Image: Open Doors.
Open Doors, an international organisation supporting persecuted Christians, this month released the 2021 World Watch List (WWL), documenting 50 countries where it is most dangerous to follow Jesus.
The report reveals that an average of 13 Christians are murdered for their faith while 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked – every single day.
According to the report, 309 million Christians live in places with very high or extreme levels of persecution, up from 260 million in last year’s list.
This new report tracks the time period from November 1, 2019 to October 31, 2020, and was compiled from grassroots reports by Open Doors workers in more than 60 countries.
Open Doors categorizes the primary sources of Christian persecution into eight groups: Islamic oppression (29 countries), Clan oppression (6 countries), Dictatorial paranoia (5 countries), Religious nationalism (3 countries), Communist and post-communist oppression (3 countries), Christian denominational protectionism (2 countries), Organized crime and corruption (2 countries).
“The numbers of God’s people who are suffering should mean the Church is dying—that Christians are keeping quiet, losing their faith, and turning away from one another,” Mr. David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA stated. “But that’s not what’s happening. Instead, in living color, we see the words of God recorded in the prophet Isaiah: ‘I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert’” (Isa. 43:19, ESV).
What trends are driving persecution?
The report stated:
- “COVID-19 acted as a catalyst for religious persecution through relief discrimination, forced conversion, and as justification for increasing surveillance and censorship.”
- “Extremist attacks opportunistically spread further throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, from Nigeria and Cameroon to Burkina Faso, Mali, and beyond.”
- “Chinese censorship systems continue to propagate and spread to emerging surveillance states.”
Of the total number of Christians killed for their faith, the report reveals that 91% of these killings occurred in African countries like Nigeria.
Kenya was added to the list for the first time while Sudan was excluded from the top 10, after being part of the list for six years straight.
Uganda Christian News reported earlier that Sudan last year eliminated the death penalty for apostasy, and drafted legislation legalizing other religions than Islam.
North Korea has ranked No. 1 for 20 years, since 2002 when the watch list began. The 2021 list added four new countries: Mexico (No. 37), Democratic Republic of Congo (No. 40), Mozambique (No. 45), and Comoros (No. 50).
Mozambique rose 21 spots (up from No. 66) “due to extremist Islamic violence in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.” The Democratic Republic of Congo rose 17 spots (up from No. 57) “mainly due to attacks on Christians by the Islamist group ADF.” Mexico rose 15 spots (up from No. 52) due to rising violence and discrimination against Christians from drug traffickers, gangs, and indigenous communities.
Four countries dropped off the list: Sri Lanka (formerly No. 30), Russia (formerly No. 46), United Arab Emirates (formerly No. 47), and Niger (formerly No. 50).
Here are the top 50 most dangerous countries:
| Rank | Country |
| 1 | North Korea |
| 2 | Afghanistan |
| 3 | Somalia |
| 4 | Libya |
| 5 | Pakistan |
| 6 | Eritrea |
| 7 | Yemen |
| 8 | Iran |
| 9 | Nigeria |
| 10 | India |
| 11 | Iraq |
| 12 | Syria |
| 13 | Sudan |
| 14 | Saudi Arabia |
| 15 | Maldives |
| 16 | Egypt |
| 17 | China |
| 18 | Myanmar |
| 19 | Vietnam |
| 20 | Mauritania |
| 21 | Uzbekistan |
| 22 | Laos |
| 23 | Turkmenistan |
| 24 | Algeria |
| 25 | Turkey |
| 26 | Tunisia |
| 27 | Morocco |
| 28 | Mali |
| 29 | Qatar |
| 30 | Colombia |
| 31 | Bangladesh |
| 32 | Burkina Faso |
| 33 | Tajikistan |
| 34 | Nepal |
| 35 | Central African Republic |
| 36 | Ethiopia |
| 37 | Mexico |
| 38 | Jordan |
| 39 | Brunei |
| 40 | Congo DR (DRC) |
| 41 | Kazakhstan |
| 42 | Cameroon |
| 43 | Bhutan |
| 44 | Oman |
| 45 | Mozambique |
| 46 | Malaysia |
| 47 | Indonesia |
| 48 | Kuwait |
| 49 | Kenya |
| 50 | Comoros |
According to the report, abduction of Christians rose to 1,710, up 63 percent from the 1,052 tallied the year before. Nigeria tops the list, with 990.
Pakistan led the world in forced marriages, a new category tracked last year, with about 1,000 Christians married to non-Christians against their will. Asia accounted for 72 percent of the forced marriages tallied by Open Doors, with Africa—led by Nigeria—the remaining 28 percent.
China arrested, jailed, or detained without charge 1,147 Christians for faith-related reasons, out of a total of 4,277 worldwide. This tally by Open Doors rose from 3,711 last year and 3,150 in 2019.
Where Christians Were Martyred Most:
1. Nigeria: 3,530
2. Democratic Republic of Congo: 460
3. Pakistan: 307
4. Mozambique: 100*
5. Cameroon: 53
6. Burkina Faso: 38
7. [name withheld]: 36
8. Central African Republic: 35
9. Mali: 33
10. [name withheld]: 20
Open Door’s research is certified and audited by the International Institute for Religious Freedom, a World Evangelical Alliance-backed network based in Germany.
Find the Full Report Here
Additional Reporting by Christianity Today.
