Monday, July 4, 2022

Updated Kiribati Census Figures from 2020

The Kiribati government released statistics last month from the 2020 census that provides information on self-identified religious affiliation for the population of Kiribati. These data indicate that there were 6,720 self-affiliated Latter-day Saints in 2020 which is an increase of 863 from 5,857 in 2015, or 14.7%. In contrast, the population of Kiribati increased by 9,302 between 2015 and 2020, or 8.4%. Thus, the number of self-affiliated Latter-day Saints has increased at a rate almost twice the population growth rate during this five-year period. Self-affiliated Latter-day Saints constituted 5.6% of the national population in 2020 - an increase from 5.3% in 2015. Thirty-two percent (32%) of Church-reported membership at the time identified as Latter-day Saints on the 2020 Kiribati census, whereas 34% of Church-reported membership identified as Latter-day Saints on the 2015 Kiribati census. However, there was a net increase of 4,151 members per official Church records between 2015 and 2020 which equaled a 24.7% increase in membership. Thus, as few as 20.8% of members added to Church records between 2015 and 2020 identified as Latter-day Saints in 2020. These data indicate that the member activity rate in Kiribati has appeared to slightly decrease during the past five years by approximately two percent. Unfortunately, 2020 census data do not include an island-by-island breakdown by religious affiliation unlike the 2010 and 2015 censuses. The 2020 Kiribati census data can be found here. A previous case study I wrote that analyzed 2010 census data on religious affiliation by island can be found here.

12 comments:

  1. One curiosity I have found. With the recent consolidation of the Gagnoa Cote d'Ivoire District and the Divo Cote d'Ivoire District, into the new Gagnoa Cote d'Ivoire Stake. The previous Gagnoa district was fully within the boundaries of the Cote d'Ivoire Yamoussoukro Mission. And the previous Divo district was located within the boundary of the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission.

    I wonder if the newly organized Stake will be split between the 2 missions? Or will both missions be realigned to have the full Gagnoa stake within one or the other mission jurisdiction for teaching?

    https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=6.136459,-5.720664&z=9&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter,mission,area&q=Gagnoa&find=stake:2022451

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  2. Right? That takes some pretty impressive coordination between two different mission presidencies to pull that off. My prediction is that the new stake will totally be within the boundaries of the Cote d'Ivoire Yamoussoukro Mission.

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  3. Usually speaking, a stake split between two different missions will be handed off to one or the other mission. The missionaries that are there will generally be handed off to the new mission unless they are transferred.

    When the Ometoxtla stake was created, it passed from the Puebla South mission to the Puebla North mission, with some wards that belonged to the Tlaxcala stake uniting with a few wards that belonged to Cholula stake.

    This also allowed for a balance between the missions as the South mission was creating new stakes left and right whereas the North mission was rather stagnant. The recent third stake in Nealtican is in the South mission so a new restructuring might be in order soon.

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  4. Church news reported the first branch created in Gambia.

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  5. Has anyone mentioned this, from an Africa area page, mentions growth, languages, etc.

    https://news-africa.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/africa-dominates-global-list-of-countries-with-most-rapid-church-growth?fbclid=IwAR20cdZaAKPbVgUvIJJSEmK-5CNzCigQhYafZm0fG_6WUx_Al2TaLp-6BvU

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  6. Correction :

    When I reported earlier this week about the organization of the new "Rwanda Kigali Mission - 2189879", I had included both branches "Uvira Branch" and "Kalundu Branch", located on the western shore of Lake Tanganyika, in eastern DRC, in error.

    The Classic Maps site now has reported them still in the DRC Lubumbashi Mission instead with the updated Mission boundary today.

    https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=-1.465905,30.010899&z=7&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter,mission,area&q=Rwanda&find=mission:2189879

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  7. As of today, 07/08, there has been no official update about the previously reported newly created Mission, the "Spain Madrid North Mission" that was the 3rd new mission that was supposed to be organized beginning July 1st this year. With President Christopher L Eastland called to preside, who was originally called as the 2022 Mission President of Russia St. Petersburg Mission. I wonder if like the Mozambique Beira Mission, it will be deferred for another year to be organized?

    https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=39.053377,-4.481697&z=6&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter,mission,area&q=Spain%20Madrid%20North&find=mission:2019159

    https://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2022-04-07/2-new-missions-england-england-bristol-spain-madrid-presidents-249856

    "Both new missions will open in early July.

