SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 7, 2025—As global tensions rise and a new administration takes office in the White House, a critical new report sheds light on the escalating crisis of Christian persecution. The 2025 Global Christian Relief Red List, released today by Global Christian Relief, offers the first-ever quantifiable and verifiable index exposing the top offenders of Christian persecution worldwide. This innovative report highlights the top five countries where documented killings, arrests, displacements, attacks, and assaults and abductions are most severe. 

The Red List comes at a critical moment, as the persecution of Christians has grown across the globe since 2014, driven by the rising influence of Islamic extremism, growing Hindu nationalism, resurgent authoritarian regimes, government corruption, and the misuse of more sophisticated technology. The events-based list aggregates data drawn from the Violent Incidents Database—an index documenting physical and non-physical religiously motivated violent incidents from November 2022 to November 2024. The report delivers the most verifiable and indisputable picture of Christian persecution available. 

The database is accessible to all and a living source of information that provides transparent and measurable reporting on not just Christian persecution, but other faiths as well. In addition to tracking incidents against Christians, the database uniquely documents the religious affiliations of perpetrators when possible, offering unprecedented insights into the ideological drivers of violence, helping tackle international conflicts stemming from religious intolerance.

"The two years of reporting from Red List truly reveals where Christian communities face the gravest threats and helps us direct life-saving support where it's needed most," said Brian Orme, acting chief executive, Global Christian Relief. "Working closely with our partners on the ground in these high-risk areas, we provide emergency aid, safe houses, and trauma counseling to Christians facing violent persecution. Despite the intense challenges in places like Nigeria, China, and India, we continue to see remarkable resilience in these communities. Even in the darkest circumstances, the Church not only survives but grows stronger—millions are choosing to follow Jesus despite knowing the risks they face."

During this reporting period, the Red List highlights some troubling trends:

• Nigeria is where most Christians were killed, and the country where a Christian woman was most likely to be abducted and assaulted;
• India is where the most Christian property was attacked and destroyed;
• Azerbaijan the country from which most Christians had to flee; and
• China is the nation that arrested and sentenced the most Christians.

Key Findings from the Red List:

Top Five Countries: Killings

1. Nigeria (9,814)
2. Democratic Republic of Congo (390)
3. Mozambique (262)
4. Ethiopia (181)
5. Russia (164)

Africa remains the dominant region for the killing of Christians, making up four of the top five countries. Nigeria is perpetually the country in which Christians are most likely to be killed for their faith due to Islamic extremist groups, like Boko Haram, armed Fulani herdsmen and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). These groups target isolated villages where communities are more vulnerable to attack. Despite government assurances that they will defeat the extremists, violence continues to escalate. Similar patterns emerge in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, where numerous armed militant groups target Christians. Russia is fifth, with fatalities occurring primarily in the Muslim region of Dagestan as a result of Muslim militants waging war and targeting religious and law enforcement sites.

Top Five Countries: Building Attacks

1. India (4,949)
2. Mozambique (1,607)
3. Myanmar (1,490)
4. Ukraine (1,270)
5. Ethiopia (488)

Destroying homes, businesses and places of worship is an act of persecution used to weaken the Christian church, intimidate new converts and discourage meetings. India experienced the highest number of attacks on Christian property worldwide over the past two years, primarily targeting Christian homes. Much of this violence occurred in Manipur state, where unrest erupted in May 2023 and has persisted. Hindu extremists from the Meitei tribe targeted the predominantly Christian Kuki community, systematically burning churches and destroying the homes of pastors and church elders. Myanmar’s building attacks were a result of the civil war. In February 2024, Mozambique faced significant riots, with the Islamic State of Mozambique (ISM) claiming to have “destroyed eighteen churches in three weeks.” Ukraine recorded the most attacks on churches globally, with 1,260 of 1,270 reported incidents involving churches, mostly damaged by Russian artillery. Ethiopia’s attacks were mainly due to Islamic militants attacking majority Christian villages.

