New Stakes Created in Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington; New Districts Created in the DR Congo (2) and Colombia; Districts Discontinued in Brazil and Colombia

Cameroon 

The Church created its first stake in the African nation of Cameroon on June 1st. The Yaounde Cameroon Stake was organized from the Yaounde Cameroon District (organized in 2012). Over 900 people attended the meeting to create the new stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and four branches: the Anguissa, the Bastos, the Ekounou, the Eleveur, and the Mimboman Wards and the Biyem-Assi, the Messassi, the Obili (English), and the Soa Branches. Reports over the past couple years have noted that the district was close to becoming a stake but continued to need to maintain the minimum standards for the stake to be created. Cameroon is the second African nation thus far in 2025 to have had its first stake organized (the first stake in Tanzania was organized in Dar es Salaam in January). 

There is now one stake and one district in Cameroon. The Church reported 3,327 members in Cameroon as of year-end 2024. 

Chile 

The Church organized a new stake in Chile on May 11th. The Alto Hospicio Chile Stake was organized from the Alto Hospicio Chile District (organized in 2005) which was created when the Church's second stake in Iquique, the Iquique Chile South Stake, was discontinued (originally organized in 1997). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the La Pampa, the Las Américas, the Los Aromos, the Los Cóndores, and the Tarapacá Wards and the Pica and Pozo Almonte Branches. Local leaders are ambitious that a third stake may be created in Iquique one day, although this goal appears unlikely to be reached for many years considering the Iquique Chile Stake has only six wards. The new stake in Alto Hospicio is the first new stake created in northern Chile since 2014.

There are now 80 stakes and nine districts in Chile. 

Colombia

A new stake was organized in Colombia from the Palmira Colombia District (organized in 1986) and the Tuluá Colombia District (organized in 1992). The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Bizerta, Buga, El Recreo, Santa Bárbara, and Tuluá Wards and the Andalucía, El Cerrito, and Zarzal Branches. Several branches were discontinued as part of the process of converting branches into wards, including two branches in Tuluá and one branch in Buga. 

A new district was organized from three mission branches in the Colombia Bogota North Mission. The Casanare Colombia District was organized with three branches, namely the Aguazul, the El Alcaraván, and the Los Helechos Branches.

There are now 32 stakes and nine districts in Colombia. 

Kansas

A new stake was organized in Kansas on June 1st. The Overland Park Kansas Stake was organized from the Lenexa Kansas Stake (organized in 1994) and the Olathe Kansas Stake (organized in 1986). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Heritage Park, Overland Park 1st, Overland Park 2nd, Overland Park 3rd, Paola, and Stanley Wards and the Mound City Branch. The new stake is the first new stake created in Kansas since the Garden City Kansas Stake was organized in 2003.

There are now eight stakes in Kansas. 

Maine

A new stake was organized in Maine on June 8th. The Portland Maine Stake was organized from the Augusta Maine Stake (organized in 1968). The new stake includes the following seven wards and one branch: the Cornish, Oxford, Portland, Saco, Topsham, Windham, and Yarmouth Wards and the Casco Bay YSA Branch. The other two stakes and the Saint John New Brunswick Stake were also realigned as part of the new stake creation. The last time a new stake was created in Maine was in 1986.

There are now three stakes in Maine.

Missouri

A new stake was organized in Missouri on June 8th. The Shoal Creek Missouri Stake was created from the Liberty Missouri Stake (organized in 1979) and the Platte City Missouri Stake (organized in 1997). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the New Mark, North Kansas City, Oak Grove, Platte Woods, Smithville Lake, and Tiffany Springs Wards and the San Rafael (Spanish) Branch.

Papua New Guinea

A new stake was organized in Papua New Guinea on May 25th. The Lae Papua New Guinea Stake was organized from the Lae Papua New Guinea District (organized in 2017). The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Lae, Malahang, Ngasuwampu, Taraka, Wara Kalap, and Yalu Bridge Wards and the Kavieng and Yalu Branches. The creation of the new stake is a major success that would have been unlikely without the creation of the Papua New Guinea Lae Mission in 2013. More information about the creation of the new stake can be found here. The new stake is the Church's second stake to be created in northern Papua New Guinea within the past 12 months.

There are now four stakes and 10 districts in Papua New Guinea. 

