Each year, Open Doors publishes the list of 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution for following Jesus. Sadly, this is not the end of the story, or an exclusive list of places where loving the Lord can come with a high cost.
Open Doors research shows that there are 81 countries with a
‘persecution score’ of 41 or above – indicating that there is high, very high or extreme levels of persecution for Christians in that country.
Believers from these countries may not appear in your World Watch List Top 50, but they still keenly need our prayer. They are still part of the body of Christ – and there are days, weeks or years where faith must feel like an impossible battle. But we serve the God of the impossible, and the church continues to worship in these places. Below are the countries at numbers 51-60 on the World Watch List, and how you can pray.
51 Malaysia
Malaysia remains at number 51 on the World Watch List, without a change in persecution score. While the violence score remains relatively low, there was a significant increase in the past year, with a particular rise in the number of churches attacked. However, this was offset by a drop in pressure in church life, reflecting a slight reduction in the number who reported being monitored, hindered in training religious leaders or in conducting youth activities.
Many Open Doors supporters will be familiar with the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh in 2017. In the past year, the court case into his abduction finally took place – with his wife, Susanna, successful in her lawsuit against the state.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy in how pressure on Christians has slightly eased this year. We praise You also for the success of Susanna Koh’s lawsuit for her husband, Raymond, and pray that You would continue to protect and strengthen Your people in Malaysia. Amen.
52 Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan also hasn’t changed World Watch List score or rank, remaining at number 52. Muslim families, friends and villagers exert pressure on converts, while the government imposes many restrictions on church activities. The level of surveillance is so high that Christians in Azerbaijan do not know whom to trust any more
In the past year, at least ten public Christian buildings – mainly Armenian Apostolic – were systematically closed and destroyed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the country.
Lord Jesus, thank You that where Your people gather, You are there with them, with or without a church building. We mourn the destruction of these places of worship and pray that our brothers and sisters would not give into fear, but be empowered by Your presence with them. Amen.
53 Tanzania
Illustrative image. (unsplash.com)
Tanzania has risen two places on the World Watch List, with an increase in persecution driven by rising pressure, particularly in national life. The country has entered a period where dictatorial paranoia constrains political space, and both the mainland and Zanzibar experience pressure shaped by Islamic oppression. Converts are especially vulnerable, and are likely to be expelled from their homes and ostracised by their communities. Political expression and religion frequently overlap, creating a problem of untangling where dissent, political affiliation and faith are interpreted through the same lens.
For Christians, this convergence has narrowed their room to manoeuvre socially and institutionally, making life more difficult, even in the absence of major violent episodes.
Lord God, You control the hearts of all leaders and reign as King over them all. We pray for Your grace to Your people in Tanzania and for the softening of those who seek to oppress them, that there would be greater freedom and peace for those who worship You. Amen.
54 Kenya
Kenyan Christians have seen little change in the past year, and no change in World Watch List ranking or score.
Over the past decade, Kenya has been grappling with a relentless surge in attacks from al-Shabaab, one of Africa’s most lethal jihadist groups, based in Somalia. This escalating violence has placed Christians, especially those with a Muslim background in the north east and coastal regions, under severe threat. Political unrest in the past year – characterised by protests and violence – means Christians are left even more vulnerable as the government’s attention has remained elsewhere.
Heavenly Father, we pray for Your sovereign protection of believers in Kenya where violence and unrest are a daily reality. Please give them deep assurance of Your power and love in their vulnerability, and please turn the hearts of their aggressors to You in repentance. Amen.
55 Vietnam
Vietnam fell 11 places on the World Watch List, with a change in persecution score of three points. This is chiefly due to a decrease in the reported numbers of violence, with no Christians murdered for their faith or churches attacked in the past year.
While violence fell, the pressure that Christians face in other areas of life increased slightly. In particular, local authorities target non-traditional Protestants and ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands. Meanwhile the Communist government remains silent on local issues of persecution and continues to control all registered churches and religious activities through its Committee on Religious Affairs.
Lord God, we join Vietnamese believers in gratitude that they have not faced as much violence in the past year, and that no lives were lost or churches attacked through Christian persecution. Please continue to extend Your protecting arm over my brothers and sisters from Vietnam. Amen.
56 Russian Federation
The Russian Federation remains at number 56, with no change in persecution score. Although the number of Christians arrested and sentenced was higher than in the previous year, there were no killings of Christians for their faith and fewer reported church attacks.
Across the country, the government imposes restrictions on non-Russian Orthodox church activities and on those Christians opposing the war in Ukraine. In the northern Caucasus, especially, converts are targeted by their Islamic families and communities.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the decrease in reports of church attacks and loss of believers’ lives in the Russian Federation this past year. We pray that You would strengthen our church family in their witness and hope, despite the restrictions they face. Amen.
57 United Arab Emirates
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) rose three places on the World Watch List, the main reason being an increase in violence – now at the highest level in UAE for the past five years.
While migrant Christians are free to worship in private or in designated church compounds, it is illegal for them to share the gospel or pray in public. Emirati converts from Islam face the most persecution, particularly from their family and community.
Heavenly Father, we pray for our brothers and sisters in UAE and the increased violence they are facing – please encircle them with Your protection and uphold them with Your mighty power. Please provide opportunities to share the gospel, that the church would continue to grow regardless of persecution. Amen.
58 Djibouti
Djibouti fell one place on the World Watch List, though its persecution score actually increased. This is due to a rise in the number of reported incidents of violence.
Christians in the country face pressure rooted in Islamic oppression, clan structures and dictatorial paranoia. Djibouti has remained stable for many years, yet that stability has never translated into broader space for Christian life. Pressure remains high across most spheres, with daily restrictions, social scrutiny and state suspicion still the norm for believers – with converts from Islam facing the worst persecution in the country.
Dear Lord Jesus, amidst all the pressures that Christians in Djibouti face, please continue to deepen their joy in You. Through Your Holy Spirit, enable them to be a shining light to their neighbours and state, that many would be brought to You in faith. Amen.
59 Indonesia
Believers in a remote part of Indonesia received Bibles in their heart language for the first time
Indonesia remains at number 59, with a slight increase in persecution. Incidents of violence rose notably, but this was partially offset by a decrease in pressure in other spheres of life.
The increase in violence score largely comes from an increase in the number of churches, other Christian properties and houses of Christians being destroyed. The decrease in all other spheres stems from a general reduction in pressure reported, with the exception of converts who continue to face the greatest challenges.
Lord God, thank You for our church family in Indonesia. Please help them to cling to You, despite the pressure and loss of church buildings that they have experienced this past year. We pray that Christians would not stop meeting together, but know Your peace in fellowship with each other. Amen.
60 Kuwait
Kuwait fell two places on the World Watch List, though the persecution score has not changed – the fall is explained by worsening persecution in other countries. Most Christians in Kuwait are migrants from elsewhere, and they can use designated compounds registered for worship, though these are very limited and too small for the number who wish to gather. They are also forbidden from sharing the gospel with Kuwaitis. Native Kuwaiti Christians and converts from Islam (whether from Kuwait or from other countries) face discrimination, harassment and police monitoring. Their conversion is not legally recognised.
Lord, despite migrant Christians not being able to share the gospel with natives in Kuwait, we pray that You would provide opportunities for their faith to be proclaimed. Please shield the work of the church from the eyes of those who would seek to end it, for Your glory. Amen.
