Nearly two out of every three people worldwide live in countries where religious minorities face significant violations of their freedom, according to recent findings. The 2025 Religious Freedom Report, examining 196 nations between January 2023 and December 2024, reveals a widespread crisis impacting billions of people across continents.
The report highlights that approximately 5.4 billion individuals—about 65% of the global population—reside in the 62 countries identified as having severe restrictions on religious liberty. These violations range from systematic discrimination to violent persecution, creating an environment where faith-based communities often face legal, social, and political challenges simply for practicing their beliefs.
Countries Experiencing Severe Persecution
The report classifies 24 countries under the “persecution” category, the most serious designation. This label indicates the presence of grave and systematic violations, including violence, arbitrary arrests, and state or group-led repression. In these countries, roughly 4.1 billion people are directly affected, and in 18 of these 24 nations, the situation has deteriorated since the previous assessment.
The causes of persecution vary significantly across different regions. In Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, and Yemen, the combination of authoritarian governance and religious extremism creates an environment where minority faiths are particularly vulnerable. In countries such as China, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Turkmenistan, authoritarian state control is the primary driver of religious oppression. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Somalia, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo face persecution largely due to the influence of extremist religious groups.
India and Myanmar present another complex scenario, where both ethno-religious nationalism and authoritarian practices contribute to growing hostility against religious minorities. In these contexts, social pressures, legal constraints, and targeted campaigns of intimidation often intersect, exacerbating the vulnerability of marginalized faith communities.
Countries Facing Religious Discrimination
In addition to persecution, 38 countries were designated under the “discrimination” category. This group includes nations such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Mexico, Turkey, and Vietnam. Recently, Mexico, Russia, and Ukraine were added to this category due to a notable rise in restrictions on religious freedom.
While these countries do not experience widespread violence against religious communities, systematic discrimination manifests in various forms. Minorities often encounter barriers to building places of worship, restrictions on public expressions of faith, and unequal treatment under the law. These limitations can create an environment of exclusion and insecurity, undermining the ability of individuals to practice their beliefs freely.
The root causes of discrimination are similarly diverse. Authoritarian governance is the primary factor in 24 of the 38 countries, imposing structural constraints on religious expression. In Chad, religious extremism drives systemic bias, while in Haiti and Mexico, organized crime contributes to restrictions on certain faith groups. Nepal experiences discrimination fueled primarily by ethno-religious nationalism.
Several nations experience overlapping causes, leading to complex and multifaceted challenges. For example, in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Syria, and Thailand, both authoritarian control and religious extremism intersect, intensifying limitations on religious liberty. In Israel and Palestine, ethno-religious nationalism combined with extremist movements creates a climate where minority communities face persistent threats. Sri Lanka exhibits discrimination stemming from a mix of authoritarian policies and nationalist pressures.
Emerging Concerns and Countries Under Observation
The report also identifies 24 countries, including Belarus, Chile, Indonesia, and Kenya, as “under observation.” These nations currently do not experience widespread persecution or discrimination but show early warning signs such as rising authoritarianism, weakening legal protections, and increasing intolerance toward minority faiths. Authorities and civil society in these countries are encouraged to take preventative measures to avoid escalation into more severe violations.
The Global Scope of the Problem
The findings underscore that religious freedom violations are not confined to a single region or political system—they are a global concern affecting billions of people across diverse societies. From the restrictive policies of authoritarian regimes to the violent campaigns of extremist groups, religious minorities continue to face systemic barriers that limit their freedom of worship, assembly, and expression.
Despite some progress in countries like Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan, which showed slight improvements over the two-year period, the overall trend is alarming. The report suggests that without coordinated international attention, legal reforms, and protective measures for vulnerable communities, these violations are likely to persist or intensify.
The widespread nature of these violations emphasizes the urgent need for global awareness and action. Governments, religious organizations, and human rights advocates must work together to create frameworks that safeguard religious freedom, ensuring that individuals can live and practice their faith without fear of persecution or discrimination.
In conclusion, the 2025 Religious Freedom Report presents a sobering picture: nearly two-thirds of the world’s population live under conditions where their religious rights are compromised. This ongoing crisis highlights the importance of proactive measures and global solidarity to protect the fundamental human right of religious liberty.
