Worldwide Persecution of Christians Worst Ever, Now Rising in Sub-Saharan Africa

Open Doors released its 2023 World Watch list this week, and North Korea has returned to the top spot as the world's worst persecutor of Christians. Worldwide, Christians are now facing more persecution or discrimination than ever.
    
Although fewer Christians died for their faith in Christ last year, Christian persecution is increasing to the highest level ever reported.
According to Open Doors, a ministry to the persecuted church, one in seven Christians worldwide now experience high levels of persecution or discrimination.

"Part of the reason it is getting worse is because it is getting worse in more places. Particularly this year, we see the spread of Christian persecution in sub-Saharan Africa," explained Linda Pearce, Open Doors U.S. interim CEO. 

Of the ten countries where Christians experience the most persecution, seven are in countries like Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea.