Below is an updated list of the 19 countries/territories with the most Latter-day
Saints (at least 1,500) without a stake. Membership totals are as of 2024 and
congregational and district totals are current. Estimated membership for mainland
China and Pakistan is provided as official statistics are unavailable. The
number of branches in mainland China is not provided due
to the sensitive nature of the
Church in that country. Previous lists of the countries with the most
members without a stake can be found here.
- China - 12,700 members? - 12 districts
- Malaysia - 11,341 members - 24 branches - 5 districts
- Guyana - 7,033 members - 12 branches - 2 districts
- Pakistan - 6,500 members? - 19 branches, 4 districts
- Belize - 5,688 members - 12 branches - 2 districts
- Armenia - 3,625 members - 8 branches - 1 district
- Cameroon - 3,327 members - 18 branches - 2 districts
- Romania - 3,029 members - 15 branches - 1 district
- Rwanda - 2,489 members - 10 branches - 1 district
- Ethiopia - 2,423 members - 8 branches - 1 district
- Bulgaria - 2,412 members - 7 branches - 1 district
- Eswatini - 2,348 members - 6 branches - 1 district
- Poland - 2,249 members - 11 branches - 1 district
- Cook Islands - 1,912 members - 5 branches - 1 district
- Lesotho - 1,890 members - 6 branches - 1 district
- Suriname - 1,887 members - 6 branches - 1 district
- Burundi - 1,807 members - 11 branches - 1 district
- Sri Lanka - 1,674 members - 5 branches - 1 district
- Solomon Islands - 1,627 members - 6 branches - 1 district
Countries removed from this list since April 2024 included Malawi and Tanzania. As noted in the list from 2024, prospects appear most favorable for the formation of stakes within the next few years in mainland China, Malaysia, Guyana, Belize, Pakistan, Eswatini, Cameroon, Rwanda, Burundi, and Suriname as all of these countries have at least one district that is close to reaching the minimum qualifications for a stake to operate. However, additional countries also appear likely to have stakes organized in the next 2-3 years, including Ethiopia, Lesotho, and the Solomon Islands. As noted in previous posts, low member activity rates, an insufficient number of branches in individual member districts, slow or stagnant growth, and few full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders will likely continue to delay the organization of stakes in other countries on this list for several more years to come.
59 comments:
Thanks for this newest inspiring report, Matt! Hopefully, in due course, each of these nations will have a stake. Keep up the great work! On a separate note, the Church News just reported on the creation of the first district in Guinea. My thanks once again to you, Matt, and my thanks once again to you all.
I see two other people beat me in mentioning the Guinea got district. It isunder the Ivory Coast Yamasoukro mission. President Zadi who organized the district was born in Ivory Coast but resident in Ghana when called as mission president. At the meeting where the district was organized it was announced two district members will be serving full-time missions, one to Nigeria and one to Kenya.
That’s interesting Malaysia has Malaysia - 11,341 members - 24 branches - 5 districts but no stakes
What are the minimum qualifications for a stake to operate?
New guidelines from last year are:
~2,000 total members
~150 active, full-tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders capable of serving in leadership positions
~500 total participating adults
For a ward:
~250 total members
~20 active, full-tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders capable of serving in leadership positions
~100 participating adults
All congregations and units are grandfathered in the old system, but if they were to alter their boundary or change the type or congregation (such as branch to ward), they would then have to qualify under the new requirements.
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-announces-uniform-worldwide-standards-for-ward-and-stake-boundaries
The new policy, effective January 1, 2024, is outlined in official letter sent to ward, stake and other priesthood leaders on Thursday, November 30, 2023. The new standards eliminate differences previously existing between wards and stakes in the United States and Canada and the rest of the countries where the Church is currently organized.
“Leaders should use the new minimum requirements outlined in the attached document when considering boundary proposals,” the letter states.
