shows that levels of Christian persecution and discrimination have reached unprecedented levels with millions of Christians globally facing severe oppression because of their faith.

Christianity Daily reports that Open Doors released its 2026 World Watch List earlier this week, ranking the 50 countries where Christians are experiencing the most extreme persecution.

According to the nonprofit’s findings, the number of Christians facing high levels of persecution rose once again this past year.

The report indicates that 388 million Christians—more than one in seven worldwide—now face high levels of persecution or discrimination for their faith, marking an increase of more than 8 million compared to the previous year.

Ryan Brown, the CEO of Open Doors US, told the Christian Post that much of the persecution, including rising instances of extreme violence, is taking place in 14 sub-Saharan African nations that appear on the list.

According to Christianity Daily, of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for their faith during the reporting period, 3,490 were in Nigeria—up from 3,100 the year before.

Brown made a distinction between “smash persecution” which includes mass killings and church attacks and “squeeze persecution” which restricts the daily lives of believers without over violence.

He noted that squeeze persecution is becoming particularly prevalent in China, where state surveillance and state control over religious expression continue to tighten.

The report also covers examples of technological repression in countries like North Korea, which is considered the most dangerous nation for Christians overall.

Photo: top, Credit: Open Doors