According to the 2026 World Watch List from Open Doors, Sub-Saharan Africa is again the epicenter of violence against Christians. Thousands of people in the region, which includes Nigeria, are being killed because of their faith in Jesus. Other Christians are being forced to flee their homes or go into hiding due to persecution and pressure.
Every January, the nonprofit watchdog group Open Doors releases a list of the 50 most dangerous countries to be a Christian. The list, available for free download, provides a snapshot of each nation plus prayer suggestions.
During the reporting period for the 2026 World Watch List, Open Doors found that more than 388 million Christians face high levels of faith-based persecution and discrimination. About 1 in 7 Christians worldwide is persecuted, with 4,849 murdered last year and 4,712 detained. In addition, 3,632 churches and Christian properties were attacked.
Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors US, said the World Watch List isn’t just filled with abstract numbers. “For 388 million believers worldwide—more than the entire U.S. population—following Jesus isn’t just difficult, it’s becoming impossible without divine intervention,” he said. Open Doors, Brown added, “is committed to helping the persecuted church and creating opportunities for other believers to do the same.”
2026 World Watch List: Christians Under Attack in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa
Once again, North Korea tops the World Watch List of the most dangerous countries for Christians. Syria experienced the biggest jump this year, moving from No. 18 to No. 6. A key factor was last June’s attack on a Damascus church, which left 25 worshipers dead and 63 more injured. After a three-year absence from the World Watch List, Nepal now appears at No. 46.
RELATED: Open Doors 2024 Watch List Highlights Persecution of Sub-Saharan African Christians
Of the 50 countries on the 2026 list, 14 are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to Open Doors, violence against believers in that region has more than doubled during the past decade.
Four Sub-Saharan nations are among this year’s Top 10 most dangerous for Christians: Somalia (No. 2), Sudan (No. 4), Eritrea (No. 5), and Nigeria (No. 7). Of the 50 countries listed, only three received the maximum score for violence—and all three are in Sub-Saharan Africa: Sudan, Nigeria, and Mali (No. 15).
The “sheer scale” of Christians living in Sub-Saharan Africa makes the region “the hotbed of Christian persecution,” Open Doors explained. Of the 721 million people living in the 14 Sub-Saharan countries listed, almost half are Christians. Worldwide, 1 in every 8 Christians lives in those 14 countries.
Christians in Nigeria, the world’s sixth most-populous country, account for 3,490 of the 4,849 Christians killed for their faith during the reporting period. Compared to last year, the number of Nigerian Christians killed for their faith rose by 390.
According to the 2026 World Watch List from Open Doors, Sub-Saharan Africa is again the epicenter of violence against Christians.Click to Post
