Friday, April 12, 2019

Congregational Growth by Country: 2018

Below is a list of the countries where the Church reported a net increase of four or more units for the year 2018. The annual percentage increase for the number of wards and branches for each country is also provided:

  1. United States +49 (0.34% increase)
  2. Nigeria +48 (7.99% increase)
  3. Brazil +22 (1.05% increase)
  4. Cote d'Ivoire +21 (10.0% increase) 
  5. Democratic Republic of the Congo +15 (8.29% increase)
  6. Liberia +13 (37.1% increase)
  7. Peru +12 (1.61% increase)
  8. Ghana +11 (3.63% increase)
  9. Philippines +9 (0.74% increase) 
  10. South Africa +7 (3.83% increase) 
  11. Mozambique +5 (17.3% increase)
  12. Uganda +4 (13.8% increase)
The net increase in the number of wards and branches in these 12 countries totals 216; a larger number than the net increase in the number of wards and branches for the entire Church for the year 2018 (30). Twelve (12) countries experienced a net decrease of four or more units during 2018. Altogether, the net decrease in congregations in these 12 nations totaled 218. This was primarily due to a significant decline in the number of congregations in Mexico (-141). This decline in Mexico was attributed to changes in the Mexico Area policies in regards to the size of wards. More specifically, this change in policy has focused on better utilization of meetinghouse space by the establishment of congregations with larger numbers of active members. As a result, the Church closed scores of wards in the Mexico City metropolitan area. The plan in Mexico City to combine wards took years in planning to execute due to the large number of stakes and wards in the city. It appears unlikely that sizable numbers of congregation consolidations will continue in Mexico into 2019 as nearly all major metropolitan areas in Mexico have undergone similar congregation consolidations.
  1. Mexico -141 (7.64% decrease) 
  2. Venezuela -15 (6.49% decrease)
  3. Argentina -12 (1.60% decrease)
  4. Chile -11 (1.86% decrease)
  5. Germany -7 (4.61% decrease) 
  6. Australia -6 (1.98% decrease) 
  7. South Korea -5 (4.85% decrease)
  8. Russia -5 (5.15% decrease)
  9. United Kingdom -4 (1.24% decrease)
  10. Italy -4 (4.12% decrease)
  11. Colombia -4 (1.63% decrease)
  12. Canada -4 (0.81% decrease)
Previous lists for annual congregational growth by country are available for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.
at

7 comments:

  1. EduardoApril 13, 2019 at 2:22 AM

    Some large population countries in Africa and Asia will be among these top 12 in the future, I predict, like Vietnam, Angola, Mozambique...
    It is interesting how Ephraim-strong United States and Canada, and parts of Western Europe, have large numbers of "nons" and seculars, many who have removed their names from Church membership where other parts of the world with potentially larger numbers of other tribes of Israel are growing.
    Although, I suppose people in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Congo may be identified as Ephraim as well, I don't know. Does anyone else?
    Is the Phillipines Manasseh dominant like Latin America? Or the South Pacific?
    For the purposes of the 144,000 high priests at the Lord's coming, I find it interesting to try to map where the people come from.
    Will there really be 12 k from Asher, Dan, Naphtali, Zebulon, etc.?
    I always took that prophecy/doctrine literally and spiritually.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Butterfly and BonesApril 13, 2019 at 4:14 PM

    My French husband is of the tribe of Judah even though he has no Jewish ancestry? (His parents were Ephraim... So you never know).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Johnathan Reese WhitingApril 16, 2019 at 10:55 PM

      @Butterfly and Bones

      Well, there is the old legend that The Lord's lineage came thru Mary Magdalene to southern France (if you believe Dan Brown, that is). ;)

      Delete
    2. Aritz Lizarraga OlascoagaJune 10, 2019 at 1:23 AM

      Dan Brown did not come up with that because that's an old legend. We shouldn't discard legends that quickly.

      Delete
  3. UnknownApril 13, 2019 at 7:54 PM

    Im Dan even though most of my ancestors were Ephraim.

    On the other hand I think those who have disengaged from religion are a bigger pool of potential converts that some seem to think.

    ReplyDelete
  4. EduardoApril 14, 2019 at 4:44 AM

    You have recessive Dan traits. Intermarriage happens over time.

    You think secular nons will join the Church in a dynamic way sometime? It could happen.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownApril 15, 2019 at 1:52 AM

    I have seen people who had been nons for over a decade join the Church.

    ReplyDelete