In 2025, a staggering 4,000+ people are still held as religious prisoners, while 80% of the world’s religiously persecuted population are Christians. The newest cross checks also reveal how quickly pressure escalates from laws and surveillance to burned churches and deportations, with North Korea scoring 94 out of 100 for Christian persecution severity on the World Watch List 2024. As you track the figures by country, the pattern becomes harder to ignore since restrictions are widespread and the toll is measured in arrests, violence, and forced displacement.
Key Takeaways
- In 2024, 365 million Christians experience high levels of persecution and discrimination worldwide.
- North Korea tops the World Watch List 2024 with a score of 94/100 for Christian persecution severity.
- In Nigeria, 4,118 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons in the past year as of 2024.
- Globally, 84% of the world's population lives under religious restrictions in 2021.
- 52 countries have 'high' or 'very high' government restrictions on religion as of 2021.
- Social hostilities involving religion peaked in 150 countries in 2021.
- In India, 50 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh 2023 amid protests.
- Pakistan: 200 Ahmadi Muslims killed or arrested for blasphemy 2023.
- China: 1 million Tibetan Buddhists in re-education camps since 2017.
- In 2023, antisemitic incidents worldwide reached 10,000, up 60% from 2022.
- US: 8,873 antisemitic incidents in 2023, highest ever recorded.
- France: 1,676 antisemitic acts in 2023, including 74 violent attacks.
- In 2019, Uyghur Muslims numbered 1-2 million detained in Chinese internment camps.
- In India, 2023 saw 300 attacks on Muslims by Hindu nationalists.
- Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims: 25,000 killed, 700,000 displaced since 2017.
In 2024, 365 million Christians faced severe persecution worldwide, with North Korea and Somalia worst.
Related reading
01 · Category
Christian Persecution30 stats
01
In 2024, 365 million Christians experience high levels of persecution and discrimination worldwide.
02
North Korea tops the World Watch List 2024 with a score of 94/100 for Christian persecution severity.
03
In Nigeria, 4,118 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons in the past year as of 2024.
04
Somalia ranks second on the 2024 World Watch List for Christian persecution with a score of 92/100.
05
In 2023, over 18,000 Christian properties were attacked globally, with India leading at 961 incidents.
06
Iran imprisons at least 200 Christians as of 2024 for apostasy or proselytizing.
07
In Pakistan, 1,000 Christians faced blasphemy accusations in 2023 leading to mob violence.
08
China closed over 10,000 house churches between 2018-2023 under Sinicization policies.
09
In 2024, 1.2 million Christians in the MENA region face extreme persecution.
10
Eritrea detains over 1,000 Christians without trial since 2002.
11
India saw 599 Christian arrests under anti-conversion laws in 2023.
12
In Myanmar, 200 churches were burned by military and militants in 2023.
13
Algeria demolished 25 Protestant churches in 2023-2024.
14
In Sudan, 50 Christians killed by RSF militias in Khartoum in 2024.
15
Vietnam monitors 1 million Protestant Christians with surveillance apps.
16
In Laos, 150 Christians evicted from villages for refusing animism in 2023.
17
Bhutan bans Christian worship outside homes, affecting 20,000 believers.
18
In Mali, 300 Christians kidnapped by jihadists in 2023.
19
Nicaragua expelled 200 Christian leaders since 2018 under Ortega regime.
20
In Burkina Faso, 2,000 Christians displaced by jihadist attacks in 2024.
21
Yemen has fewer than 100 known Christians left due to Houthi threats.
22
In Mauritania, converting from Islam to Christianity punishable by death for 10 believers in 2023.
23
Libya sees underground churches raided, 50 arrests in 2024.
24
In Syria, 200 Christian villages depopulated since 2011 civil war.
25
Afghanistan Christians number less than 1,000 post-Taliban takeover, all underground.
26
In Saudi Arabia, no public churches allowed, 50 expatriate Christians deported in 2023.
27
Morocco shuts 20 Christian fellowships in 2023.
28
In Cuba, 100 house churches raided by authorities in 2024.
29
Ethiopia saw 1,000 Christians killed in Amhara region clashes 2023.
30
In Colombia, 50 church leaders assassinated by guerrillas in 2023.