Also, the Church's fifth stake in Papua New Guinea, the Oro Papua New Guinea Stake, is scheduled to be organized on June 15th. 

Peru

A new stake was organized in Peru on May 18th. The Lima Perú La Victoria Stake was organized from the Lima Perú Limatambo Stake (organized in 1970), the Lima Perú Magdalena Stake (organized in 1974), and the Lima Perú San Luis Stake (organized in 1983). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Balconcillo, the El Porvenir, the Jesús María, the La Victoria, and the Santa Beatriz Wards. 

There are now 50 stakes in the Lima metropolitan area - more than any other metropolitan area in the world outside of the United States.

There are now 116 stakes and 18 districts in Peru. The Cañete Perú Stake will be organized from the Cañete Perú District on June 22nd.

Tennessee

A new stake was created in Tennessee on June 8th from the Chattanooga Tennessee Stake. The new Cleveland Tennessee Stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Athens, Cleveland, Dalton, Dayton, and Ooltewah Wards and the Collegedale Branch. This new stake is the Church's second new stake to be created in Tennessee this year.

There are now 13 stakes in Tennessee.

Utah

A new stake was organized in Utah on June 8th. The Lehi Utah Hardman Farms Stake was organized from a division of the Lehi Utah Holbrook Farms Stake (organized in 2019). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Hardman Farms 1st, Hardman Farms 2nd, Hardman Farms 3rd, Hardman Farms 4th, Hardman Farms 5th, and the Hardman Farms 6th Wards.

There are now 25 stakes in Lehi. 

There are now 644 stakes and six districts in Utah. 

Virginia

A new stake was organized in Virginia on June 1st. The Mechanicsville Virginia Stake was organized from the Richmond Virginia Stake, the Richmond Virginia Chesterfield Stake, the Richmond Virginia Midlothian Stake, and the Newport News Virginia Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Chickahominy, Meadowbrook, Mechanicsville, Scotchtown, and Tappahannock Wards and the New Kent and Richmond Branches. 

There are now four stakes in the Richmond metropolitan area.

There are now 25 stakes in Virginia. 

Washington

A new stake was organized in Washington State on June 1st. The Moses Lake Washington Stake was organized from the Moses Lake Washington Stake and one branch from the Spokane Washington West Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Garden Heights, Larson Heights, O'Sullivan, Pioneer, and Ridgeview Wards and the Ritzville Branch. 

There are now two stakes in Moses Lake. 

There are now 62 stakes in Washington State.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

Two new districts were recently organized in the DR Congo. 

The Bandundu DR Congo District was organized from three branches that formerly were under the direct supervision of the DR Congo Kinshasa South Mission, namely the Bandundu, Disasi, and Mayoyo Branches. All three branches are located in the city of Bandundu where the first branch was created in 2020.

The Tshitenge Democratic Republic of the Congo District was organized from four branches in the Dibindi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2022) and one recently organized mission branch (Lukalaba). The new district includes the following five branches: the Kabwe, Kambanja, Lukalaba, Sangu, and the Tshitenge Branches. The first branch in this area was created in Tshitenge in 2011 back when Mbuji-Mayi was a district.

Prospects appear favorable for the organization of many additional districts in the DR Congo due to the rapid and unprecedented expansion of the Church into previously unreached areas. Locations that appear likely to have districts organized within the near future include Boma (2 branches), Bukavu (2 branches), Kamanda (2 branches), Kikwit (3 branches), Kimpese (3 branches), Kipushi (2 branches), Luiza (2 branches), Muanda (2 branches), Tshikapa (2 branches), and Uvira (2 branches).

There are now 34 stakes and five districts in the DR Congo. On June 15th, three new stakes will be created in Kananga and one new stake will be created in Kinshasa, thereby bringing the total number of stakes in the country to 38.

Brazil

A district was recently discontinued in Brazil. The Três Rios Brazil District (organized in 2016) was discontinued. The district previously had five branches. Two branches in Três Rios were consolidated to create a ward in the Petrópolis Brazil Stake and one branch was also assigned to this stake. Another branch was reassigned to the Volta Redonda Brazil Stake (Vassouras) and another branch was discontinued (Valença).

There are now 288 stakes and 35 districts in Brazil. 

