On this year’s {2023} list, North Korea is followed by Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Sudan. Sudan, at No. 13 last year, is new to the Top 10.

The organization also noted a troubling trend: an “alarming” increase in violence against Christians by Islamic extremists in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, the number of religiously motivated killings jumped from 4,650 last year to 5,014 in 2022.

…… an increase of persecution, but also an increase in the size and the strength of the body of Christ {church growth}.

The United States, notably, is not on the list, though some U.S. Christians have expressed concern about discrimination.

…… American Christians that {is} relative to many, many, many places in the world, {has} extraordinary freedom.

Excerpts from:  Visit Christian persecution higher than ever as Open Doors’ World Watch List marks 30 years (msn.com) to read whole article.