One new requirement is the measurement of “participating adults” and “participating youth.” These are individuals who pay full or partial tithes, hold a current temple recommend, have a calling in the Church, are new members who are attending sacrament meeting during their first year of membership, or are youth enrolled in seminary.
This new participation measure is meant to “assist leaders in identifying members who participate in a meaningful way and to help evaluate the strength of a boundary proposal,” the letter states.
Saratov Russia just became a district. How does that effect patriarchal blessings as they still have an ordained patriarch if he didn’t move out. Doubt temple will be built there. ,Albert Moscow or St Petersburg.
New stake formed today:
Lehi Utah North YSA Stake, split from the Lehi Utah Jordan River YSA Stake.
"First district of the Church created in Guinea, West Africa" - Church News, 12 Apr 2025. https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2025/04/12/conakry-guinea-district-created-first-in-west-african-country/
Rick S. has just updated the Auckland New Zealand Temple District on his Temples site.
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/units/
Rrrs, That's wonderful news. Thanks.
Also, I'm hearing that the Chubbuck Idaho Stake and Pocatello Idaho North Stake had a joint stake conference today. Several new wards were created. I understand that both stakes now have 12 wards each. With the Pocatello Idaho Highland Stake at 14 wards, the Pocatello Idaho North Stake at 12 wards, and the Chubbuck Idaho Stake at 12 wards, it seems like we are ripe for a new stake (or stakes) in Pocatello.
This news makes me want to take a closer look at a possible Temple announcement somewhere to the south of Pocatello. I have always had Preston on my extended list, but I am now wondering about one in the area of McCammon or Soda Springs. Right now, all of the 4 stakes in that area belong to Pocatello, but I can see some of them going to Montpelier when is open. If there is the possibility of future growth in the area, maybe they can all get assigned their own Temple.
Craig H
Matt, With the "estimated" numbers for the P.R.C. listed here in 1st place. Does the "estimated" 12 Districts (due to lack of official Statistics reported for that country), include the 4 "mainland" International English-speaking Districts and the Hong Kong China District (English-Speaking)? That are located as organized units on the Meetinghouse locator site. Meaning "estimated" 7 national Districts? Or does it mean 12 "estimated" national districts plus 5 English speaking districts?
It includes the 15 Stakes that I had correctly predicted prior to today's dedication. But I found it odd that the Avarua Cook Islands District, under the leadership of the New Zealand Auckland Mission. As the Mission name would imply, has not been reassigned from the Hamilton Temple to the Auckland Temple today.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/missions/2017318
https://missioncall.app/worldmap.html?destination=details&missionId=new-zealand-auckland
As I inquired, it's been postulated that the whole New Zealand Auckland Mission is (Districts and/or Mission Branches), is still assigned to the Hamilton Temple, since the Hamilton site may have Patron Housing for those that travel from afar. Whereas the new Auckland Temple may not have built Patron Housing.
The other 2 Districts in Hamilton Temple District pertain to the Hamilton and Wellington Missions. So, I think, the Nelson NZ District (the oldest still on the books, organized April 9th, 1893), will go to the Wellington Temple once completed.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170915070130/http://ldschurchtemples.org/statistics/unit/nelson-new-zealand-district/
For those interested in historical statistics resources. Here is a very valuable link by Statistical Regions (Countries + Overseas Territories with church presence) prior to the site crash in 2017. That lists all the Stakes and Districts that were active then by Region giving the "Organization Date" of each Unit in the Country or Territory. Which I would say the Dates matched the 2013 Church Almanac dates about 98% of the time. Just another research tool, FYI.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170823163615/http://ldschurchtemples.org/statistics/units/world/
I commented on this in an earlier post. But yeah Malaysia is an odd case. When I served as a missionary there around 2010, we had 6 districts. The number of branches had increased to around 32-34. There were 2 districts (Kuala Lumpur and Kuching) that had enough units but only KL would have been close with membership and needed leadership. The feeling was that within 3-5 years, there would definitely be a stake in KL.
