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WATCH LIST
2020
ABOUT US......................................................................................................................................................... 1
OpenDoorsUSA.org/WWL
WORLD
WATCH LIST
2020
A letter from David Curry,
CEO Open Doors
When I visited Beijing recently, I found that I was
constantly under the cold eyes of CCTV cameras.
I couldn’t be sure my hotel room wasn’t bugged. It’s
what some Christians in China go through constantly:
the reality that the government keeps tabs on them,
making sure they don’t get out of line. Making sure that
Jesus doesn’t ever conflict with the wishes of the state.
This is but one type of persecution we track each year in the About us
World Watch List. We also look at brutal violence, like the Easter For more than 60 years, Open
Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka or the spike in violent attacks Doors has served persecuted
in Burkina Faso. But both pressure and violence have the same Christians. Now in more than 60
aim: to destroy the Church of God. countries, Open Doors supports
God’s people with what they
The Bible tells us that the gates of hell will not overcome the need—Bibles, emergency relief
Church of God. But the Bible also tells us that the gates of hell aid, trauma counseling, advocacy,
will try. That’s what the World Watch List is about. It’s about training and much more. We’re
committed to those who suffer for
how Satan and his forces are trying to defeat God’s family. But following Jesus, and we believe
believers around the world stare Satan in the face, and say with the persecuted church is part of
one voice: the DNA of every Christian.
NO. We’re present—on the ground—
and understand the full story, not
In the pages that follow, you’ll read numbers and data that
just sound bites or secondhand
represent real Christians, like you and me, who are standing up reports. We pull back the curtain
for God—and suffering because of it. But these people are not to inspire and invite others—
strangers; they are our family. And we have the opportunity to people like you—to be part of the
stand with them. amazing story God is writing for
His Church. No matter where they
Because through Jesus? We and every Christian living in the 50 live, we believe God’s people are
countries on the World Watch List are one Church, one Family. one Church, one Family.
OpenDoorsUSA.org/WWL
A BOU T T H E
Ranking Methodology
Pressure Violence
Degree of pressure in five Amount of violent incidents
spheres of Christian life against Christians and the Church
Max score per sphere: 16.7 Max score per sphere: 16.7
1. In the most populated countries Similarly, in India (No. 10), the government
on earth, Christians live in a plans to introduce a national facial recognition
surveillance state system. There were at least 447 verified
incidents of violence and hate crimes against
In China (No. 23), where there are an Christians in India in the 2020 World Watch
estimated 97 million Christians, persecution List reporting period. There is fear that more
against Christians has taken a technological tracking could increase these attacks.
turn. A recent report cited by CNBC
estimates there are approximately 415 million
surveillance cameras in China, a number only
expected to grow in coming years. China has
also developed widespread facial recognition
software and established laws requiring facial
scans to purchase a phone. When taken
together, these two technological advances
mean the government can track individuals
like never before.
260 M
China is also rolling out a country-wide Social
Credit System (SCS) by which authorities
plan to reward “good” citizenship and punish
“bad.” Already, one community has reportedly
decided to add penalties for those who CH R IST I A NS E X PE R I E NCE
“illegally spread Christianity.” It’s easy to see H IGH L EV E L S of PE R SE CU T ION
how surveillance technology could be used I N T H E T OP 5 0 C OU N T R I E S
in tandem with the SCS to make everyday o n T H E WOR L D WAT CH L IST
life very difficult for anyone the Chinese
6%
government deems insufficiently “Chinese”—
including Christians.
INCREASE
FROM 2019
3. M
ilitant Islam spreads
violence and fear in
9,488
Southeast and South Asia
3,711
healthcare and job options. The Syrian
Christian population remains either largely
displaced inside the country, or refugees
outside it. In addition, the Turkish incursion
into north-eastern Syria has directly affected
CH R IST I A NS W E R E DETA I N E D 40,000 or more Christians in the principally
W I T HOU T T R I A L , A R R E ST E D, Kurdish region.
SE N T E NCE D a n d I M PR IS ON E D
IF ON E PA RT
i s HONOR E D, e ve r y
PA RT SH A R E S
in ITS JOY.
1 C OR I N T H I A N S 12 : 2 6
Unless otherwise indicated, all population and number of Christians stats: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed April 2019).
