The Global Persecution Index of 2025 reveals new data points that show Christians are persecuted at higher rates than any other religion worldwide. The report found that the majority of religion-based persecution is carried out under authoritarian leaders and by Islamic extremist groups. The greatest concentration of “Red Zone” nations, countries with the most severe actions taken against Christians, including torture and death, were found in a strip of land in Africa known as the Sahel, as well as the Congo, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and North Korea.
Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, notes that Christianity emphasizes allegiance to a higher moral authority, which challenges authoritarian regimes that demand complete loyalty to the state. We pray the incoming Trump administration takes this threat seriously and acts to fight religious persecution around the world.
