The new ‘World Watch List 2026’ on religious freedom for Christians around the world

Foto di Gregory Hayes su Unsplash

The Open Doors agency has published the new ‘World Watch List 2026’, the annual report on the persecution of Christians around the world.

The new data shows that 388 million Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith. Among them, 201 million are women or girls and 110 million are children and young people.

Among the approximately 100 countries monitored, the impressive acceleration of the last 15 years is confirmed, with the number of countries experiencing extreme levels of persecution rising from 13 to 15. In many countries, Christians are forced into isolation or hiding.

The published figures show that, between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025, 4,849 Christians were killed, 4,712 were arrested without trial and 3,302 were kidnapped. It is also reported that 3,632 churches and related buildings were attacked or closed, a decrease compared to previous reports.

The full report is available by clicking on this link.

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