1 Throughout country rankings, indicates Open Doors estimate
* Throughout, indicates name and/or photo has been changed for security reasons
1
North Korea
SOURCE OF PERSECUTION
Communist and post-
Profile of persecution
Based on World Watch List 2020 data
communist oppression
POPULATION
25,727,000 Violence 66.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 99.9%
300,000 1
National life 99.9%
MAIN RELIGION
Atheism/traditional beliefs
Community life 99.9%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Single-party dictatorship Family life 99.9%
LEADER
Private life 99.9%
Chairman Kim Jong-un
24 29
50
28
12
25
48
41
Afghanistan
2 Nigeria
12
Somalia
3 13 Saudi Arabia
Libya
4 Maldives
14
where it is most Pakistan
5 Iraq
15
dangerous to
follow Jesus: Eritrea
6 Egypt
16
Sudan
7 Algeria
17
Yemen
8 Uzbekistan
18
Iran
9 Myanmar
19
India
10 Laos
20
8 · WORLD WATCH LIST 2020
46
35
18 1
22 31
36
11 23
9 2
15
32 45
33
43 5
16 47
27
13 10 19
42 38
20
7 6
8
21
39 3
37
30
40
44
14 49
High persecution
Vietnam
21 Tajikistan
31 Colombia
41
Turkmenistan
22 Nepal
32 Oman
42
China
23 Jordan
33 Kuwait
43
Mauritania
24 Tunisia
34 Kenya
44
26 Morocco Turkey
36 46 Russian Federation
Qatar
27 Brunei
37 47 United Arab Emirates
28 Burkina Faso Bangladesh
38 48 Cameroon
Mali
29 Ethiopia
39 Indonesia
49
POPULATION
37,209,000 Violence 60%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 99.9%
Thousands1
National life 99.9%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 99.9%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Islamic republic Family life 99.9%
LEADER
Private life 99.9%
President Ashraf Ghani
POPULATION
15,636,000 Violence 56.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 99%
A few hundred1
National life 99.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 99.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federal republic Family life 99.9%
LEADER
Private life 98.5%
President Mohamed
Abdullahi Mohamed
“Farmajo”
POPULATION
6,570,000 Violence 67.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 98%
36,200
National life 96%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 94.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Transitional Family life 92.5%
LEADER
Private life 92%
Prime Minister Fayez
al-Sarraj
POPULATION
204,596,000 Violence 99.9%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 82%
4,015,000
National life 89.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 90%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federal republic Family life 83.5%
LEADER
Private life 83.5%
Prime Minister Imran Khan
a small room.”
which I can never fill without Him; I cannot leave Him.”
LEADER
Private life 87%
President Isaias Afwerki
POPULATION
42,514,000 Violence 62%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 96.5%
1,963,000
National life 94%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 87%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Transitional Family life 87.5%
LEADER
Private life 85%
Prime Minister
Abdalla Hamdok
POPULATION
29,580,000 Violence 15.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 99.9%
A few thousand1
National life 99.9%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 98.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Islamic republic Family life 98.5%
LEADER
Private life 99%
Prime Minister Maeen
Abdulmalik Saeed
POPULATION
82,821,000 Violence 62%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 99%
800,000 1
National life 94.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 84.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Islamic republic Family life 85.5%
LEADER
Private life 84%
President Hassan Rouhani
POPULATION
1,368,738,000 Violence 89%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 81%
66,194,000
National life 90%
MAIN RELIGION
Hinduism
Community life 81%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federal republic Family life 78%
LEADER
Private life 77.5%
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
POPULATION
18,499,000 Violence 75.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 86%
744,000
National life 83.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 78%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 85%
LEADER
Private life 81%
President Bashar al-Assad
“They could lose “But our youth ministry is growing again, and the
have worked for.” matured much quicker than they used to. They look
for creative ways to fellowship together.
POPULATION
200,962,000 Violence 99.9%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 78%
93,791,000
National life 76.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Christianity/Islam
Community life 80.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federal presidential republic Family life 71.5%
LEADER
Private life 73%
President Maj. Gen. (ret.)
