Kidnapping. Rape. Imprisonment. Murder.
This is the reality for one in seven Christians worldwide who experience high levels of persecution and discrimination. More than 388 million Christians are persecuted for their faith—most in Africa and Asia.
Each year, Open Doors releases the World Watch List, a list of the 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution. For the 24th time, North Korea topped the list.
While countries like Nigeria and Iran have captured news headlines in recent weeks, their persecution scores fell just below those in the top five. Still, Christians living in any of the 50 countries named in the World Watch List wake up every day with the risk of their lives being torn apart.
It should be impossible to be a Christian in these countries, but God is the God of impossibility.
Here are the five countries where Christians are most persecuted.
1. North Korea
Being a Christian or even owning a Bible in North Korea can mean execution or being sent to a labor camp. North Koreans are forbidden from worshipping God. This makes talking about Jesus or meeting with fellow believers virtually impossible.
Incredibly, North Koreans are encountering God through dreams and visions. Only about 400,000 Christians live in North Korea, but God is creating a way for His name to be known.
Here is how you can pray for North Korea:
- Pray for Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and his family to come to faith in Jesus.
- Pray for the protection of the secret church in North Korea.
- Pray for God to provide for North Korean believers so they can care for others.
2. Somalia
Christians are only numbered in the hundreds in this Muslim-dominated country. It is illegal for Muslims to become Christians. Doing so can lead to persecution from the authorities, your clan, and anti-Christian extremists. Christians have no legal protections, and those who convert may be disowned, attacked, or even killed by their families.
Here is how you can pray for Somalia:
- Pray for God to protect Christians from militant groups.
- Pray for Somali believers to feel God’s comfort and presence.
- Pray that traumatized Somalis would experience healing.
3. Yemen
Of the small number of Yemeni Christians, most converted from Islam and must practice their faith in secret. Being discovered as a Christian could mean death or disownment. Houthi rebels framed Western airstrikes last year as “Christian aggression,” leading many believers to flee the country.
Still, the small church in Yemen is slowly growing as believers decide to stay to serve their people.
Here is how you can pray for Yemen:
- Pray for national peace in Yemen.
- Pray for believers to have courage as they risk their lives for Jesus.
- Pray for the protection of the underground church in Yemen.
4. Sudan
The civil war in Sudan has led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, leaving the country’s 2 million Christians hungry and on the run. Oppressive morality policies mean Christians may be physically punished to coerce them to convert back to Islam. Many church leaders have been arrested, and church buildings have been closed, bombed, or taken over by militia groups.
Here is how you can pray for Sudan:
- Pray for Sudan’s civil war to come to an end.
- Pray for Christians to be protected from Islamic extremist groups.
- Pray that Sudanese Christians will model the peace that Jesus offers.
5. Eritrea
If Christians worship outside of the state-sanctioned churches, they could face surveillance, police raids, and imprisonment. Believers may also be rejected by their families and communities. Many Eritreans are forced into military service, leading many to flee the country. But those who leave run the risk of being trafficked or tortured along their escape routes.
Here is how you can pray for Eritrea:
- Pray for imprisoned believers to find hope and freedom.
- Pray that God will provide daily for detained Christians.
- Pray for God to capture the heart of Eritrea’s president.
The Bible is clear that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted … (2 Timothy 3:12).” Yet Jesus also promised a great reward for the persecuted.
“‘Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’” –Matthew 5:10–12
Continue praying for the millions of persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.
For more information on praying for the persecuted and the unreached, check out East-West’s prayer resources.
Video: Persecution in West Africa
In a country where following Christ could mean facing death, this national partner is no stranger to persecution. However, when his family is threatened by the kidnapping of his son, the cost of following Jesus is taken to a different level.