First Stake Created in Malawi

The Church organized its first stake in the African nation of Malawi on June 2nd. The Lilongwe Malawi Stake was organized from the Lilongwe Malawi District. All seven branches in the original district were reorganized into wards. Moreover, a new branch was also created when the new stake was organized. The new stake is comprised of the following congregations: the Kalambo 1st, the Kalambo 2nd, the Kawale, the Kasungu 1st, the Kasungu 2nd, and the Presidential Way Wards, and the Chinsapo Branch. 

The Church has had struggles for many years in Malawi with member retention and leadership development. The Church first organized a branch in Lilongwe sometime between 1991 and 2000, but the branch was discontinued in 2002. A branch in Lilongwe was later reinstated in 2007. A branch used to operate in Sitima - a small village approximately 50 miles northeast of Blantyre - from 1999 until 2008. The branch closed due to remote location and challenges with leadership development and sustainability. A branch once operated in northern Lilongwe that was closed in early 2020 (Kauma). The Church has worked for many years to create a stake in Blantyre, but the district has continued to not reach the minimum activity and priesthood standards to create a stake despite there being enough congregations and membership for the district to become a stake. In fact, the first meetinghouse in Blantyre was originally built to become a stake center (even though the building was constructed back in 2005 when there were only 540 members in the whole country).

Despite these challenges, much progress has occurred in the past decade with the Church's growth and stability. Sacrament meeting attendance in Lilongwe was only 30 people in late 2009, whereas today there is now a stake in Lilongwe with five wards and one branch in the city. Additional branches were created in Lilongwe in 2010 (Kauma which was discontinued in 2020), 2013 (Kalambo 1st and Presidential Way), 2016 (Kawale), and 2023 (Kalambo 2nd). Moreover, the Church has organized its first branches in northern Malawi since 2020. Kasungu is a city approximately 65 miles north of Lilongwe were a member group was organized in 2020 that quickly became a branch later that year. A second branch was created in Kasungu in 2022, and both branches have grown sufficiently to become wards in the new stake. The Lilongwe Malawi District was able to meet the more stringent qualifications to become a stake that were implemented for the worldwide Church as of January 2024. Earlier this year, a new branch was created in Mzuzu. Church membership increased by 23.3% in 2023 - the highest annual membership growth rate since 2011 when there were only 1,156 members as of the end of that year. As of year-end 2023, there were 4,776 members. The Book of Mormon translation in Chichewa is nearing completion, as only the books of Mormon, Ether, and Moroni have yet to be translated. 

The creation of the first stake in Malawi, combined with other recent developments in the Church's growth and expansion, signal that there is likely to be significant growth in the country in the near future. Unlike many other neighboring African nations, Malawi's population primarily speaks Chichewa which greatly simplifies translation work and missionary activity. Approximately two-thirds of the population is literate. The population of Malawi is approximately 21 million. Most Malawians are Christian. Malawi appears to be a strong candidate to have its own mission organized, as the country is administered by the Zambia Lusaka Mission and there has been significant recent growth in Malawi. The creation of a separate mission headquartered in Lilongwe may further sustain rapid growth that has recently begun. There are approximately one dozen cities in Malawi with at least 20,000 people without an official Latter-day Saint congregation. Prospects appear favorable to organize multiple congregations in Mzuzu where the first branch was recently organized, as Mzuzu is the third most populous city in Malawi with nearly a quarter of a million people. However, future mission outreach expansion will need to occur in rural communities, as only 18.3% of the country's population lives in urban areas. A temple announcement for Lilongwe is now a more likely possibility given a stake has been organized, although this appears unlikely until there are additional stakes organized.

First Stake Organized in Angola

Last Sunday, the Church organized its first stake in the African nation of Angola. The new stake was organized from the Luanda Angola District and the Viana Angola District, and includes six wards and six branches. Information on which branches became wards remains unavailable.