Muhammadu Buhari
POPULATION
34,141,000 Violence 14.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 99%
1,419,000 1
National life 93%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 84.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Absolute monarchy Family life 89.5%
LEADER
Private life 90.5%
King Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud
POPULATION
452,000 Violence 4.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 99%
Thousands1
National life 95%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 84%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 93.5%
LEADER
Private life 92.5%
President Ibrahim
Mohamed Solih
POPULATION
40,412,000 Violence 33.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 82%
202,000
National life 87%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 83%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federal republic Family life 87.5%
LEADER
Private life 83.5%
Vacant as of publication
POPULATION
101,169,000 Violence 96.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 63%
16,250,000 1
National life 79%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 64.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 78.5%
LEADER
Private life 72.5%
President Abdel
Fattah el-Sisi
POPULATION
42,679,000 Violence 55.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 79%
129,000
National life 77%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 62.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 85.5%
LEADER
Private life 81%
Interim President
Abdelkader Bensalah
POPULATION
32,807,000 Violence 18%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 94.5%
349,000
National life 73%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 84.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 77.5%
LEADER
Private life 90.5%
President Shavkat
Mirziyoyev
POPULATION
54,336,000 Violence 64.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 73.5%
4,322,000
National life 75%
MAIN RELIGION
Buddhism
Community life 80.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Parliamentary republic Family life 71.5%
LEADER
Private life 70.5%
President Win Myint
POPULATION
7,064,000 Violence 33.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 89.5%
227,000
National life 86.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Buddhism
Community life 84.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Communist state Family life 59.5%
LEADER
Private life 77%
President Bounnhang
Vorachith
She was verbally term consequences for her and the children.
and physically
Fortunately, Open Doors was able to quickly connect
her with a local pastor trained in trauma care, to offer
villagers.
Thanks to Open Doors supporters, construction of
her new home is in progress.
LEADER
Private life 73.5%
President Nguyen
Phu Trong
POPULATION
5,943,000 Violence 11%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 94.5%
70,500
National life 79.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 82.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 67%
LEADER
Private life 87%
President Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedow
LEADER
Private life 69.5%
President Xi Jinping
POPULATION
4,661,000 Violence 1%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 80.5%
10,000
National life 82.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 78%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Authoritarian Family life 84%
LEADER
Private life 83%
President Mohamed Ould
Cheikh Ghazouani
POPULATION
4,826,000 Violence 93%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 61%
3,599,000
National life 59%
MAIN RELIGION
Christianity
Community life 79%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 54.5%
LEADER
Private life 60.5%
President Faustin-Archange
Touadéra
POPULATION
36,635,000 Violence 24.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 84.5%
32,200
National life 70%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 65%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Constitutional monarchy Family life 79.5%
LEADER
Private life 74%
King Mohammed VI
POPULATION
2,744,000 Violence 13%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 84%
367,000
National life 73%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 65%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Absolute monarchy Family life 80%
LEADER
Private life 82%
Amir Tamim bin Hamad
Al Thani
POPULATION
20,322,000 Violence 93%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 71%
5,157,000
National life 56.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 61%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 58%
LEADER
Private life 56%
President Roch Marc
Christian Kaboré
POPULATION
19,681,000 Violence 82%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 70.5%
461,000
National life 60%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 77%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Semi-presidential republic Family life 49%
LEADER
Private life 55%
President Ibrahim
Boubacar Keita
heart to Jesus.”
this person said he is a descendant of Prophet
Muhammad. But he started to believe in Jesus!
