According to the 2024 World Watch List released by the advocacy group Open Doors on January 15, Nigeria experienced the highest number of Christian killings and kidnappings worldwide in 2024. The report revealed that 3,100 Christians were killed, and 2,830 were kidnapped in the country last year, far surpassing figures reported in other nations.
India recorded the most arrests of Christians, with 2,176 individuals detained for their faith in 2024, while Rwanda witnessed the highest number of attacks on Christian churches and buildings, with 4,000 incidents reported.
The Open Doors report highlights the ongoing rise of Christian persecution globally, monitoring trends in around 100 countries. In 2024, over 380 million Christians faced at least a “high level” of persecution or discrimination. Thirteen nations were categorized as experiencing “extreme levels” of anti-Christian persecution, with North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan leading the rankings. Nigeria ranked seventh on the list, followed by Eritrea, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Saudi Arabia, and Myanmar.
Cristian Nani, Director of Open Doors Italy, underscored the critical nature of the findings. “380 million Christians in the world do not enjoy the basic human right to believe what they want. How many more killed, displaced, abused, and imprisoned Christians do we need to count before we put religious freedom at the center of public debate?” he said. Nani emphasized that 2024 marked yet another record year for anti-Christian persecution, with 1 in 7 Christians worldwide facing discrimination or persecution.
The report sheds light on the ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria, where extremist groups such as Boko Haram have been active since 2009. These groups target Christians through kidnappings, ransoms, and killings. While the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need noted a decrease in the abduction of Catholic clergy and religious figures in Nigeria—from 28 in 2023 to 12 in 2024—it remains one of the most dangerous countries for priests and religious personnel.
Encouraging news came earlier this year when two religious sisters, Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette Okoli, who were abducted on January 7 in the Archdiocese of Onitsha, were safely released. According to their congregation, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ (IHM), both are “in good health.”
Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians in over 70 countries, compiles its World Watch List using information from local networks, researchers, and external experts. The rankings are determined by analyzing pressures on a Christian’s life across private, family, community, church, and public domains, with violence considered as a separate factor.
This comprehensive report highlights the urgency of addressing religious freedom violations and prioritizing the protection of Christian communities worldwide.