World Watch List 2025: A snapshot

A look at some of the places where faith costs the most.

North Korea
If your Christian faith is discovered in North Korea, you could be killed on the spot. If you aren’t killed, you will be deported to a horrendous labour camp and treated as a political criminal. You will be punished with years of hard labour that few survive. It’s impossible to gather for worship or prayer, and even secret worship and prayer are enormous risks.

Even North Korean citizens who have escaped the country are not safe. Refugees in other countries, particularly China, are at risk of being rounded up and sent back to appalling punishments. If authorities discover that a North Korean has become a Christian, or even simply heard the gospel or came into contact with Christians, then they will be singled out for severe punishment.

*Representative photo of an actor in a reenactment.

Somalia
In Somalia, following Jesus is a matter of life and death. Al-Shabab, a violent Islamic militant group, is at war with the government and controls large swathes of the country. This group is committed to eradicating Christianity from Somalia. They have often killed Somali Christians on the spot.

But persecution for Christians also comes from within their own families and communities. Being Muslim is a huge part of Somali identity, and to reject this is seen as a betrayal that affects the whole family and tribe. Even a suspicion that you might have converted from Islam to Christianity can put your life in great danger.

*Representative image used.

Cuba
Since 1959, Cuba has been ruled by the Communist Party, which tries to control the Church. The government reacts harshly to anyone who opposes it. Church leaders and Christian activists who criticise the regime can face interrogation, arrest, smear campaigns, travel restrictions, prison sentences and harassment (which can include physical violence and damage to church buildings).

These leaders’ family members also face threats, including the threat of losing custody of their children. The government often refuses to register new churches, forcing many to operate illegally. These churches are vulnerable to fines, property confiscation and even demolition.

China
In recent years, the Chinese government has aggressively tried to ensure all religious expression is in line with official Chinese Communist philosophy, so any church or church leader stepping outside of that can come under heavy restrictions. Unregistered churches, long tolerated by the Chinese government, are considered illegal and increasingly put under pressure as authorities more regularly enforce regulations and tighten policies. State-approved churches come under stronger ideological pressure.

In regions where Islam or Tibetan Buddhism are the majority faiths, Christian converts from those religions can face additional scrutiny and pressure – and sometimes even violence – from family and community members.

Photo above: A church with a seal on it reading “Seized”.