Milestone of 3,300 Stakes Reached

The Church recently reached the milestone of 3,300 stakes in the worldwide Church. Steady increases in the number of new stakes organized have been maintained for many years now since the rate of new stake creations dramatically slowed in the early 2000s. The creation of stakes is one of the most reliable and valid measures of LDS growth as the organization of new stakes requires certain numbers of active members and full-tithe paying priesthood holders. These criteria have been increased in most areas of the world during the past 15 years in order to avoid the discontinuation of stakes in the future in case fewer converts join the Church and remain active, active members move away, or member activity rates decline.

See below for a list of when the Church reached previous milestones for stake growth (e.g. whenever the Church has achieved a net increase of 100 additional stakes).

• 3,300 stakes - 2017
• 3,200 stakes - 2016
• 3,100 stakes - 2014
• 3,000 stakes - 2012
• 2,900 stakes - 2011
• 2,800 stakes - 2008
• 2,700 stakes - 2005
• 2,600 stakes - 2001
• 2,500 stakes - 1998
• 2,400 stakes - 1997
• 2,300 stakes - 1997
• 2,200 stakes - 1996
• 2,100 stakes - 1995
• 2,000 stakes - 1994
• 1,900 stakes - 1992
• 1,800 stakes - 1991
• 1,700 stakes - 1988
• 1,600 stakes - 1986
• 1,500 stakes - 1984
• 1,400 stakes - 1983
• 1,300 stakes - 1981
• 1,200 stakes - 1980
• 1,100 stakes - 1980
• 1,000 stakes - 1979
• 900 stakes - 1978
• 800 stakes - 1977
• 700 stakes - 1975
• 600 stakes - 1973
• 500 stakes - 1970
• 400 stakes - 1964
• 300 stakes - 1960
• 200 stakes - 1952
• 100 stakes - 1928

Stake Growth: 1950-Present

The Church has experienced significant stake growth in 2016. Provided with the net increase in the number of stakes in parentheses, the ten years with the highest net increase in the number of stakes include 1996 (146), 1995 (142), 1997 (128), 1980 (126), 1978 (105), 1981 (103), 1979 (102), 1977 (87), 1992 (82), and 1998 (81). Thus far, the Church in 2016 has reported a net increase of 87 stakes (95 stakes organized, eight stakes discontinued). Several additional stakes will be organized by the end of the year, suggesting that there will likely be a net increase of between 90 and 100 stakes. Consequently, the Church in 2016 will likely report its eighth largest annual net increase in the number of stakes in its history.

Percentage growth rates indicate less significant stake growth trends in 2016. The preliminary 2016 annual percentage growth in the number of stakes is 2.7% - the most rapid percentage growth since 1998. However, this percentage growth currently ranks as 33rd within the past 67 years. The Church has previously reported percentage growth rates four times as high as for 2016. For example, 10% or greater annual stake growth occurred for five years: 1978 (11.9%), 1980 (11.5%), 1977 (10.9%), 1979 (10.3%), and 1960 (10.0%). If the Church reported 10% annual growth for the number of stakes in 2016, there would be a net increase of 317 stakes.

Below is a list of the annual net increase of stakes since 1950:

1950 +5
1951 +11
1952 +11
1953 +9
1954 +8
1955 +5
1956 +15
1957 +12
1958 +22
1959 +17
1960 +29
1961 +26
1962 +19
1963 +25
1964 +11
1965 +12
1966 +13
1967 +23
1968 +25
1969 +23
1970 +41
1971 +25
1972 +30
1973 +38
1974 +45
1975 +62
1976 +61
1977 +87
1978 +105
1979 +102
1980 +126
1981 +103
1982 +71
1983 +66
1984 +49
1985 +75
1986 +40
1987 +44
1988 +41
1989 +32
1990 +45
1991 +53
1992 +82
1993 +49
1994 +40
1995 +142
1996 +146
1997 +128
1998 +81
1999 +37
2000 +39
2001 +26
2002 -5
2003 +22
2004 +41
2005 +36
2006 +44
2007 +45
2008 +28
2009 +47
2010 +31
2011 +50
2012 +59
2013 +45
2014 +64
2015 +60
2016* +87 

Below is a list of the number of stakes per year and the annual percentage growth of stakes per year since 1950.

