For the last century, Christians have made up an overwhelming global majority, comprising
roughly one third of the total population.
In the Americas alone, some 86% identify as Christians.
Yet, in a few parts of the world, Christians are severely persecuted for their beliefs.
In fact, as much as 80% of all religious persecution overall is directed at Christians.
So, what are the worst countries to be a Christian?
Every year, a non-profit named Open Doors releases a ranking of countries where Christians
face the most persecution.
For the past 13 years in a row, the number one spot has been occupied by North Korea.
Open Doors claims that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are currently interned in
prisons and concentration camps.
Although North Korea claims freedom of religion, citizens are expected to exclusively worship
their leaders, the Kim dynasty.
The US State Department reports that the isolated country allows no religious freedom whatsoever.
The second worst country to be a Christian is Somalia.
The ongoing civil war, combined with the anti-Christian Islamist group, Al-Shabaab, means that Christians
have no governmental protections from violent attacks.
Only about 1 in 8,000 Somalis are Christian, compared to one-in-three worldwide.
Similarly, parts of war-torn Iraq and Syria have been overtaken by the Islamic terrorist
state, ISIS.
As a result, Christians must convert to Islam, leave the country, pay a religious minority
tax or risk being killed.
Since the start of the Iraq war in 2003, the number of Iraqi Christians has fallen from
about 1 and a half million, to an estimated 400,000.
In Syria, some half million Christians have been displaced in just the last few years
alone.
In Afghanistan, all citizens are considered to be Muslim by default, meaning that most
laws end up disenfranchising Christians and other religious minorities.
In fact, the only church in Afghanistan is located within the Italian embassy.
Additionally, a mass media law prevents any publications contrary to Islam, which would
inherently include any proselytizing or Christian literature.
The few Christian converts who are discovered are often exiled to India, with reports of
beatings and sexual abuse while in custody.
With North Korea a notable exception, nine out of the top ten worst countries for Christians
are Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East and Africa.
In recent years, Christians have all but abandoned those regions, as violence and religious
extremism continue to grow.
Pope Francis has even referred to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East as a form
of genocide.
With the world split along religious divides, and a growing Muslim population thought to
rival Christianity by 2050, it seems as though Christianity has a diminishing chance of survival
in certain parts of the world.
The changing demographics of world religions will continue shaping how different cultures
and faiths interact.
To learn about the future of the major religions, check out this video.
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