Overview
- North Korea remains the most dangerous country for Christians, while Nigeria is the deadliest, accounting for 3,490 of 4,849 faith‑linked killings recorded worldwide.
- Syria climbed from No. 18 to No. 6 after a surge in attacks and security vacuums, including a June suicide bombing in Damascus that killed more than 20 worshipers.
- Sub‑Saharan Africa is the critical hotspot, with 14 countries on the list and weak governance enabling militant violence in nations such as Nigeria, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mozambique.
- Open Doors describes its global death tally as conservative and reports that 201 million women and girls and 110 million minors are among those facing high levels of persecution.
- U.S. actions noted in the report include re‑designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern and conducting Christmas Day strikes on Islamic State militants after violence targeting Christians.