According to the newspaper, North Korea has once again been ranked number one in the top 50 countries where Christians are most persecuted. 2024 Open Doors World Watch List.
“As persecution of Christians rises to the highest level in history, we have an opportunity as believers to stand with and support our brothers and sisters in Christ who are enduring persecution for the sake of the gospel.” Open Doors US CEO Ryan Braun said. said in his statement. “There is no better reminder that we need to stay informed and pray for persecuted families around the world than the annual publication of the World Watch List.”
North Korea, ruled by the Kim dynasty, topped the annual report amid rampant persecution of Christians through executions and imprisonment in labor camps. Meanwhile, when it comes to persecution of Christians, Nigeria ranked 6th on the list.
“It is heartbreaking to hear what our brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing in Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa,” Brown added. “Most of us cannot imagine what it is like to live in fear for our lives because of our faith in Christ, but what a witness these faithful believers are to the rest of us! . Not only must we continue to remember them in our prayers, but we must also imitate their faithfulness in our own circumstances.”
The press release added that the number of faith-related deaths in Africa “far exceeds the number of deaths in other regions on the annual list” and noted that it “has been a trend for several years.” .
India, ranked 11th, also saw a significant increase in persecution of Christians, especially in Manipur. Hundreds of Christians have been killed and thousands more displaced following ethno-religious conflict in Manipur state.
This year's Open Door Watch List found that more than 360 million Christians face severe persecution and discrimination because of their faith, according to a press release. The report also revealed that 4,998 Christians were killed for their faith around the world.
Regarding attacks on churches, Christian schools, and hospitals, such attacks increased sevenfold from 2,110 on the global watch list in 2023 to 14,766 in 2024. The number of Christians beaten or threatened increased from 29,411 to 42,849.
Furthermore, the number of attacks on homes jumped from 4,547 to 21,431, and the total number of believers forced to flee their homes or went into hiding jumped from 124,310 to 278,716.
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributor to Christian Headlines and host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sound doctrine and Biblical truth. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.
