TOTAL

SCORE

WORLD WATCH LIST 2023

1 North Korea 98
2 Somalia 92
3 Yemen 89
4 Eritrea 89
5 Libya 88
6 Nigeria 88
7 Pakistan 86
48
8 Iran 86
9 Afghanistan 84
21 10 Sudan
1 83
41 26
44 11 India 82
36 12 12
49 18 9 16 Syria 80
29 8
40 13 Saudi Arabia 80
19 5 35 34 7 14 Myanmar 80
38 13
11 14 15 Maldives 77
27 20 47 30
17 28 16 China 77
10 4 31
3 17 Mali 76
50
23 25
6 18 Iraq 76
39 46
24 2
45 15
19 Algeria 73
22 43
20 Mauritania 72
37 33 21 Uzbekistan 71
22 Colombia 71
42
23 Burkina Faso 71
32 24 Central African Rep. 70
25 Vietnam 70
26 Turkmenistan 70
27 Cuba 70
28 Niger 70
29 Morocco 69
30 Bangladesh 69
31 Laos 68
32 Mozambique 68
33 Indonesia 68
34 Qatar 68

ABOUT THE LIST PE R S E C U TI ON LE V E LS 35

36
Egypt
Tunisia
68
67
The World Watch List is compiled by Open Doors’ analysts using real-world data from experts on the ground in HIGH VERY HIGH EXTREME 37 Congo DR (DRC) 67
150 countries. Persecution in each country is recorded using a points system which tracks violence and pressure.
41-60 points 61-80 points 81-100 points 38 Mexico 67
This measures the number and severity of violent incidents against Christians and the degree of pressure exerted
against the practice of their faith in 5 spheres of life. 39 Ethiopia 66
For the third year in a row, every country on the list is ranked as having very
high or extreme levels of persecution, showing the continued intensity of 40 Bhutan 66
persecution against Christians. 41 Turkey 66

VIOLENCE
PRIVATE FAMILY COMMUNITY NATIONAL CHURCH 42 Comoros 66
LIFE LIFE LIFE LIFE LIFE
43 Malaysia 66
44 Tajikistan 66
45 Cameroon 65

+ =
46 Brunei 65

RANK 47 Oman 65
48 Kazakhstan 65
Maximum score for each is 16.7, maximum total of 100 when combined. 49 Jordan 65
Each country’s ranking is determined by its total score out of 100, giving an indication of severity of persecution. 50 Nicaragua 65