Since then, there have been numerous branch consolidations. There has even been a large consolidation in West Malaysia, such that all units there are now part of the KL district. On the surface, this would seem to be for preparation for a stake creation. I am a bit concerned though given how long it has taken.
Again, I should clarify. In my above comment about the Unit Organization Dates for each Statistical Region. The date listed in some cases was the "Original" Unit Creation date as a Mission District, prior to becoming a Stake at a later date.
To use one as an example, The Coquimbo Chile Stake listed the Original Organized date as December 1st, 2002 (as a District), but more details for the Stake, added the "Stakehood Date" as August 31st, 2014.
https://web.archive.org/web/20171103072605/http://ldschurchtemples.org/statistics/unit/coquimbo-chile-stake/
Oh that's so interesting. I am in the Lehi USA stake and we met in the same building for stake conference today and I didn't even realize this happened despite being in the building for the last half of their conference as I had to arrive early to rehearse the organ.
The YSA is certainly growing a lot up here in northern Utah county. My stake has several wards that are growing really fast. The age change coupled with the change in membership requirements for wards has caused some interesting changes in ward dynamics though. My ward went from having about 100 people on average in sacrament meeting to about 250. 250 in a YSA ward feels a lot different than in a family ward where the membership is split between youth and primary, etc. We can't fit everyone in Elders Quorum and Relief Society.
I spent part of my mission in the Springfield Illinois Stake. At the time, that stake was really struggling with activity and the two Decatur wards badly needed to be combined, which would put the stake at just four wards and probably end with its dissolution.
Flash forward seven years, and I learned yesterday that the stake has grown so dramatically that not only were the Decatur wards *not* combined, but they have added a Spanish branch in Decatur as well! In addition, they've created a YSA branch in Springfield itself!
It's not the most dramatic example of growth, but it's neat to see in a part of the vineyard that we as missionaries always thought was a "poor spot of ground". Never in my wildest dreams back in 2018 could I have imagined that stake supporting a Spanish branch and a YSA branch.
Late yesterday, these reports were shared by the respective Pacific and African Newsrooms:
https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-kearon-dedicates-the-auckland-new-zealand-temple-on-palm-sunday
https://news-africa.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/nairobi-temple-open-house-begins
That may be the only temple construction announcements we get today, but I hope we get something else as well. My thanks once again to you all.
This is fantastic to hear! There is (and I'm not saying this lightly) not much hope for people in a place like Decatur. I don't think very many people there are in town because they want to be. There are, in the ward boundaries, some nicer-ish suburbs like Forsyth and Mt. Zion, but those have not been thriving nearly as much in the last little while as the metro itself has lost a lot of pull and there are very few good employers left. If you do want to live in a central Illinois city the size of Decatur, Champaign and Bloomington are much better options and you can probably even find a decent job there. I'm saying all this for the people not familiar with the area to illustrate that I do believe that this is the kind of environment where the Gospel shines best, and what you shared is really good evidence of this.
I've only lived in Illinois for a couple of years but it's been the most influential, memorable time I've had in the Church - much more so than my Mission. I've lost count of how many friends, colleagues and acquaintances I've brought to church with me in those two years, because almost everyone I met wanted to "come and see". Several have been baptized since, and they are now bringing *their* friends, colleagues and acquaintances into the Church in significant numbers. People there are so incredibly hungry and curious, and what I love especially is that they stay committed because leaders and ward members make sure to take them in and make them feel loved.
I actually look forward to being sick on Sundays because I get an excuse to watch our old ward's sacrament meeting - to see so many of the people who have been baptized in the last couple of years bear their testimonies and give talks. It's a miracle at a sheer scale that I don't think I would have ever anticipated seeing again in the United States or anywhere in the western world.
I anticipate that two stakes in the Pocatello Idaho Temple district will be assigned to the Montpelier Idaho Temple (Soda Springs and Grace stakes). Also in the next few years I hope for a temple in Blackfoot Idaho. That potential temple could take in about Five Blackfoot stakes and one in Firth from the Pocatello temple. And at least two maybe three wards from the Idaho Falls YSA stake. Some Shelley wards might be halfway between Blackfoot Idaho and the Idaho Falls Temple give or take a few minutes depending upon where that temple would be built.