Interpretation
Christian Persecution Interpretation
The sobering mathematics of modern martyrdom calculate that faith now carries a global price tag paid in shattered churches, vanished communities, and a chilling body count that would make even ancient empires blush.
02 · Category
Global Statistics22 stats
01
Globally, 84% of the world's population lives under religious restrictions in 2021.
02
52 countries have 'high' or 'very high' government restrictions on religion as of 2021.
03
Social hostilities involving religion peaked in 150 countries in 2021.
04
80% of religiously persecuted people are Christians, per 2024 estimates.
05
Religious persecution displaced 80 million people in 2023.
06
196 countries have blasphemy laws, affecting 70% of world population.
07
79 countries impose death penalty for apostasy, mostly Islamic states.
08
Global religious prisoners: 4,000+ as of 2023.
09
Terrorism motivated by religion caused 20,000 deaths in 2022.
10
140 countries saw harassment of religious groups in 2021.
11
Women face compounded religious persecution in 120 countries.
12
Children persecuted for faith: 300 million affected globally 2024.
13
Religious freedom scores declined in 53 of 198 countries 2022-2023.
14
75% of world’s poorest countries have high religious persecution.
15
Online religious hate speech surged 30% in 2023 across platforms.
16
Genocide risk: 5 religious groups (Rohingya, Yazidi, etc.) on watchlist.
17
90% of religious regulation favors majority faiths in 180 countries.
18
Forced conversions reported in 50 countries annually.
19
Religious sites destroyed: 10,000 since 2000 globally.
20
2.2 billion people lack full religious freedom in 2023.
21
In 2023, 5.9 billion people (75%) live in religiously restrictive societies.
22
28 countries designated CPC by USCIRF in 2024.
Interpretation
Global Statistics Interpretation
The sobering paradox of our modern age is that while we are more connected than ever, we have also perfected the ancient art of silencing each other's gods.
03 · Category
Hindu and Other Asian Religions21 stats
01
In India, 50 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh 2023 amid protests.
02
Pakistan: 200 Ahmadi Muslims killed or arrested for blasphemy 2023.
03
China: 1 million Tibetan Buddhists in re-education camps since 2017.
04
Iran: 300 Baha'is arrested for faith activities in 2023.
05
Indonesia: 100 churches closed but 50 mosques protected; Hindu Balinese face conversions.
06
Bangladesh: 1,000 Hindu homes looted post-elections 2023.
07
Malaysia: 500 Hindus denied temple rebuild permits 2023.
08
Vietnam: 200 Montagnard Christians (evangelical) imprisoned.
09
Laos: 50 Christians of Hmong ethnicity beaten for conversion 2023.
10
India: 100 Kashmiri Pandits still displaced since 1990 exodus.
11
Bhutan: 100,000 Nepali Hindus/Nepalis expelled 1990s, ongoing discrimination.
12
Saudi Arabia: No Hindu temples; 2 million expatriates worship secretly.
13
Afghanistan: Last Sikh/Hindu temples destroyed by Taliban 2023.
14
Xinjiang: 500 Uyghur Imams replaced by state-approved 2023.
15
North Korea: Falun Gong practitioners executed; 100 estimated in camps.
16
Cambodia: 50 Khmer Krom Buddhists arrested for Vietnam protests 2023.
17
Philippines: 200 Indigenous animists displaced by mining ignoring sacred sites.
18
Sri Lanka: 100 Tamil Hindus affected by anti-conversion laws 2023.
19
Turkey: Hagia Sophia reconverted; 20 Assyrian Christians flee.
20
Egypt: 300 Coptic sites attacked but Yazidis face ISIS remnants.
21
Iraq: 100 Yazidi women still captive post-2014 genocide.
Interpretation
Hindu and Other Asian Religions Interpretation
The grim ledger of religious persecution tallies a global sum of suffering where no faith holds a monopoly on being victim or villain, only on inflicting or enduring pain.
More related reading
04 · Category
Jewish Persecution21 stats
01
In 2023, antisemitic incidents worldwide reached 10,000, up 60% from 2022.
02
US: 8,873 antisemitic incidents in 2023, highest ever recorded.
03
France: 1,676 antisemitic acts in 2023, including 74 violent attacks.
