Christians face substantial levels of persecution worldwide with an estimated 365 million facing high levels of persecution, nearly five thousand murdered, and several thousand churches attacked or destroyed.

The annual World Watch List from Open Doors, an organisation supporting persecuted Christians, estimated that 4,998 Christians were martyred for their religious beliefs in the past year. An estimated 4,125 Christians were detained, 14,766 Christian properties and churches were attacked, and 295,120 Christians were displaced from their homes, the True North news portal points out.

Open Doors estimates that persecution for their Christian faith is a fact of life for 365 million Christians, about 1 in 7 of all Christians worldwide. In Africa, one in five of all Christians are persecuted while two in five Christians are persecuted in Asia.

Open Door compiles and ranks the top 50 worst countries when it comes to persecuting Christians for their faith. 13 countries are listed as nations where Christians face extreme levels of persecution, with North Korea ranking as the worst country for Christians in the world.

Open Doors says that being discovered as a Christian in North Korea is „effectively a death sentence”, with those discovered to be believers being sent to labour camps or killed on the spot. It is estimated that 400,000 Christians live in North Korea.

Nigeria, listed at number six, sees more Christians killed on an annual basis for their faith than all of the world’s countries combined, mostly in the Muslim-majority north.

Other countries where Christians face extreme persecution include Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Pakistan, Sudan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.