It looks like the church has released open house and dedication dates for the Antofagasta Chile temple and the Bahia Blanca Argentina temple! Not sure what took the Antofagasta temple so long to get a date announced and I am surprised at how soon the tours begin.
It wasn't the only temple news we got today. The opening dates for the Antofagasta Chile and Bahia Blanca Argentina Temples were announced, and a rendering for the West Jordan Utah Temple was also released:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-open-house-dedication-dates-antofagasta-chile-bahia-blanca-argentina-west-jordan
My thanks once again to you all.
#Matt, "Posted on 4/14/2025 — NEW UNIT – The Bonners Ferry Idaho Stake was added.
Posted on 4/14/2025 — NEW UNIT – The Lehi Utah North YSA Stake was added.
Posted on 4/14/2025 — NEW UNIT – The Orem Utah Mountain View Stake (Spanish) was added.
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/units/
Here are three new stakes:
Bonners Ferry Idaho Stake (2278545)
Orem Utah Mountain View Stake (Spanish) (2237644)
Lehi Utah North YSA Stake (2295423)
The details are trickling in on the new units created yesterday in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area. Four new wards were created between the Chubbuck Idaho Stake and the Pocatello Idaho West Stake (not the North stake). The wards were changed from numbered wards to named wards. Here are the new totals:
Pocatello Idaho Highland Stake - 14 wards
Chubbuck Idaho Stake - 12 wards
Pocatello Idaho West Stake - 11 wards, 1 branch
Pocatello Idaho East Stake - 10 wards
Pocatello Idaho North Stake - 8 wards
Pocatello Idaho YSA Stake - 8 wards
Pocatello Idaho Stake - 7 wards, 2 branches
Pocatello Idaho Tyhee Stake - 7 wards
Pocatello Idaho Alameda Stake - 7 wards
Pocatello Idaho Central Stake - 5 wards
Only seeing three new wards that were created.
Pine Ridge Ward (2292769)
Sheppard Ward (2292777)
Siphon Ward (2292742)
The 2025-2026 Area Leadership Chart has just been posted today.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2025/04/14/area-presidency-assignments-for-2025-2026-announced/
See also:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-announces-2025%E2%80%932026-area-leadership-assignments
https://media.deseret.com/media/misc/pdf/church-news/general/2025-04-14-Area-Presidencies.pdf
My thanks once again to you all.
I believe there is also 100 participating youth for a stake, but that is not a hard and fast rule, just a suggested guideline.
The Nairobi Temple had its media day. In the materials there we get a size estimate. It is approximately 19,000 square feet. Will this make it the biggest temple on the African continent? I know Benin City is planned bigger, but will have its groundbreaking around the same time. Abidjan's size has not been disclosed.
West Jordan Utah Temple has an artistic rendering. It is 85,000 square feet. Based on its size, location, the location of Taylorsville Temple and the about 100,000 square feet expansion of the Salt Lake Temple in renovation, I would be surprised if West Valley City gets a temple anytime soon. However I only had 2 of the 15 temples announced this time around more or less right (Spanish Fork and Lima #3) and both of those I have Bern predicting for a while. So lots of things happen with temples that I do not predict.
Forgot to mention that, in addition to the creation of the new Canada Area, 5 of the 6 US areas have been renamed. Instead of the North America Central, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and West Areas, we have the United States Central, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and West Areas. My thanks once again to you all.
Orem Utah Mountain View is the 3rd promised Spanish stake. That gives Utah County 2 and Salt Lake County one.
New developments may happen soon though. Elder Berrera is coming home yo Utah to be in the area Presidency.
This disrupts our sort of one non-American in each area Presidency in the US. Elder Martinez was a Puerto Rican who joined the Church in Missis a ippi, so an American national.