Angola is inhabited by approximately 30 million people and had its first branch organized in 1996. However, members had met in groups or for sacrament meeting services since the early 1990s. The first proselytizing missionaries were assigned to Angola in 2008 from the Mozambique Maputo Mission. The Angola Luanda Mission was organized in 2013. At year-end 2017, there were 2,458 members. Prior to the organization of the stake, there were 15 branches in the country. To contrast, the Church in Angola at year-end 2007 reported only 759 members and one branch. Only three cities in Angola currently have an official Church presence: Luanda, Lubango, and Huambo. Annual membership growth rates have exceeded 10% every year since 2009. Although this growth has been significant in the past decade, other proselytism-focused groups report a much larger presence in Angola and also report rapid growth rates. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses reported 1,913 congregations and 143,322 active members as of year-end 2017. Furthermore, the number of active Witnesses increased by 12% alone in 2017 despite a base of more than 100,000 active members. However, these groups have operated for decades longer in Angola than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and operate in many areas of the country.

First LDS Stake by Country - Updated List

Last year I provided a list of countries around the world with LDS stakes and the year the first LDS stake was organized in each nation. Several additional countries have had the first LDS stake organized since this list was last updated. The year the second LDS stake was organized in each country is provided for countries with two or more LDS stakes and the number of stakes and districts is provided in parentheses (the first number is the number of stakes and the second number is the number of districts at present).  With countries with only one LDS stake, N/A is listed after the year the first stake was organized.

1847-1959 (4)

United States: 1834, 1834 (1,541 - 8)
Mexico: 1895, 1961 (231 - 38)
Canada: 1895, 1903 (47 - 3)
New Zealand: 1958, 1960 (29 - 3)

1960-1969 (12)

United Kingdom: 1960, 1961 (45 - 0)
Australia: 1960, 1960 (38- 8)
Germany: 1961, 1961 (15 - 2)
Netherlands: 1961, 1978 (3 - 0)
Switzerland: 1961, 1981 (5 - 0)
Samoa: 1962, 1970 (20 - 0)
Brazil: 1966, 1968 (255 - 37)
Argentina: 1966, 1972 (74 - 29)
Guatemala: 1967, 1975 (43 - 17)
Uruguay: 1967, 1974 (18 - 3)
Tonga: 1968, 1970 (19 - 2)
American Samoa: 1969, 1980 (5 - 0)

1970-1979 (24)

Peru: 1970, 1974 (100 - 21)
Japan: 1970, 1972 (28 - 13)
South Africa: 1970, 1978 (15 - 3)
Chile: 1972, 1974 (77 - 19)
French Polynesia: 1972, 1983 (8 - 4)
Philippines: 1973, 1977 (95 - 78)
El Salvador: 1973, 1976 (19 - 1)
South Korea: 1973, 1977 (15 - 6)
Denmark: 1974, 1978 (2 - 0)
France: 1975, 1980 (10 - 0)
Sweden: 1975, 1977 (4 - 1)
Taiwan: 1976, 1981 (14 - 1)
China-Hong Kong: 1976, 1984 (4 - 1)
Colombia: 1977, 1978 (29 - 11)
Venezuela: 1977, 1979 (34 - 6)
Honduras: 1977, 1978 (23 - 7)
Costa Rica: 1977, 1978 (9 - 2)
Belgium: 1977, 1994 (2 - 0)
Finland: 1977, 1983 (2 - 2)
Norway: 1977, 2012 (2 - 0)
Ecuador: 1978, 1979 (36 - 9)
Bolivia: 1979, 1979 (27 - 10)
Paraguay: 1979, 1980 (10 - 10)
Panama: 1979, 1986 (7 - 4)

1980-1989 (10)

Puerto Rico: 1980, 1982 (5 - 0)
Austria: 1980, 1997 (2 - 0)

Nicaragua: 1981, 2000 (9 - 6) 
Portugal: 1981, 1986 (6 - 4)
Italy: 1981, 1985 (10 - 1)
Spain: 1982, 1982 (14- 4)
Fiji: 1983, 1995 (4 - 1)
United Arab Emirates: 1983, N/A (1 - 0)
Dominican Republic: 1986, 1988 (20 - 9)
Nigeria: 1988, 1990 (28 - 20)

1990-1999 (10)

Ghana: 1991, 1991 (13 - 11)
Papua New Guinea: 1995, 2011 (2 - 11)
Thailand: 1995, 2014 (3 - 3)
Singapore: 1995, N/A (1 - 0)
Ireland: 1995, N/A (1 - 1)
Democratic Republic of Congo: 1996, 1997 (12 - 4)
Kiribati: 1996, 2007 (2 - 0)
Haiti: 1997, 2003 (4 - 3)
Cote d'Ivoire: 1997, 2000 (8 - 3)
Zimbabwe: 1999, 2003 (6 - 2)

