Around 4.1 billion people, half of the world’s population, are experiencing some form of religious persecution in 24 countries, according to a report by an aid agency that identifies an alarming rise in anti-Christian incidents in Western countries.
“Europe and North America have seen a significant increase in attacks against Christian sites and believers,” said the Aid to Needy Churches (ACN) report, Religious Freedom in the World 2025.
The study found that nearly two-thirds of humanity, or nearly 5.4 billion people, live in countries where there are serious violations of religious freedom. Researchers cite two categories of persecution defined by the late Pope Francis in 2016. They are blatant persecution and “polite persecution,” the latter consisting of more subtle “legal, cultural, or international pressure.”
The report identifies a lack of accountability in Western countries as a central problem.
“While polite persecution is distinct from criminal acts of Christian hostility, such as attacks on believers or churches, failure to take action against such acts is a sign of polite persecution when addressing other forms of hate crime,” the report states.
He expressed particular concern about the 35 million square kilometer (13.5 million square mile) area of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The report notes that several countries in the OSCE region underreport incidents targeting Christians.
“Acts of hostility toward Christians, including crimes, continue to affect the OSCE region, and data suggest that the situation is worsening,” the report said. “However, many OSCE countries have done little to quantify how serious the problem is within their borders.”
The report points to under-reporting in Scandinavian countries, noting that only Finland has reported hate incidents against Christians since 2023.
In the United States, there has also been a “noticeable increase in vandalism of churches and other Christian institutions, for which the government has not released official data,” the report said.
The report credits civil society organizations with uncovering the “hard truth” that attacks on Christians and their places of worship are becoming more common in the United States. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recorded 56 cases against church property in 2024, followed by 19 more cases from January to June 2025.
“Among the most notable attacks were the detonation of an explosive device on a church altar in Pennsylvania on May 6, 2025, and multiple acts of arson at churches in Massachusetts, Arizona, and Florida in October 2024,” the report said.
European countries also face significant challenges. According to recent statistics, in 2023 there will be 1,000 anti-Christian incidents in France and 600 incidents of church vandalism in Greece. In Canada, 24 church buildings were targeted for arson attacks between 2021 and 2024.
“Similar spikes were observed in Spain, Italy, the United States, and Croatia, including the desecration of places of worship, physical assaults on clergy, and disruption of religious services. These acts were often driven by ideological hostility, extremist activity, and anti-religious extremism,” the report said.
In some parts of the OSCE region, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Russia, authorities imprison conscientious objectors who refuse military service on religious or ethical grounds. Meanwhile, Turkiye’s religious communities face “systematic restrictions on worship, expression, and legal equality.”
In Western democracies like Belgium, legal pressure is increasing on faith-based institutions to provide services such as abortion and assisted suicide. The report added that Belgian religious leaders were being punished for refusing to ordain women.
The report notes that Australia generally protects religious freedom, but expresses concern about recent developments.
“While religious freedom has traditionally been legally protected in Australia, recent developments raise concerns,” the report said.
Some Australian states now require faith-based health care providers to refer services that conflict with their beliefs. The report highlights one case in which the state confiscated a Catholic hospital for not providing abortion services.
The report also condemns Australia’s use of offshore detention centers in Nauru.
“Human rights groups and Catholic bishops have condemned conditions there as inhumane,” the study states. “Many asylum seekers, often fleeing religious persecution, remain in long-term detention. As of November 2024, more than 100 people were detained on Nauru, the highest number since 2013.”
Although Pacific countries such as New Zealand and Timor-Leste maintain strong protections, the report suggests that domestic unrest and geopolitical pressures in Papua New Guinea are sparking debate about the public role of religion. Following deadly riots in February 2024, Prime Minister James Marape promoted a Christian national identity. Parliament subsequently passed a law declaring the country a Christian nation, but religious leaders warned the move could undermine cultural diversity.
During a visit to Papua New Guinea in September 2024, Pope Francis appealed for respect for human dignity and condemned violence, including witchcraft-related abuse.
“The politicization of religion and increasing external influence could threaten religious freedom and pluralism in the country,” the report concludes.
