Persecution of Christians Worsens in 56% of Nations

Aid to the Church in Need published its latest report on October 27, finding that conditions for Christians deteriorated in nearly 56 percent of the 18 countries surveyed over the past two years. None of those countries showed overall improvement.

The pontifical charity estimates that around 220 million Christians face direct persecution, among some 413 million living in high-risk areas. Extremist violence, authoritarian repression, and religious nationalism are the principal forces driving displacement, silencing local Churches, and stripping believers of the freedom to worship in peace.

Sub-Saharan Africa Among the Most Dangerous Regions

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks among the world’s most dangerous regions for Christians. Six of the top 10 countries on the Global Terrorism Index are located there, a concentration that reflects the scale of the militant threat bearing down on Christian communities.

In Nigeria alone, at least 1 million Christians have been forced from their homes. Families have fled villages and parishes under pressure from repeated attacks and spreading insecurity. In Burkina Faso, militants have seized 40 percent of the country’s land, placing large Christian populations under severe strain and disrupting the ordinary life of the Church across wide territories.

The pattern is one of sustained uprooting rather than isolated outbursts: where armed groups advance, Christian presence retreats, and the faithful who remain live under constant threat.

Religious Nationalism and Legal Coercion in Asia

Asia presents a different but no less grave landscape. In India, religious nationalism fueled more than 700 anti-Christian incidents in 2025, striking churches, prayer gatherings, clergy, and converts.

In Pakistan, blasphemy laws and forced conversions continue to endanger Christian minorities. Accusations can lead to mob violence and long imprisonment, while vulnerable believers remain exposed to coercion in matters of faith and family life.

Across both continents, the report documents an erosion of religious freedom that is structural, not accidental—rooted in ideology, law, and armed force.

A Summons to Awareness and Solidarity

Aid to the Church in Need urges greater awareness and concrete action to protect religious freedom. The charity, which assists persecuted and suffering Churches worldwide, presents its findings as a call to stand with Christians who cannot freely profess the name of Christ.

For the Catholic faithful, the figures are not abstractions. They name brothers and sisters driven from home, harassed by law, and targeted by extremists. That not one of the countries surveyed recorded overall improvement over two years leaves little room for complacency—and much room for prayer, advocacy, and support for those who suffer for the faith.