2000-2009 (8)

Madagascar: 2000, 2011 (2 - 2)
Kenya: 2001, N/A (1 - 3)
Republic of Congo: 2003, 2014 (2 - 1)
Ukraine: 2004, N/A (1 - 2)
Hungary: 2006, N/A (1 - 2)
Mongolia: 2009, N/A (1 - 2)
Trinidad and Tobago: 2009, N/A (1 - 0)
Marshall Islands: 2009, N/A (1 - 1)

2010-present (19)

Uganda: 2010, N/A (1 - 1)

Guam: 2010, N/A (1 - 0)

Indonesia: 2011, 2012 (2 - 1)

Russia: 2011, 2012 (2 - 6)
Cape Verde: 2012, 2013 (3 - 2)
India: 2012, N/A (1 - 6)
New Caledonia: 2012, N/A (1 - 0)
Botswana: 2012, N/A (1 - 0)
Sierra Leone: 2012, N/A (1 - 5)
Armenia: 2013, N/A (1 - 0)
Togo: 2013, N/A (1 - 0)
Albania: 2014, N/A (1 - 0)
Federated States of Micronesia: 2014, N/A (1 - 3) 

Cambodia: 2014, 2014 (2 - 5)

Jamaica: 2014, N/A (1 - 1)

Bahrain: 2014, N/A (1 - 0)

Mozambique: 2015, 2015 (2 - 0)

Zambia: 2015, N/A (1 - 2)

Vanuatu: 2015, N/A (1 - 3)

First Stake to be Created in Jamaica this June

Missionaries serving in the Jamaica Kingston Mission report that the Church has approved the organization of the first stake in Jamaica during the weekend of June 7th and 8th. The Church has attempted to organize a stake in Jamaica for over a decade but has experienced challenges with member inactivity problems and few active, full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders. The approved organization of the stake signals some real progress in addressing these concerns within the past couple years.

Jamaica currently ranks as the country with the seventh most members without a stake.

First LDS Stake by Country

Nearly three years ago I provided a list of countries around the world with LDS stakes and the year the first LDS stake was organized in each nation. Several additional countries have had the first LDS stake organized since this list was last updated. The year the second LDS stake was organized in each country is provided for countries with two or more LDS stakes and the number of stakes and districts is provided in parentheses (first number is the number of stakes and the second number is the number of districts at present).  With countries with only one LDS stake, N/A is listed after the year the first stake was organized.

1847-1959

United States: 1834, 1834 (1,514 - 9)
Mexico: 1895, 1961 (226 - 36)
Canada: 1895, 1903 (47 - 3)
New Zealand: 1958, 1960 (28 - 3)

1960-1969

United Kingdom: 1960, 1961 (45 - 0)
Australia: 1960, 1960 (37 - 9)
Germany: 1961, 1961 (14 - 3)
Netherlands: 1961, 1978 (3 - 0)
Switzerland: 1961, 1981 (5 - 0)
Samoa: 1962, 1970 (20 - 0)
Brazil: 1966, 1968 (249 - 41)
Argentina: 1966, 1972 (72 - 33)
Guatemala: 1967, 1975 (72 - 17)
Uruguay: 1967, 1974 (18 - 3)
Tonga: 1968, 1970 (19 - 2)
American Samoa: 1969, 1980 (5 - 0)

1970-1979

Peru: 1970, 1974 (100- 21)
Japan: 1970, 1972 (29 - 13)
South Africa: 1970, 1978 (14 - 3)
Chile: 1972, 1974 (74 - 23)
French Polynesia: 1972, 1983 (8 - 4)
Philippines: 1973, 1977 (88 - 83)
El Salvador: 1973, 1976 (18 - 2)
South Korea: 1973, 1977 (16 - 6)
Denmark: 1974, 1978 (2 - 0)
France: 1975, 1980 (10 - 0)
Sweden: 1975, 1977 (4 - 1)
Taiwan: 1976, 1981 (11 - 2)
China-Hong Kong: 1976, 1984 (4 - 1)
Colombia: 1977, 1978 (29 - 11)
Venezuela: 1977, 1979 (34 - 6)
Honduras: 1977, 1978 (23 - 7)
Costa Rica: 1977, 1978 (6 - 4)
Belgium: 1977, 1994 (2 - 0)
Finland: 1977, 1983 (2 - 2)
Norway: 1977, 2012 (2 - 0)
Ecuador: 1978, 1979 (35 - 9)
Bolivia: 1979, 1979 (27 - 10)
Paraguay: 1979, 1980 (10 - 10)
Panama: 1979, 1986 (7 - 5)