The 5 areas in the US other than Utah are now all designated US.
I may have more comments to come. Elder Becerra in the Utah area Presidency is the main point I noticed.
Also, whether real or imagined, It has been brought to my attention from a posted message (unknown source) from a Grassroots Realty Group in the Lethbridge Alberta North Stake area.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/527564
That in a week on Monday, April 21st there will go into effect a "large restructuring of the Stake", including the addition of 2 new wards.
And that the Stake boundaries are also due to be changed in the upcoming weeks."
We know from the Meetinghouse site above. The next scheduled Stake Conference is in a few weeks on May 3rd-May 4th. So it's possible the boundaries change could be that weekend ? Maybe someone in the Lethbridge Area may have more insight. Only time will tell.
OK. A few other thoughts. Elder Johnson is now first counselor in United States West. He may become the first black area president in the US. He lived in Hawaii from about age 13 until 20, and was baptized there. He was also later a professor at BYU-Hawaii for a short time.
Elder Corbitt is no longer in North America Southeast. He is now in Caribbean. He was a missionary and mission president there, so this is a good development.
The new Canada area is lead by Elder Stanfill. The Montanan. He was a Montana rancher. In some ways the most blue collar general authority. Although Elder Montoya's taco factory had fewer employees. Elder Montoya was a xerox executive when called as a general authority. Elder Stanfill was the business manager for the family ranch. I am not sure blue or white collar fits this job at all. Recently I saw someone ask if any apostles had blue collar jobs when given their current callings.
Even if we extend it to all general authorities I do not think we get any fully blue collar jobs. Elder Casillas was the area temple facilities supervisor. Even that position fir just one temple, which I think he may have been for Tijuana, is more managerial than blue collar, even if it at times does involve definite physical labor.
Elder Zwick although emeritus is another case. At heart he was a pickup truck operating construction worker. He would tell stories of his early days with the truck. However I think he eventually became a developer who spent more time strategizing and looking over budgets than on actual construction sites.
Back to the Canada area. Rhe first counselor is Martin Goury. He is in dome ways a really good fit. Born in Ivory Coast, French is hid 2nd or maybe 3rd language. I am not sure what they speak locally in Gagnoa. However he joined the Church in England, and his wife Ruth in English through and through. They lived after some years in England in Nigeria and then went to lead the mission in Benin, and then went back to Ivory Coast.
Elder Evans on the 2nd counselor is a,newly called Canadian.
Abidjan does look sizable, certainly not like a "mini-temple". But it is hard to gauge from the pictures. I would assume it is between 15-20k ft², albeit I am not sure at all why the size was not released. I wonder if this was an oversight.
In both South America and Admfrica only 1 of 9 members of area presidencies is now US born. However Elder Sikehema in Africa South lived in the US since he was 10 or less, and his wife is American although half white and half Hawaiian.
Elder Montoya is now in the Caribbean Area. So the president there is a Guatemalan, 1st counselor a Mexican and 2nd counselor an American, but one who has 5 years of missionary experience in the area, possibly the most of any general authority.
The Eurasia Area is still an all area seventy Presidency. They also have one area seventy in the Middle East/North Africa area.
Several area presidencies remain the sane. At least what is now United States North East, Africa West and Africa Central. I think this next year will be Elder Mutombo's 6 year in that area Presidency.
At least 2 area Presidency members are newly called general authority seventies.
Chris, the Chubbock Idaho Stake has had 13 wards in recent years. Perhaps a ward was actually discontinued there, and 4 new wards were created in the Pocatello West Stake, which as of recently has had 7 wards. Thus, there would only be a net gain of three wards, perhaps the only three that you can see.
Pascal, the Church often changes the square footage of temples in the course of construction, as any previously released square footage might change. In some cases, the square footage is not known until the temple's dedication. But usually, in conjunction with the temple open house, details about the square footage of the temple is provided at that time, especially for temples outside the uS.