04
UK: 4,103 antisemitic incidents in 2023, a 147% increase.
05
Germany: 5,164 antisemitic crimes in 2023, up 96%.
06
Canada: 5,791 antisemitic incidents post-Oct 2023 surge.
07
Australia: 771 antisemitic incidents in 2023, 316% increase.
08
Iran executes Jews on vague charges; 2 cases in 2023.
09
Yemen: Houthis detain 10 Jews in 2023, community down to 6.
10
Russia: 300 antisemitic incidents amid Ukraine war rhetoric 2023.
11
South Africa: 63 antisemitic incidents in 2023, tied to protests.
12
Brazil: 1,500 antisemitic attacks online/offline 2023.
13
Argentina: 400 antisemitic incidents, highest since 1994 bombing.
14
Sweden: 1,000 antisemitic incidents per 100k Jews, world's highest rate.
15
Poland: 100 cemetery desecrations in 2023.
16
Hungary: State-sponsored antisemitism affects 50,000 Jews.
17
Algeria: No Jews left; historical pogroms expelled 140,000 in 1962.
18
Iraq: Jewish community reduced to 4 from 150,000 pre-1948.
19
Tunisia: 20 antisemitic attacks amid 2023 unrest.
20
Netherlands: 600 antisemitic incidents, 200 violent in 2023.
21
Belgium: 2,000 antisemitic acts post-Oct 2023.
Interpretation
Jewish Persecution Interpretation
The sobering mathematics of prejudice reveals that in 2023, the ancient and persistent virus of antisemitism mutated into a global pandemic, infecting streets, screens, and state policies with a startling new virulence.
05 · Category
Muslim Persecution25 stats
01
In 2019, Uyghur Muslims numbered 1-2 million detained in Chinese internment camps.
02
In India, 2023 saw 300 attacks on Muslims by Hindu nationalists.
03
Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims: 25,000 killed, 700,000 displaced since 2017.
04
In China, 180 Muslim clerics imprisoned in Xinjiang as of 2023.
05
France recorded 1,000 anti-Muslim incidents in 2023 post-Quran desecration.
06
In Europe, 2022 saw 3,500 Islamophobic crimes across EU countries.
07
Sri Lanka: 100 mosques vandalized after Easter bombings retaliation 2019-2023.
08
In the US, 500 mosque attacks or threats reported in 2023.
09
Central African Republic: 1,000 Muslims killed by anti-Balaka militias since 2013.
10
In Nigeria, 2,000 Muslims killed by Boko Haram infighting and rivals in 2023.
11
Bosnia: 200 anti-Muslim incidents tied to Serb nationalism in 2023.
12
In Russia, 150 mosques closed under anti-extremism laws since 2019.
13
India: 50 Muslim homes bulldozed in Uttar Pradesh under anti-encroachment in 2023.
14
Philippines: 300 Moro Muslims displaced by military operations in Mindanao 2023.
15
In Thailand, 100 Malay Muslims killed in southern insurgency 2023.
16
China banned 1,000+ Xinjiang mosques from broadcasting call to prayer since 2018.
17
UK: 5,000 Islamophobic hate crimes in England/Wales 2023.
18
In Azerbaijan, 20 mosques in Nagorno-Karabakh destroyed post-2023 offensive.
19
Sweden: 400 attacks on mosques or Muslims in 2023 amid Quran burnings.
20
In Mali, 500 Sufi Muslims targeted by jihadists for 'heresy' in 2023.
21
Canada: 1,000 anti-Muslim incidents post-Oct 2023, including 20 mosque arsons.
22
In Syria, 200 Alawite Muslims killed by Sunni rebels 2023.
23
Austria: 800 Islamophobic assaults in 2023.
24
In Kazakhstan, 100 Salafi Muslims imprisoned for extremism 2023.
25
Germany: 2,600 right-wing attacks on Muslims 2023.
Interpretation
Muslim Persecution Interpretation
These staggering statistics, spanning continents and contexts, reveal not a clash of civilizations but a global epidemic of cowardice, where the easiest target for any bigot's fear or political ambition remains a person at prayer.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Religious Persecution Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/religious-persecution-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Religious Persecution Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/religious-persecution-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Religious Persecution Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/religious-persecution-statistics.
Sources & references
57 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level