1980-1989

Puerto Rico: 1980, 1982 (5 - 0)
Austria: 1980, 1997 (2 - 0)

Nicaragua: 1981, 2000 (9 - 6) 
Portugal: 1981, 1986 (6 - 4)
Italy: 1981, 1985 (9 - 3)
Spain: 1982, 1982 (14- 4)
Fiji: 1983, 1995 (4 - 1)
United Arab Emirates: 1983, N/A (1 - 0)
Dominican Republic: 1986, 1988 (19 - 9)
Nigeria: 1988, 1990 (22 - 22)

1990-1999

Ghana: 1991, 1991 (12 - 8)
Papua New Guinea: 1995, 2011 (2 - 11)
Thailand: 1995, N/A (1 - 5)
Singapore: 1995, N/A (1 - 0)
Ireland: 1995, N/A (1 - 1)
Democratic Republic of Congo: 1996, 1997 (12 - 3)
Kiribati: 1996, 2007 (2 - 0)
Haiti: 1997, 2003 (4 - 3)
Cote d'Ivoire: 1997, 2000 (5 - 1)
Zimbabwe: 1999, 2003 (5 - 2)

2000-2009

Madagascar: 2000, 2011 (2 - 2)
Kenya: 2001, N/A (1 - 2)
Republic of Congo: 2003, N/A (1 - 0)
Ukraine: 2004, N/A (1 - 3)
Hungary: 2006, N/A (1 - 2)
Mongolia: 2009, N/A (1 - 2)
Trinidad and Tobago: 2009, N/A (1 - 0)
Marshall Islands: 2009, N/A (1 - 1)

2010-present

Uganda: 2010, N/A (1 - 1)

Guam: 2010, N/A (1 - 0)

Indonesia: 2011, 2012 (2 - 1)

Russia: 2011, 2012 (2 - 3)
Cape Verde: 2012, 2013 (2 - 2)
India: 2012, N/A (1 - 6)
New Caledonia: 2012, N/A (1 - 0)
Botswana: 2012, N/A (1 - 0)
Sierra Leone: 2012, N/A (1 - 3)
Armenia: 2013, N/A (1 - 0)
Togo: 2013, N/A (1 - 0)
Albania: 2014, N/A (1 - 0)
Federated States of Micronesia: 2014, N/A (1 - 3)

First Stake in the Federated States of Micronesia to be Created This March

Missionaries serving in the Micronesia Guam Mission report that the first stake in the Federated States of Micronesia will be organized on the weekend of March 15th and 16th.  The Pohnpei Caroline Islands District will become a stake at a special conference and most of the eight branches will become wards.  The Federated States of Micronesia has been the country with the ninth most members without a stake according to year-end 2012 membership figures.

For more information on the Church on Pohnpei, please refer to my case study here.

First Stake in Albania to be Created in March

Missionaries serving in the Adriatic South Mission report that the Church will organize its first stake in Albania during the weekend of March 8th and 9th.  The sole district in the country, the Tirana Albania District was organized in 1999 and currently consists of nine branches.  Missionaries have diligently worked for many years to prepare the four branches in Tirana to become wards and for the district to become a stake.  The creation of the first stake in Albania marks the third predominantly Muslim country where the Church has created a stake that is primarily comprised of local members; the first and second countries being Indonesia and Sierra Leone.  LDS growth in Albania has been an anomaly for Southeast Europe as no other country has experienced steady growth and has a sufficient number of active members for a stake to be organized.

Albania was previously the country with the 15th most members without a stake according to year-end 2012 membership data.

