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India ranks 12th on the list of 15 most dangerous countries for Christians

  • Findings from the ‘World Watch List 2026’ report by the organisation ‘Open Doors’

  • Claim of 39 crore Christians facing violence worldwide

Vatican City – A significant increase in violence against Christians worldwide has come to light. According to a recent report, compared to 2024, Christians faced much higher levels of persecution and violence in various forms in 2025. The report states that approximately 38.8 crore Christians were subjected to atrocities. It identifies 15 countries as the most dangerous for Christians, with India ranked 12th on the list. This report, titled ‘World Watch List 2026’, has been published by the organisation Open Doors based on a global study. The organisation’s director, Christian Nani, stated that an extremely dangerous and record-breaking situation was observed in 2025.

Controversial claims about India in the report

India has been placed at 12th position on the list with a score of 84 out of 100. The report claims that individuals who convert to Christianity face discrimination from Hindu society. The narrative in the report clearly reflects prejudice against Hindu community. It states that, according to religious nationalists in India, being Indian means being Hindu, and there is no place for Christianity in the country. As a result, especially those who convert are subjected to systematic discrimination and violence. The report further claims that social media has intensified the problem, with large-scale spread of misinformation and false narratives about Christianity. It also states that evangelistic activities have become extremely dangerous.

The 15 most dangerous countries for Christians

According to the World Watch List report, North Korea has been identified as the most dangerous country for Christians. It is followed by Somalia, Eritrea, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, and Syria. The report states that violence in Syria has reached extremely serious levels. Christian Nani said that the Christian community in Syria is under severe threat and that only about 3,00,000 Christians remain there today—several hundred thousand fewer than a decade ago.

Severe impact on women and children

According to the World Watch List, out of the 38.8 crore affected Christians, 20.1 crore are women or girls, and 11 crore are under the age of 15. The report also notes that the number of countries where persecution of Christians is at an “extreme” level has increased from 13 to 15. These 15 countries are claimed to account for the highest levels of violence against Christians worldwide. India’s inclusion in this list has therefore caused surprise.

Extremely grave situation in sub-Saharan Africa

1. Violence against Christians has risen sharply in African countries. In 2024, 4,476 Christians were killed, while in 2025 the number rose to 4,849—an average of 13 killings per day.

2. Nigeria has emerged as the epicenter of these killings, with 3,490 Christians killed there, accounting for nearly 70 percent of Christian deaths worldwide.

3. In sub-Saharan Africa, 4,744 people were arrested in 2025 solely for being Christians, a figure similar to that of 2024.

4. Incidents of abduction have declined. While 3,775 kidnappings were recorded in 2024, the number fell to 3,302 in 2025.

5. Attacks on churches have also decreased—from 7,679 attacks in 2024 to 3,632 attacks in 2025.

6. However, incidents of rape and forced marriage of Christian girls have increased significantly, rising from 3,944 cases in 2024 to 5,202 cases in 2025.

Editorial Perspectives

  • It is shameful that no organisation anywhere in the world—or even in India—ever publishes such reports about atrocities against Hindus.
  • Even though Christians form the majority in many nations across the world, if they are still facing persecution, who will speak about the atrocities committed against Hindus ?
  • The claim that Christians are persecuted in India is ridiculous. It is now also necessary to speak about the mental and physical harassment faced by Hindus at the hands of Christian missionaries, Christian-run schools, and Christian Naxalites in India.

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