In the annual survey of persecution around the world monitoring how difficult it is to live as a Christian, published on 15 January, among the top 50 alone, 260 million Christians face a level of persecution measured as extreme, very high, or high. Across the top 50, pressure is rising. In 2020, 34 countries registered a ‘very high’ level of persecution. In 2019, the number was 29.
Estimates suggest there are at least a further 50million Christians facing high levels of persecution among the next 23 countries in the list. That makes one in eight Christians who face persecution measured as extreme, very high, or high. The list is based on extensive surveys combined with expert interviews.
Summary
• China up four places, from 27 to 23.
