Congregational Growth by Country: 2014

Below is a list of the countries where the Church reported a net increase of four or more units for the year 2014.  The annual percentage increase for the number of wards and branches for each country is also provided:

1. United States +152 (1.1% increase)
2. Ghana +39 (23.2% increase)
3. Nigeria +38 (10.1% increase)
4. Philippines +33 (2.9% increase)
5. Brazil +24 (1.2% increase)
6. Cote d'Ivoire +22 (30.6% increase) 
7. Mexico +18 (0.9% increase)
8. Democratic Republic of the Congo +15 (11.5% increase)
9. Sierra Leone +9 (30.0% increase)
10. Australia +7 (2.4% increase)
11. Mozambique +6 (30.0% increase)
12. Cape Verde +5 (16.1% increase)
13. Kenya +5 (12.2% increase)
14. South Africa +5 (3.2% increase)
15. Botswana +4 (50.0% increase)
16. Guatemala +4 (1.0% increase)
17. New Zealand +4 (1.9% increase)
18. Taiwan +4 (4.0% increase)
19. Zimbabwe +4 (6.7% increase)

The net increase in the number of wards and branches in these 19 countries totals 398; a larger number than the net increase in the number of wards and branches for the entire Church for the year 2014 (368). Six countries experienced a net decrease of four or more units during 2014 including:

1. Argentina -27 (3.4% decrease) 
2. Japan -12 (4.3% decrease)
3. Chile -10 (1.6% decrease)
4. Uruguay -9 (5.9% decrease)
5. Ukraine -5 (8.9% decrease)
6. Bolivia -4 (1.6% decrease)

Decreasing numbers of congregations in Argentina are particularly concerning as the Church has experienced a net decrease in congregations for several years notwithstanding church membership increasing by tens of thousands during this period. However, the Church has slowed its rate of discontinuing congregations in Argentina within the past few months and also organized a new branch during this period.