One of the topics that Latter-day Saints frequently ask is, "in what countries is the LDS Church still not established?" Answering this question is not simple as a "presence" is difficult to define. For example, the LDS Church maintains independent congregations in several Middle Eastern nations which it publicly discloses yet no missionary activity occurs such as the United Arab Emirates. Other nations have several independent congregations led by local leaders yet the Church does not publicly publish its presence, such as Pakistan. Then there are other nations which have no independent congregations but have groups which operate under LDS congregations based in other countries (such as mission or area branches)
Below is a map of countries and territories around the world which have no known Latter-day Saint congregations of any kind at present and which receive no known LDS mission outreach. Larger countries and territories are indicated by red polygons whereas smaller countries and territories are indicated by place markers. 29 countries and 12 territories appear to have no LDS congregations and receive no mission outreach.
View Countries and Territories Without an LDS Presence in a larger map
11 comments:
For what it's worth, Iran used to have a mission prior to the Revolution. Also, there are a few (though not many) Algerian converts living in France. Proselyting even to this diasporic population is discouraged however.
I had heard that there was a group operating in Bethlehem, within the Palestine.
Also, while I don't any direct knowledge about Church presence in Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino, I have assumed that since they are so small, and have congregations in nearby cities in Switzerland, France and Italy, as the case may be, that those congregations encompassed these micro states. Surely, there must be some members living in these countries?
I have heard that there was group meeting in Bethlehem, West Bank, but I am not sure whether the group continues to meet.
Yes, I am sure that each of these small European city-states has Latter-day Saint members, but I used the criterion of a functioning congregation to determine whether an LDS presence exists or not.
- All of the microstates you listed in Europe and the Caribbean are assigned to wards and branches in neighboring countries, and at least some of them have members, but I suppose that doesn't meet your criteria.
-I think the 2011 Almanac reported members in Senegal.
-There have been several news stories about one of the leading presidential candidates in Mali being LDS, but there are no branches
- The Church News Almanac has been reporting members in Equatorial Guinea for many years, but the article and data is stale so I wouldn't trust it. It is officially assigned to a mission, however (Kinshasa), which puts it one step ahead of Gabon (but probably no missionaries).
-I suppose you're not counting the military groups in the countries of Turkestan
The Africa West Area Branch administers to all nations in the Africa West Area not assigned to missions. Groups likely operate in Bamako, Mali and Dakar, Senegal but I cannot confirm their existence. An administrative branch was recently organized for Gabon for members meeting in a group in Libreville and consequently Gabon is not included in the list. There does not appear to be a group meeting in Equatorial Guinea. Military groups in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan were not taken into account as these groups are very small and transient in nature.
San Marino has a few members, who are part of the Rimini Branch, Rimini Italy District, Italy Milan Mission. (The entire Republic of San Marino is practically a suburb of Rimini.)
the faroe islands do not have any congrigation. but have 5 members no preisthood bearers. they receive satlite transmistions of church in denmark. and we are working on opening them here in the danish mission. so faroes men have been baptised here in the mission but have not returned back to their country yet. theyre used to be missioanires and a congriation as of 30 years ago.
@ jeffienielson. I would be interested in all of what you know about members in the Faroes. I wish the Danish mission would at least send one pair of missionaries there. I know they have a Jehovah's Witness and other congregations.
Just as an FYI there is officially a Bethlehem BRANCH. They were having too hard of a time trying to get into Jerusalem. I'm a Middle Eastern Studies Major and just got back from the region and visited the area.
Monaco is covered by missionaries serving in Nice, France.
I kinda doubt that there is much of an LDS presence in Vatican City. You might consider adding that to your map.
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