POPULATION
21,019,000 Violence 79%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 57.5%
1,994,000
National life 65.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Buddhism
Community life 66%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 54%
LEADER
Private life 68.5%
President Gotabaya
Rajapaksa
POPULATION
9,292,000 Violence 6.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 78.5%
71,100
National life 74.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 71%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 73.5%
LEADER
Private life 83%
President Emomali
Rahmon
POPULATION
29,942,000 Violence 42%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 73%
1,279,000
National life 72.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Hinduism
Community life 59%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federal republic Family life 65%
LEADER
Private life 74%
President Bidhya
Devi Bhandari
POPULATION
10,070,000 Violence 10%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 75%
180,000 1
National life 70%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 64.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Parliamentary constitutional Family life 84.5%
monarchy
LEADER Private life 79%
King Abdullah II
POPULATION
11,783,000 Violence 32%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 74%
23,300
National life 65%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 62%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Parliamentary republic Family life 77%
LEADER
Private life 72%
President Kais Saied
POPULATION
18,593,000 Violence 10%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 84%
4,836,000
National life 74.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 64.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 69%
LEADER
Private life 79%
President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev
POPULATION
82,962,000 Violence 22%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 68%
173,000
National life 79.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 64.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 70.5%
LEADER
Private life 75.5%
President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan
POPULATION
439,000 Violence 3.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 81%
55,300
National life 62%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 64%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Sultanate Family life 86%
LEADER
Private life 82.5%
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
POPULATION
168,066,000 Violence 55.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 53%
887,000
National life 67%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 76%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Parliamentary republic Family life 59.5%
LEADER
Private life 67%
President Abdul Hamid
POPULATION
110,136,000 Violence 71%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 62.5%
65,776,000
National life 65%
MAIN RELIGION
Christianity
Community life 63.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federal republic Family life 55%
LEADER
Private life 60%
President Sahle-Work
Zewde
POPULATION
32,454,000 Violence 9%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 58%
2,951,000
National life 72%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 76%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federal parliamentary Family life 87.5%
constitutional monarchy
LEADER Private life 72.5%
Prime Minister Mahathir
bin Mohamad
LEADER
Private life 53%
President Ivan Duque
Marquez
POPULATION
5,002,000 Violence 12%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 76%
180,000
National life 69%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 60%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Absolute monarchy Family life 78%
LEADER
Private life 76%
Sultan Qaboos bin
Said Al Said
Baptizing
“Yes.”
“Do you accept that you are sinful and you can only
be saved by Jesus’ name?”
North Korean
“Yes.”
[Christians]
is risky.
Bon-Hwa wept as the three of them recited the
Apostle’s Creed. The pastor then baptized Bon-Hwa
in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
POPULATION
4,249,000 Violence 4.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 80%
512,000
National life 69%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 59.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Constitutional monarchy Family life 79%
LEADER
Private life 79%
Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
POPULATION
52,215,000 Violence 54.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 65.5%
42,820,000
National life 50%
MAIN RELIGION
Christianity
Community life 65%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 63%
LEADER
Private life 70%
President Uhuru
Muigai Kenyatta
POPULATION
826,000 Violence 0%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 83.5%
30,000 1
National life 69.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Buddhism
Community life 70.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Constitutional monarchy Family life 65.5%
LEADER
Private life 77%
King Jigme Khesar
Namgyel Wangchuck
POPULATION
143,896,000 Violence 41%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 72.5%
118,027,000
National life 62.5%
MAIN RELIGION
Christianity
Community life 64%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Semi-presidential Family life 49.5%
federation
LEADER Private life 73%
President Vladimir Putin
POPULATION
9,542,000 Violence 6.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 75%
1,226,000
National life 67%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 56.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Federation of monarchies Family life 78%
LEADER
Private life 77.5%
President Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan
POPULATION
25,313,000 Violence 90%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 62%
15,415,000
National life 42%
MAIN RELIGION
Christianity
Community life 69.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 43%
LEADER
Private life 52.5%
President Paul Biya
POPULATION
269,436,000 Violence 39%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 57%
32,790,000
National life 61%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 69.5%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Presidential republic Family life 66%
LEADER
Private life 65.5%
President Joko Widodo
POPULATION
23,177,000 Violence 55.5%
Violence
CHRISTIANS Church life 66.5%
62,200
National life 43%
MAIN RELIGION
Islam
Community life 80%
GOVERNMENT Pressure
Semi-presidential republic Family life 57%
LEADER
Private life 56%
President Mahamadou
Issoufou
“Life became
safety because more attacks were taking place.
so tough and
“Day and night, we kept meeting in the church to cry
out to God to remember us and send us help. And
unbearable.”
God has answered our prayers. He promised to never
leave us or forsake us. God is a miracle-working God.”
• C
HRISTIANS IN NEED—OF BIBLES, FOOD,
SHELTER OR ANYTHING ELSE
– BROTHER A N D R E W,
FOU NDER OF OPEN DOORS
OpenDoorsUSA.org/WWL