SANTA ANA, Calif. (BP) — Global Christian Relief (GCR), the watchdog group launched in 2023 when Open Doors USA reorganized, has released its first persecution report, citing top five countries persecuting Christians in select categories.

The 2025 GCR Red List, released Jan. 7, is marketed as a “first-ever quantifiable and verifiable index” of incidents in five key areas, namely killings, building attacks, arrests, displacements and abductions & assaults from 2022-2024. The five countries deemed the top aggressors in each category drive the list:

• Nigeria remains the deadliest country for Christians, with the Red List verifying 9,814 deaths during the reporting period and citing attacks by Boko Haram, militant Fulani herdsmen and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP).
• Nigeria also led in abductions and assaults, with 9,311, which the Red List attributed in part to “a devastating industry that siphons wealth from Christian communities to perpetrators worldwide.”
• India saw the most attacks on Christian property, 4,949 primarily Christian homes in Manipur state, but also attacks on businesses and places of worship.
• China led in arrests with 1,559, mostly from unregistered churches.
• Azerbaijan suffered the most displacements, with 120,001 Christians displaced from their homes.

Brian Orme, GCR acting chief executive, said the list shows where Christians have faced the gravest threats the past two years and helps the agency direct aid where it is most needed.

“Working closely with our partners on the ground in these high-risk areas, we provide emergency aid, safe houses, and trauma counseling to Christians facing violent persecution,” he said in a press release announcing the Red List. “Despite the intense challenges in places like Nigeria, China and India, we continue to see remarkable resilience in these communities. Even in the darkest circumstances, the Church not only survives but grows stronger. Millions are choosing to follow Jesus despite knowing the risks they face.”

Following Nigeria in killings of Christians are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 390; Mozambique, 262; Ethiopia, 181 and Russia, 164. Researchers attributed the killings in Russia to violence primarily in the Muslim region of Dagestan, where Muslim militants are waging war and targeting religious and law enforcement sites.

Following Nigeria in abductions and assaults are Mexico, 138; Haiti, 101; Cameroon, 83 and Ethiopia, 78.

Regarding attacks on Christian property, Mozambique, with 1,607, is a far second from India. Myanmar is third, with 1,490; followed by Ukraine, 1,270 and Ethiopia, 488.

Following China in arrests are Eritrea, 475; Nicaragua, 226; Russia, 224 and North Korea, 208.

And completing the top five in the displacement of Christians are India, 60,000; Mozambique, 16,000; the DRC, 15,703 and Myanmar, 1,500.

The list is drawn from the Violent Incidents Database launched in January 2024, and additional data derived from members of the International Institute for Religious Freedom. A team of persecution experts including scientists, researchers and authors headed by Ron Boyd-MacMillan, GCR’s chief of research and global strategy, created the list that will be updated annually with findings from the Violent Incidents Database, GCR said on its website.

The list is available here, with a link to the full report and an accompanying prayer guide. The Violent Incidents Database is available here.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer.)