Persecution of Christians has worsened in 10 of the 18 countries examined in the report Persecuted and Forgotten? 2024–2026, published by the international charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The report, covering August 2024 to June 2026, found that none of the countries studied recorded an overall improvement. In many cases, conditions deteriorated in particular regions rather than across entire countries.
ACN estimates that approximately 413 million Christians live in countries where serious violations of religious freedom occur, while around 220 million Christians worldwide are directly exposed to persecution.
The report identifies extremist violence, repression by authoritarian governments and religious nationalism as major factors behind the worsening situation.
Africa among the worst-affected regions
Sub-Saharan Africa is among the regions where Christian communities face the most severe forms of violence.
According to figures cited by ACN, six of the ten countries most affected by terrorism worldwide are in Africa.
In Nigeria, attacks by armed groups have caused numerous casualties and forced communities from their homes. According to ACN, millions of Christians are among the country’s internally displaced people. The organisation warns that prolonged displacement, alongside extremist violence elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, could permanently alter the religious composition of affected regions.
Serious incidents have also been reported in Burkina Faso, Mali and Mozambique, where extremist groups have attacked towns, villages, churches and Christian communities.
“Persecution has become a huge, yet often hidden, factor driving entire communities from their homes, changing the religious demography of entire regions, especially in Africa,” said John Pontifex, Head of Press and Public Affairs at ACN UK.
Restrictions and discrimination in Asia
The report also highlights the situation of Christians in several Asian countries, where persecution takes different forms, ranging from restrictions on religious freedom to violent attacks.
In China, the authorities have tightened their control over religious activities, including in the digital sphere. Christian communities that do not comply with official regulations face the risk of arrests and the closure of places of worship.
In India, more than 700 incidents of violence against Christians were recorded in 2025, according to the report.
The organisation also highlights attacks on churches and worshippers, as well as restrictions affecting the practice of the Christian faith.
In Pakistan, Christians continue to face blasphemy accusations, discrimination and cases of forced conversion, particularly affecting underage girls from religious minority communities.
In North Korea, meanwhile, the practice of Christianity remains subject to extreme restrictions, and people who engage in religious activities risk severe punishment.
Christians in the Middle East under threat
The report also draws attention to the situation of Christians in the Middle East, where wars, political instability and extremist violence threaten the survival of communities whose traditions stretch back almost two millennia.
In Syria, the Christian population is estimated to have declined by more than 80% compared with 2011, according to figures presented by ACN.
Among the attacks cited is the bombing of the Orthodox Church of St Elijah in Damascus on 22 June 2025, which killed 25 people and injured more than 60 others.
Beyond Africa and Asia, the report also highlights worsening restrictions on religious freedom in Nicaragua, where several members of the clergy have been arrested, expelled or prevented from carrying out their ministry.
Testimonies of faith in the face of persecution
Beyond the statistics, the report includes testimonies from Christians who have experienced religious violence and discrimination.
One of the testimonies presented in the report is that of Solomon Ako, a 33-year-old Christian from northern Nigeria who was abducted when militants attacked his village.
Ako recounted that his captors demanded that the hostages convert to another religion and subjected them to violence when they refused.
“They whipped us with whips. They chained our legs,” he recalled.
Faces, people and families
Marta Petrosillo, coordinator of the ACN report, emphasised that documenting persecution must take account of the lived experiences of those affected.
“Behind these stark figures are faces, people and families,” she explained.
The organisation also warns against overlooking the religious dimension of attacks while recognising that ethnicity, political instability, poverty and competition for resources frequently contribute to the same conflicts.
Persecuted and Forgotten? 2024–2026 combines country assessments with testimonies and case studies to document violations of religious freedom affecting Christian communities.
The full report is available here.
