Most Populous Urban Agglomerations without an LDS Presence

Two years ago, I provided a list of the most populous urban agglomerations without an LDS presence.  I wanted to update this list and make a few adjustments.  City data retrieved for this post was retrieved from http://www.citypopulation.de/world/Agglomerations.html.

Below is a list of the 20 most populous urban agglomerations without a reportable LDS branch or ward provided with the most recent population estimate and world ranking.  Cities located in countries without a known LDS presence are indicated in bold.

1. Tehran, Iran - 13.6 million - 22nd
2. Wuhan, China - 9.2 million - 36th
3. Shenyang, China - 7.2 million - 45th
4. Ahmadabad, India - 6.85 million - 49th
5. Chongqing, China - 6.3 million - 54th
6. Khartoum, Sudan - 5.15 million - 70th
7. Surat, India - 5.05 million - 72nd
8. Alexandria, Egypt - 4.8 million - 76th
9. Shantou, China - 4.675 million - 79th
10. Harbin, China - 4.625 million - 81st
11. Chittagong, Bangladesh - 4.25 million - 90th
12. Casablanca, Morocco - 4.125 million - 95th
13. Kano, Nigeria - 3.8 million - 108th
14. Dalian, China - 3.65 million - 112th
15. Changchun, China - 3.575 million - 115th
16. Jinan, China - 3.55 million - 116th
17. Zhengzhou, China - 3.55 million - 116th
18. Damascus, Syria - 3.45 million - 122nd
19. Kanpur, India - 3.45 million - 122nd
20. Algiers, Algeria - 3.375 million - 127th

Below is a list of the 20 most populous urban agglomerations that excludes cities in China.  Member reports indicate that, with possibly just a few exceptions, all agglomerations in China with over three million people have an LDS branch or group functioning.  Due to the sensitive nature of the Church in China, the Church does not publish information on these congregations as they exclusively service Chinese nationals.

1.  Tehran, Iran - 13.6 million - 22nd
2. Ahmadabad, India - 6.85 million - 49th
3. Khartoum, Sudan - 5.15 million - 70th
4. Surat, India - 5.05 million - 72nd
5. Alexandria, Egypt - 4.8 million - 76th
6. Chittagong, Bangladesh - 4.25 million - 90th
7. Casablanca, Morocco - 4.125 million - 95th
8. Kano, Nigeria - 3.8 million - 108th
9. Damascus, Syria - 3.45 million - 122nd
10. Kanpur, India - 3.45 million - 122nd
11. Algiers, Algeria - 3.375 million - 127th
12. Jaipur, India - 3.325 million - 128th
13. Lucknow, India - 3.275 million - 131st
14. Meshed, Iran - 2.875 million - 147th
15. Dakar, Senegal - 2.85 million - 148th
16. Aleppo, Syria - 2.85 million - 148th
17. Nagpur, India - 2.8 million - 154th
18. Pyongyang, North Korea - 2.75 million - 156th
19. Bamako, Mali - 2.55 million - 171st
20. Tashkent, Uzbekistan - 2.55 million - 171st

These 20 urban agglomerations number among the highest priority locations to open for missionary activity (when permitted) and establish congregations due to high population densities in small geographic areas that maximize outreach potential.  However, few of these locations appear likely to have LDS units established within the foreseeable future.  Current government restrictions on religious freedom prohibit any realistic efforts to open congregations in Tehran, Khartoum, Alexandria, Casablanca, Algiers, Meshed, Pyongyang, and Tashkent whereas political instability and/or violence against Christians prevent outreach in Kano, Damascus, Aleppo, and Bamako.  Prospects appear most favorable for opening congregations and conducting missionary activity through member referral in Ahmadabad, Surat, Kanpur, Jaipur, Lucknow, Dakar, and Nagpur as other proselytizing Christian groups operate in these locations with few, if any, restrictions on their activities. 

The Most Populous Metropolitan Areas Without a Reported LDS Church Presence

Cities almost always offer greater proselytism opportunity for the LDS Church than rural areas. Large populations concentrated in small geographic areas allow for high mission efficiency with even a small missionary force and few church resources. Cities are generally easily accessible. Rural areas, which tend to be sparsely populated, often require a large number of mission outreach centers to administer a small population and in many areas are difficult to access. Large cities often attract people throughout the region, country, or world to visit, temporarily work, obtain education, or become permanent residents. Latter-day Saint converts from these temporary visitors or residents have many times in the past facilitated the spread of the Church to other unreached areas or even rural communities when they return to their hometowns. The Church has taken advantage of the benefits of city-focused church growth outreach as manifest by the Church generally establishing congregations in the largest cities prior to expanding into smaller cities or rural areas.

There remain many large cities which do not have LDS congregations established. Below is a list of the 14 cities which rank among the world's 100 most populous cities which do not have a reported LDS congregation. Some of these cities likely have groups of foreign or native members, especially in nations with a restricted Latter-day Saint presence like China. Population data was taken from www.citypopulation.de

1. Tehran, Iran (12.8 million)
2. Wuhan, China (8.95 million)
3. Shenyang, China (6.8 million)
4. Chongqing, China (6.4 million)
5. Ahmadabad, India (5.95 million)
6. Chengdu, China (5.7 million)
7. Khartoum, Sudan (4.975 million)
8. Pune, India (4.85 million)
9. Chittagong, Bangladesh (4.625 million)
10. Shantou, China (4.6 million)
11. Alexandria, Egypt (4.575 million)
12. Harbin, China (4.4 million)
13. Surat, India (4.225 million)
14. Kanpur, India (3.675 million)

With the exception of English-speaking branches or small congregations for native members in China, none of the above listed cities appear likely to have LDS congregations created in the near future. Iran, Sudan, and Egypt have heavy restrictions and widespread abuse or religious freedom whereas cities listed above in India are located in areas with few Christians and generally strong anti-Christian sentiments. Bangladesh offers considerable religious freedom for Christians, but the small Bangladeshi Latter-day Saint community concentrated in Dhaka may delay any gains in national outreach for many more years.