Though it is laid waste, the holy seed will be the stump in the land
North Korea has once again been identified as the country with the most severe Christian persecution in the world this year. On the 15th, Open Doors Korea held a press conference at the Korea World Mission Association (KWMA) office to release the ‘2026 World Watch List (WWL)’, revealing the top 50 persecuting countries based on data collected from October 2024 to September 2025.
North Korea topped the list with a score of 97 points, maintaining its position as the most brutal persecutor of Christians for 23 out of the 33 years in WWL history. Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, and Eritrea followed in descending order. Globally, approximately 388 million Christians face severe persecution, representing one in every seven Christians worldwide.
The combined persecution index of the top 50 countries reached a record high of 3,810 points, with the number of countries in the ‘Extreme’ persecution category expanding from 10 to 15. Syria showed the most dramatic increase, jumping to 6th place with a 12-point surge due to renewed violence. Following the regime’s collapse in late 2024, a series of terrorist attacks targeting Christians resulted in at least 27 deaths due to faith.
Persecution has also intensified in sub-Saharan Africa. Sudan, Nigeria, and Mali recorded maximum scores in the violence category, with Nigeria accounting for 72% of all Christian martyrs worldwide—3,490 deaths. In Sudan, civil war has created massive internal displacement, leading to ongoing church destruction and forced migration.
China’s score rose to 79 points, driven more by increased state control than violence. With regulations on online sermons and Bible apps, churches are increasingly going underground. In some North African countries, church closures and a chilling effect have been observed.
Meanwhile, countries such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka showed gradual improvement. During the reporting period, 4,849 Christians were killed because of their faith, an increase from the previous year, with cases of sexual violence and forced displacement also rising significantly.
The top 15 countries in the 2026 WWL are: North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, and Mali.(Source: Gospel Prayer News, Edited version)
And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.(Isaiah 6:13, NIV)
God, we pray for the churches around the world that are suffering persecution because of the name of Jesus Christ. Watch over them in the midst of these threats and be their protector. As we live in the last days, strengthen the faith of the churches in North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, and other nations that are under extreme persecution beyond measure. Even as they suffer for your sake, may they stand firm as the holy stump of the gospel among the nations through the life of Jesus within them. And through their faithful witness, hasten the day when the Great Commission is fulfilled and the gospel reaches every corner of the earth.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
