The International Institute for Religious Freedom’s latest report has revealed the world’s top perpetrators of violence against Christians. The report published in January 2026 is based on data provided by International Christian Concern from July 2024 to June 2025. The report revealed that Militia groups, government actors, and criminal cartels were largely behind extreme Christian persecution in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
As per an article published on persecution.org, armed groups and militia rebels were the top victimizers of Christians in the African continent. In September 2025, more than 30 Christians were beheaded by Islamist militants in Mozambique, whose goal is to install sharia law in the nation. In Myanmar, Buddhist nationalism and militant government groups are fuelling targeted attacks against Christians.
The report found that in Europe, the Russian military and the Ukrainian military were mistreating Protestant Christians and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, respectively. It also revealed that lone actors and one hate group, known as the Goyim Defence League, made up most of the attacks against Christians in North America. Since May 2020, over 500 Catholic Churches alone have been attacked in the United States. In South America, criminal cartels and government actors played significant roles in persecuting Christians.
Although hundreds of millions of Christians are persecuted and killed around the world each year, the true number of the persecuted is unknown, as untold masses of individuals don’t report mistreatment for fear of violence.