    The Spain Madrid North Mission is being created from areas of the existing Spain Madrid and Spain Barcelona missions. The First Presidency has called Christopher L. Eastland and Trista S. Eastland to serve as mission leaders."

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  8. I am assuming that several of the members of the Vyborg Ward - 295760, of the St Petersburg Russia Stake - 615145, have recently crossed a few miles across the border into neutral Finland in the last few months, being not in agreement with their governments current "Special Military Operations" in Ukraine, while the border between Russia and Finland was still open. Would be the cause for the Ward to be downgraded to "Vyborg Branch - 295760" recently.


    "Branches Reorganized from Wards
    ...
    12 Jul 09, 2022 Vyborg Branch Vyborg, Russia"

    Although it may be other causes to downgrade.

    http://www.fullerconsideration.com/units.php

    https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=60.438,29.106526&z=7&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter,mission,area&q=Vyborg&find=ward:295760

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  9. Also in the South American country of Guyana, the Church recently organized a new branch, the "Tuschen Branch - 2198355", in the "Georgetown Guyana District - 388734".

    "Branches Opened
    ...
    95 Jul 07, 2022 Tuschen Branch Tuschen, Guyana"

    https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=7.506256,-59.134593&z=8&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter,mission,area&q=Tuschen%20Branch&find=ward:2198355

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  10. Christopher Duerig, I wouldn't be too concerned if I were you. My understanding is that some recent additional governmental red tape has made it and will continue to make it much more difficult to get the necessary approvals for any religious activity, which is likely part of the reason why the mission is not listed currently.That may also contribute to the speed or slowness by which anything may be done on the Barcelona Spain Temple. Above and beyond that, my understanding is that it is the Boundary and Leadership change committee at Church headquarters, with the approval of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, draft the maps and publish them once they are approved. And the same day the mission was set to become active marked the start of the annual July recess for the General Authorities of the Church, which could impact the speed and timing of both the necessary approvals and the subsequent publication of the map. With that in mind, while the Church has made official announcements or updated online resources during the month of July in certain cases (a prime example would be President Monson setting apart President Nelson as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in mid-July 2015), in some cases, the necessary decisions and approvals of Church councils and committees, along with getting the approval of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, has been and might continue to be impacted by the conditions under which this latest recess month is being observed. Just a thought, FWIW.

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  11. Also recently organized the new "Trinidad Port of Spain Mission Branch - 2198363", which covers the rest of the lands of Guyana and Suriname not currently covered by the Georgetown Guyana, Berbice Guyana and Paramaribo Suriname Districts already.

    This may mean there will be more missionary outreach to these communities?

    "Branches Opened
    99 Jul 09, 2022 Trinidad Port of Spain Mission Branch Willemstad, Curacao"

    https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=4.504689,-57.343139&z=7&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&q=Trinidad&find=ward:2198363

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  12. I shouldn't have been so quick to correct myself about the 2 DRC branches (Uvira and Kalundu). Since that post earlier yesterday 07/08, the Classic Maps site has redrawn the new Rwanda Kigali Mission Boundaries to now include these 2 branches on the northwestern shores of Lake Tanganyika, within the new mission of "Rwanda Kigali".

    Also while reviewing changes to the Classic Maps site, I have discovered that in the recent past, the small southeast corner of Kenya, with the Mombasa Kenya District, that was previously assigned to the "Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission", has now been realigned (returned) to the "Kenya Nairobi Mission"

    https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=0.348256,39.441339&z=6&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&q=Kenya%20Nairobi&find=mission:2012995

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