List of Countries With LDS Stakes and Date of First LDS Stake Creation

Two years ago I provided a list of countries around the world with LDS stakes and the year the first LDS stake was organized in each nation.  Since that time, four additional nations/territories have had their first LDS stakes organized so I wanted to update this list as well as provide some additional information.  The year the second LDS stake was organized in each country is provided for countries with two or more LDS stakes and the number of stakes and districts is provided in parentheses (first number is the number of stakes and the second number is the number of districts at present).  With countries with only one LDS stake, N/A is listed after the year the first stake was organized.

1847-1959

United States: 1834, 1834 (1,478 - 10)
Mexico: 1895, 1961 (222 - 49)
Canada: 1895, 1903 (47 - 4)
New Zealand: 1958, 1960 (25 - 3)

1960-1969

United Kingdom: 1960, 1961 (45 - 0)
Australia: 1960, 1960 (32 - 9)
Germany: 1961, 1961 (14 - 3)
Netherlands: 1961, 1978 (3 - 0)
Switzerland: 1961, 1981 (5 - 0)
Samoa: 1962, 1970 (16 - 0)
Brazil: 1966, 1968 (241 - 49)
Argentina: 1966, 1972 (70 - 37)
Guatemala: 1967, 1975 (39 - 19)
Uruguay: 1967, 1974 (16 - 4)
Tonga: 1968, 1970 (17 - 2)
American Samoa: 1969, 1980 (4 - 0)

1970-1979

Peru: 1970, 1974 (94 - 24)
Japan: 1970, 1972 (28 - 15)
South Africa: 1970, 1978 (12 - 4)
Chile: 1972, 1974 (70 - 23)
French Polynesia: 1972, 1983 (7 - 3)
Philippines: 1973, 1977 (81 - 85)
El Salvador: 1973, 1976 (17 - 2)
South Korea: 1973, 1977 (17 - 6)
Denmark: 1974, 1978 (2 - 0)
France: 1975, 1980 (9 - 1)
Sweden: 1975, 1977 (4 - 1)
Taiwan: 1976, 1981 (11 - 1)
China-Hong Kong: 1976, 1984 (4 - 1)
Colombia: 1977, 1978 (28 - 12)
Venezuela: 1977, 1979 (31 - 8)
Honduras: 1977, 1978 (21 - 7)
Costa Rica: 1977, 1978 (5 - 5)
Belgium: 1977, 1994 (2 - 0)
Finland: 1977, 1983 (2 - 2)
Norway: 1977, N/A (1 - 1)
Ecuador: 1978, 1979 (34 - 9)
Bolivia: 1979, 1979 (24 - 10)
Paraguay: 1979, 1980 (10 - 11)
Panama: 1979, 1986 (8 - 5)

1980-1989

Puerto Rico: 1980, 1982 (5 - 0)
Austria: 1980, 1997 (2 - 0)

Nicaragua: 1981, 2000 (9 - 6)Portugal: 1981, 1986 (6 - 4)
Italy: 1981, 1985 (7 - 5)
Spain: 1982, 1982 (10 - 5)
Fiji: 1983, 1995 (4 - 1)
Dominican Republic: 1986, 1988 (18 - 10)
Nigeria: 1988, 1990 (17 - 21)

1990-1999

Ghana: 1991, 1991 (8 - 5)
Papua New Guinea: 1995, 2011 (2 - 8)
Thailand: 1995, N/A (1 - 5)
Singapore: 1995, N/A (1 - 0)
Ireland: 1995, N/A (1 - 1)
Democratic Republic of Congo: 1996, 1997 (8 - 4)
Kiribati: 1996, 2007 (2 - 0)
Haiti: 1997, 2003 (2 - 2)
Ivory Coast: 1997, 2000 (4 - 1)
Zimbabwe: 1999, 2003 (4 - 1)

2000-2009

Madagascar: 2000, 2011 (2 - 2)
Kenya: 2001, N/A (1 - 2)
Republic of Congo: 2003, N/A (1 - 0)
Ukraine: 2004, N/A (1 - 1)
Hungary: 2006, N/A (1 - 2)
Mongolia: 2009, N/A (1 - 2)
Trinidad and Tobago: 2009, N/A (1 - 0)
Marshall Islands: 2009, N/A (1 - 1)

2010-present

Uganda: 2010, N/A (1 - 1)

Guam: 2010, N/A (1 - 0)

Indonesia: 2011, N/A (1 - 2)

Russia: 2011, N/A (1 - 12)