Country rankings

Countries Where Christianity Is Illegal

North Korea has the highest Persecution Score in 2025 (98), followed by Yemen (94) and Somalia (94). Jordan has the lowest (65).

CultureLaw61 countries · 4 metricsUpdated Dec 30, 2025Original page
6 sources
Persecution ScoreBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
50 of 235 countries
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Persecution Score, 2025

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 50 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one country; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
73
Middle half 68 – 80.75
Average
75.72
50 countries
Highest
98
North Korea
Lowest
65
Jordan

Biggest changes · 2024 → 2025

44 countries have a value in both years.

Largest increases

Largest decreases

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

50 countries · # = rank by Persecution Score
#
1North Korea98ExtremeCommunist and post-Communist oppression
2Yemen94ExtremeIslamic oppression
2Somalia94ExtremeIslamic oppression
4Saudi Arabia91ExtremeIslamic oppression
4Libya91ExtremeIslamic oppression
6Sudan90ExtremeIslamic oppression
7Eritrea89ExtremeDictatorial paranoia
8Nigeria88ExtremeIslamic oppression
9Pakistan87ExtremeIslamic oppression
10Iran86ExtremeIslamic oppression
11Afghanistan85ExtremeIslamic oppression
12India84ExtremeReligious nationalism
13Myanmar81ExtremeReligious nationalism
14Mali80Very HighIslamic oppression
15China78Very HighCommunist and post-Communist oppression
15Iraq78Very HighIslamic oppression
15Syria78Very HighDictatorial paranoia
15Maldives78Very HighIslamic oppression
19Algeria77Very HighIslamic oppression
20Burkina Faso76Very HighIslamic oppression
21Bangladesh74Very HighDictatorial paranoia
21Morocco74Very HighIslamic oppression
21Laos74Very HighCommunist and post-Communist oppression
21Mauritania74Very HighIslamic oppression
25Uzbekistan73Very HighDictatorial paranoia
25Cuba73Very HighDictatorial paranoia
27Niger72Very HighIslamic oppression
27Central African Republic72Very HighIslamic oppression
29Mexico71Very HighOrganized corruption and crime
29Turkmenistan71Very HighDictatorial paranoia
29Nicaragua71Very HighDictatorial paranoia
32Ethiopia70Very HighChristian denominational protectionism
32DR Congo70Very HighIslamic Oppression
32Tunisia70Very HighIslamic oppression
32Oman70Very HighIslamic oppression
36Bhutan69Very HighReligious nationalism
37Egypt68Very HighIslamic oppression
37Mozambique68Very HighIslamic oppression
37Kazakhstan68Very HighDictatorial paranoia
37Tajikistan68Very HighDictatorial paranoia
41Vietnam67Very HighCommunist and post - Communist oppression
41Turkey67Very HighIslamic oppression
41Cameroon67Very HighIslamic oppression
41Qatar67Very HighIslamic oppression
41Comoros67Very HighIslamic Oppression
46Colombia66Very HighOrganized corruption and crime
46Kyrgyzstan66Very HighIslamic oppression
46Brunei66Very HighIslamic oppression
49Chad65Very HighIslamic oppression
49Jordan65Very HighIslamic oppression

What correlates with Persecution Score (2025)?

Pearson r against 1,435 other country metrics sharing at least 30 countries. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Persecution Score tend to score higher on these

  1. ObjectiveLists Conservative Country ScoreMost Conservative Countries
    r = +0.57 · strong · n = 45
    Plot
  2. Human RightsFailed States
    r = +0.54 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. # of BlackoutsEuropean Union (EU) Blackout Countries
    r = +0.49 · moderate · n = 37
    Plot
  4. Global Peace IndexMost Peaceful Countries
    r = +0.48 · moderate · n = 47
    Plot
  5. Towed Artillery StocksArtillery by Country
    r = +0.48 · moderate · n = 40
    Plot
  6. EconomyFailed States
    r = +0.46 · moderate · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Persecution Score tend to score lower on these

  1. Government Response ScoreGlobal Slavery Index by Country
    r = −0.56 · strong · n = 45
    Plot
  2. Government Response (higher is better)Countries that Still Have Slavery
    r = −0.56 · strong · n = 45
    Plot
  3. Vacc. Rate HEPBBVaccination Rates by Country
    r = −0.56 · strong · n = 32
    Plot
  4. Gender Development Index (GDI) ValueGender Development Index by Country
    r = −0.52 · strong · n = 45
    Plot
  5. Safest Countries IndexSafest Countries in the World
    r = −0.52 · strong · n = 49
    Plot
  6. Econ Freedom Index HeritageEconomic Freedom Index by Country
    r = −0.50 · moderate · n = 42
    Plot

Quick answers

Which country has the highest Persecution Score?
North Korea has the highest Persecution Score in 2025, at 98, followed by Yemen (94) and Somalia (94).
Which country has the lowest Persecution Score?
Jordan has the lowest Persecution Score in 2025, at 65.
What is the median Persecution Score across countries?
The median is 73 across the 50 countries with data in 2025.
Where does this countries where christianity is illegal data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: World Watch List 2024 - Open Doors; A Bible For Every Believer - Persecution; 10 most dangerous places for Christians - Open Doors USA; 41 countries ban religion-related groups - Pew Research 2021.

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