(Year, Number of Stakes, Percentage Growth)
1950     180     2.9%
1951     191     6.1%
1952     202     5.8%
1953     211     4.5%
1954     219     3.8%
1955     224     2.3%
1956     239     6.7%
1957     251     5.0%
1958     273     8.8%
1959     290     6.2%
1960     319     10.0%
1961     345     8.2%
1962     364     5.5%
1963     389     6.9%
1964     400     2.8%
1965     412     3.0%
1966     425     3.2%
1967     448     5.4%
1968     473     5.6%
1969     496     4.9%
1970     537     8.3%
1971     562     4.7%
1972     592     5.3%
1973     630     6.4%
1974     675     7.1%
1975     737     9.2%
1976     798     8.3%
1977     885     10.9%
1978     990     11.9%
1979     1,092     10.3%
1980     1,218     11.5%
1981     1,321     8.5%
1982     1,392     5.4%
1983     1,458     4.7%
1984     1,507     3.4%
1985     1,582     5.0%
1986     1,622     2.5%
1987     1,666     2.7%
1988     1,707     2.5%
1989     1,739     1.9%
1990     1,784     2.6%
1991     1,837     3.0%
1992     1,919     4.5%
1993     1,968     2.6%
1994     2,008     2.0%
1995     2,150     7.1%
1996     2,296     6.8%
1997     2,424     5.6%
1998     2,505     3.3%
1999     2,542     1.5%
2000     2,581     1.5%
2001     2,607     1.0%
2002     2,602     -0.2%
2003     2,624     0.8%
2004     2,665     1.6%
2005     2,701     1.4%
2006     2,745     1.6%
2007     2,790     1.6%
2008     2,818     1.0%
2009     2,865     1.7%
2010     2,896     1.1%
2011     2,946     1.7%
2012     3,005     2.0%
2013     3,050     1.5%
2014     3,114     2.1%
2015     3,174     1.9%
2016*     3,261     2.7%

85 New Stakes in 2016 and Counting

The year 2016 has been an extraordinary year for stake creations. Thus far, there have been 85 new stakes organized since January 1st, 2016. The geographical breakdown of these new stakes is as follows: 39 in North America (46%), 16 in Africa (19%), 13 in South America (15%), 7 in Central America (8%), 5 in Oceania (6%), 4 in Asia (5%), and 1 in Europe (1%). Locations where the most new stakes have been organized include Arizona (10), Brazil (8), Texas (8), Nigeria (6), Utah (6), Honduras (4), Washington (4), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (3), and Ghana (3).

The last time the Church had organized as many new stakes in a single year was in 1997 when 125 new stakes were organized. Stake growth is a robust indicator of "real growth" in the LDS Church as stakes require certain minimum requirements to operate (e.g. number of active, full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders [AFTPMP]; number of congregations; ratio of AFTPMP to general church membership; etc). Thus, accelerated stake growth in 2016 constitutes a noteworthy development in regards to the growth of the Church.

I have received firm confirmations of three additional stakes and reports of a nine additional stakes to be organized by the end of the year. Given stake growth trends thus far in 2016 and reports of many more new stakes to be created by the end of the year, it appears likely that the Church may create as many as 100 new stakes in 2016. If you have information about a new stake to be organized in your area, please comment.

Worldwide Stake Growth Accelerating in 2016

The Church organized at least six new stakes on March 20th - the largest number of new stakes organized on a single day since June 15th, 2014 when seven new stakes were organized. Thus far, the Church has organized 21 new stakes in 2016 - the largest number of new stakes created during the first three months of the year since 1998 when 24 new stakes were organized during the first quarter of the year. Accelerated stake growth in 2016 has thus far appeared attributed to steady growth in the United States and a few Latin American countries (e.g. Brazil, Guatemala). It is too early to tell whether this recent surge in new stake creations will continue. It is also unclear whether this increase is indicative of larger numbers of convert baptisms, more self-sufficient and better qualified local church leadership, and/or improved convert retention and member activity rates. However, reports I have received indicate that several new stakes will be organized in the next month or so, including two new stakes in Hong Kong, a new stake in Honduras, and the Church's first stake in Benin.