The Auckland New Zealand Temple is beautiful. I served my mission there from 2004-2006, and the Saints are faithful and deserving of that temple. A few that served at that time traveled to the temple open house, and it was well worth it! Chris - the temple district makes complete sense. The Cook Islands are governed by NZ, and the Auckland Temple is very close to AKL Airport. With many Polynesian Saints with family in close proximity to the temple, it will be a major draw for those from the islands while visiting.
The Cook Islands (and New Caledonia) are still listed as part Hamilton's District, not Auckland's. It is indeed a little odd, given that the Auckland Temple is both closer and has a larger airport in the city.
I have completed my analysis of the area leadership changes for this year. You can find it in two documents: this one showing the changes in area leadership alphabetically by surname, and this one, showing the changes in area leadership by alphabetical area. My thanks once again to you all.
I believe Hamilton has patron housing while Auckland Temple does not. So I think that is the main deciding factor.
Now, this is just my own personal thoughts. With now 3 Branches in the capital city Bangui, Central African Republic. I wonder what chance the C.A.R. has to get it's first district, like Conakry Guinea recently did.
I'm guessing the Bangui 3rd Branch (2293935) in the Cameroon Yaounde Mission was recently organized.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/wards/2293935
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/missions/2141590
Rogers Arkansas Stake President just announced in Facebook that the Springfield Stake is being split in April 27th. As part of the realignment the Berryville Ward will be leaving Rogers and will get put in a new stake.
I can see a new Branson stake taking in Berryville & Harrison Arkansas wards, plus the 3 wards and 1 branch in the Branson area to bring a total of 5 wards and 1 branch for the new stake.
Rogers would be reduced to 9 wards and 2 branches and Springfield Missouri stake would be reduced to 8 wards if no other alignments were made.
Springfield South* stake.
New Hampshire-160
8,713
Delaware-129-
5,865
Vermont-23-
4,647
Rhode Island-65-
4,861
DC- 122-District of Columbia
3,337
What's the smaller number?
New Jersey-921-
36,374
Alaska-39-
33,987
Minnesota-353-
34,112
Louisiana-163-
30,076
Iowa-477-
29,762
Massachusetts-273-
28,940
Wisconsin-311-
28,741
Nebraska-364-
26,299
Mississippi-105-
22,402
West Virginia-205-
17,762
Connecticut-336-
16,366
South Dakota-378-
11,979
North Dakota-214-
11,896
Maine-151-
11,384
I am guessing the smaller numbers are increase in members from the previous year?
Joella92, thank you so much for this information! It's a lot of work, but we are grateful for your efforts. It's good to know these growth statistics by state.
Correct.
California grew in membership for the first time in quite some time. It wasn't by much (41 persons or 0.006% growth from the year before), but it wasn't in the negative.
Wyoming was the only state seeing a loss of membership over last year - Loosing 173 members or -0.26%.
States that saw the largest growth in members (by numerical growth)
Utah 14,524
Texas 6,800
Idaho 4,931
Florida 3,373
New York 3,029
Missouri 2,773
Arizona 1,910
North Carolina 1,778
Tennessee 1,663
Georgia 1,441
States with the least growth in members between year end 2023 and year end 2024 (numerical growth)
Wyoming -173
New Mexico 19
Vermont 23
Alaska 39
California 41
Rhode Island 65
Mississippi 105
D.C. 122
Delaware 129
Maine 151
States with the highest percent growth (year-end 2023 to year-end 2024)
Washington, D.C. 3.79%
Kentucky 3.48%
New York 3.46%
Missouri 3.45%
South Dakota 3.26%
Tennessee 2.81%
New Jersey 2.60%
Arkansas 2.44%
Delaware2.25%
Indiana 2.22%
Connecticut 2.10%
Lowest % growth:
Wyoming -0.26%
California 0.01%
New Mexico 0.03%
Alaska 0.11%
Oregon 0.16%
Washington 0.16%
Nevada 0.17%
Colorado 0.36%
Arizona 0.43%
Mississippi 0.47%
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