Christian Persecution Updates: July 2025 Global Religious Freedom Report

Over 310 million Christians worldwide face severe persecution, with violence against believers increasing across 29 of the world's 50 most dangerous countries for Christians. Recent reports reveal escalating attacks, forced displacement, and systematic oppression of Christian communities globally, demanding urgent international attention and action.

Record Numbers Face Extreme Persecution

International Christian Concern reports that approximately 300 million Christians worldwide face persecution of all types, including imprisonment, torture, and assassination. Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List reveals that 310 million Christians in the top 50 countries alone face very high or extreme levels of persecution, representing a significant increase from previous years.

The data paints a sobering picture of the global Christian experience, with persecution affecting one in seven Christians worldwide according to multiple monitoring organizations.

Most Dangerous Countries Identified

North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan had the highest rates of reported persecution against Christians. North Korea has been consistently ranked as having one of the highest rates of persecution since the World Watch List was first conducted in 1983.

Nigeria remains the deadliest country for Christians, with the Global Christian Relief Red List verifying 9,814 deaths during the 2022-2024 reporting period, attributed to attacks by Boko Haram, militant Fulani herdsmen, and ISIS-affiliated groups. Nigeria also led in abductions and assaults, with 9,311 cases.

Regional Hotspots and Emerging Trends

India's Escalating Crisis

A new report claims that, on average, at least two attacks against Christians occur in India daily, with the United Christian Forum recording 313 incidents from January until May 2025. Anti-conversion laws enacted in 11 of India's 29 states have exacerbated discrimination against Christians, despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.

Africa's Deteriorating Situation

International Christian Concern released a comprehensive report highlighting the alarming increase in violence and persecution against Christians across Africa, with particular concern for Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. At least 21 people, including a Christian Fulani hunter, were confirmed dead following attacks by suspected Fulani militias in rural communities across Plateau state, Nigeria.

Central Asia Crackdown

Central Asian countries, especially Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, saw state crackdowns on Christians, with Kyrgyzstan experiencing the greatest persecution score increase, rising 14 spots to rank 47th on the 2025 World Watch List.

War Zones and Civil Conflict

Civil wars in Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Myanmar have created lawlessness that enables the targeting of Christian minorities. Sudan's civil war has displaced more than 11 million out of Sudan's 49 million people, with WWL's research reporting 44 Christians killed, 100 Christians sexually assaulted, and 100 Christian homes and businesses attacked.

In Myanmar, Christians in the Kachin region have been subjected to what activists describe as a "slow genocide," particularly after the military coup in 2021.

Displacement and Refugee Crisis

Open Doors recorded 183,709 Christians seeking safety within their own countries, while 26,062 Christians were forced to leave their home countries entirely. Azerbaijan forced out an estimated 10,000 Christians for faith-related reasons during the reporting period.

Underground Churches and Hidden Persecution

More Christians are being forced underground, with Algeria serving as a stark example where all Protestant churches have been forced to close or cease regular operations. This trend of church diminishment and Christian isolation is becoming increasingly common across multiple countries on the persecution watch lists.

Government Policy and International Response

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended 16 countries for designation as Countries of Particular Concern and 12 others for Special Watch List status. However, there remains tension over countries like Nigeria, which USCIRF has recommended for CPC designation since 2009.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops designated June 25 as a special day of prayer for the church in Nicaragua, highlighting the deteriorating situation for Christians under authoritarian rule.

Technology and Surveillance

Emerging trends include regimes targeting Christians across borders and the increasing use of technology to surveil and oppress believers. South Korean authorities detained six Americans after they attempted to send 1,600 plastic bottles containing miniature Bibles into North Korea, illustrating the extreme measures taken to prevent Christian materials from reaching persecuted communities.

Call for Action

Religious freedom advocates are calling for increased international pressure and support for persecuted Christian communities. The report expresses concern over the international community's insufficient focus on these escalating crises, with organizations urging governments to implement stronger sanctions and policy actions against the worst persecuting nations.

As persecution continues to intensify globally, the need for sustained advocacy, prayer, and practical support for the world's most vulnerable Christian communities has never been more urgent. The statistics behind these reports represent real people facing unimaginable hardship for their faith, demanding both immediate humanitarian response and long-term policy solutions to protect religious freedom worldwide.