Top Five Countries: Arrests

1. China (1,559)
2. Eritrea (475)
3. Nicaragua (226)
4. Russia (224)
5. North Korea (208)

With the world’s most advanced surveillance and citizen control systems, it is unsurprising that Communist China tops the list for Christian arrests and sentences since 2022. Over the past two years, Chinese authorities have arrested or sentenced Christians, primarily from unregistered churches. All churches face invasive new religious regulations including acknowledging that the final authority is the State. Second on the list is Eritrea, in the horn of Africa, with its continued harsh treatment of Christians and a government that only recognizes four religious groups (Eritrean Orthodox, Sunni Islam, Catholic and Lutheran), so unregistered Christians are often the ones arrested. Nicaragua ranks third due to arrests of mostly Catholic clergy associated with the pro-democracy movement as the government seeks to eliminate civil society groups. Russia comes fourth with arrests and sentencings, primarily targeting Evangelical Christians. North Korea ranks fifth where information on arrests and sentencing is scarce. While only 208 arrests have been confirmed, the true number is likely far higher due to the isolation nation’s secrecy and lack of verification. (The Red List only includes incidents that are verified.)  

Top Five Countries: Displacement

1. Azerbaijan (120,001)
2. India (60,000)
3. Mozambique (16,000)
4. Democratic Republic of the Congo (15,703)
5. Myanmar (1,500)

This category highlights the often underreported or unreported displacement of Christians from their homes and communities. In Armenia, the church has seen the largest displacement in recent years, with the entire Christian population of Nagorno-Karabakh forced to flee in September 2023 following an Azerbaijani military offensive. In India, more than 60,000 displacements in Manipur are a result of ethnic conflict paired with systemic persecution of Christians. In Mozambique, ongoing conflict and Muslim extremism have driven widespread displacement, compounded by the destruction of property and churches. Similarly, wars and violence in the areas where well-armed Islamic jihadists operate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have forced many Christians to flee.In Myanmar, Christians face significant challenges due to ongoing conflict and oppressive rule of the military junta.

Top Five Countries: Abductions and Assaults

1. Nigeria (9,311)
2. Mexico (138)
3. Haiti (101)
4. Cameroon (83)
5. Ethiopia (78)

Abductions not only cause terror and civil unrest but also drive a devastating industry that siphons wealth from Christian communities to perpetrators worldwide. When paired with ransom demands, these kidnappings fuel organized crime, non-state militias, and terrorist organizations. The top perpetrator is Nigeria due to an intentional effort to funnel money from Christian communities to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and Al-Qaeda affiliates. There is a drastic difference between first place Nigeria and second place Mexico. Pastors or church leaders opposing corruption, human trafficking or the drug trade in Mexico have disappeared from lawless regions. In Haiti, organized crime and gang activity are the primary forces behind Christian abductions. In Cameroon, attacks on Christians frequently target church meetings. Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, the ongoing war in the Tigray region has fostered lawlessness and widespread violence, further endangering Christian communities.

Global Christian Relief uses this data to understand the needs of persecuted Christians and to form and grow partnerships to address those needs. Persecution often goes undocumented due to censorship, but by providing accurate data, religious freedom advocates have more concrete evidence for the escalating crisis. The Red List is a baseline with the understanding that persecution is likely more severe, yet the numbers are still alarming.

“One of our goals is to create conditions of more religious freedom for Christians. This involves advocacy, of course, but often requires working to implement more effective laws, and pressure governments to treat religious minorities better,” said Ron Boyd-MacMillan, chief of research and global strategy, Global Christian Relief. “I heard it said this year by a famous Christian journalist in India that ‘The only reason genocide did not occur in Manipur was because of international concern.’ Speaking out for more freedom has very powerful effects, and we have seen that time and time again. Our hope is that the new administration and people around the world will join us in advocating for those being persecuted.”

For more information about Global Christian Relief and their work to raise awareness and combat religious persecution, Brian Orme, acting chief executive, and Ron Boyd-MacMillan, chief of research and global strategy, are available for interviews.

Methodology
The 2025 Global Christian Relief Red List is compiled using the Violence Incidence Database, which collects, records and analyzes incidents of physical and non-physical violence concerning violations of religious freedom. Most incidents are reported by research assistants and key collaborators in countries around the globe through field interviews, desk reports and other reports. Anyone can self-report an incident using an online form.

About Global Christian Relief

Global Christian Relief is America’s leading watchdog organization focused on the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide. In addition to equipping the Western church to advocate and pray for the persecuted, Global Christian Relief works directly with partners in the most restrictive countries to protect and encourage Christians threatened by religious discrimination and violence. For more information, visit globalchristianrelief.org.

Media Contacts:

Christine Cape, 404.545.0085

Laura McGowan, 847.347.5206

Addison Peevy, 678.230.1925