New Stakes Created in Brazil, Honduras, Peru, Texas, and Washington; District Discontined in Chile

Brazil
The Church organized a new stake in Alagoas State, Brazil on January 24th. The Maceió Brazil Colina Stake appeared to be organized from a division of the Maceió Brazil Stake. Information on congregations assigned to the new stake is currently unavailable.

There are now six stakes in Alagoas State. There are now 257 stakes and 39 districts in Brazil.

Honduras
The Church organized a new stake in northern Honduras on January 24th. The Palermo Honduras Stake was organized from a division of the San Pedro Honduras El Progreso Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Bendeck, La Sarrosas, Las Palmeras, Palermo, and Santa Rita Wards and the Morazan Branch.

There are now 24 stakes and seven districts in Honduras.

Peru
Local members in Peru report that the Church organized a new stake in the Lima area on January 17th. The Barranca Peru Stake was organized from the Barranca Peru District. No information is currently available on which branches in the former district have become wards. Established in 1979, the Barranca Peru District numbered among the oldest in the Church in Peru.

There are now 101 stakes and 19 districts in Peru.

Texas
Two new stakes have been organized in Texas.

The Church organized a new stake in El Paso on January 17th. The new stake was organized from the El Paso Texas and the El Paso Texas Mount Franklin Stakes. The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the El Paso 1st, El Paso 3rd (Spanish), El Paso 4th, El Paso 12th (Spanish), Hondo Pass, and Transmountain (Spanish) Wards and the Chaparral Branch (Spanish). There are now three stakes in El Paso.

The Church organized its seventh stake in San Antonio on January 24th. The new stake was organized from a division of the San Antonio Texas Hill Country and San Antonio Texas West Stakes. The new stake includes the following seven wards and one branch: the Boerne, Fair Oaks, Kerrville, Leon Springs, Leon Valley, Parkwood, and San Antonio 9th Wards and the Balcones Branch (Spanish).

There are now 67 stakes and three districts in Texas.

Washington
The Church organized a new stake in the Vancouver area on January 24th. The Ridgefield Washington Stake was organized from a division of the Vancouver Washington North and Vancouver Washington West Stakes. The new stake includes the following six wards: the Alpine Heights, Battle Ground 1st, Battle Ground 2nd, La Center, Ridgefield, and Salmon Creek Wards.

There are now 58 stakes in Washington.

Chile
The Church discontinued a district in southern Chile. The Los Lagos Chile District was discontinued and its five branches were reassigned to the Valdivia Chile and Valdivia Chile Calle Calle Stakes.

There are now 77 stakes and 17 districts in Chile.

The Church will organize at least 10 stakes during the month of January based on reports I have received - the largest number of stakes organized during the month of January since 1995 (11 new stakes were organized in January 1995). The largest number of stakes ever organized during January was set in 1988 when 16 stakes were organized (primarily due to the organization of seven new stakes in Lima, Peru in one weekend). The second most stakes ever organized during the month of January was in 1995 (11 stakes) and the third most stakes ever organized during the month of January was in 1982 (10 stakes).

At Least 66 New Stakes in 2015 - Highest Number Since 1998; At Least 32 New Districts in 2015 - Highest Number since 1994

With the announcement of three new stakes created on December 13th, the Church in 2015 has organized the largest number of new stakes since 1998. Accelerated stake growth in recent years has resulted from the organization of new stakes by dividing previously operating stakes and the advancement of districts into stakes. Slight accelerations in congregational growth rates have also prompted larger numbers of new stakes. Of the 66 stakes organized in 2015, 22 were created from member districts. In 2014, 20 of the 64 stakes organized were created from districts. The net increase of stakes in 2015 was lower than 2014 as the Church has discontinued seven stakes in 2015, whereas only one stake was discontinued in 2014.

District growth has also significantly accelerated in 2015. The Church has reported at least 32 new districts organized in 2015 - the largest number reported by the Church since 1994 when there was a net increase of 62 districts (and as many as 74 districts may have been organized in 1994). However, the Church has thus far reported a net decrease of three districts in 2015 as 13 districts were discontinued and 22 districts advanced into stakes.

These developments signal a modest improvement in "real growth" trends for the Church. It is important to note that the Church experienced its greatest numerical increases in stakes and districts during the late 1970s and in the 1990s notwithstanding fewer missionaries serving and fewer members of the Church. In the past couple years, stake and district growth has accelerated in Sub-Saharan Africa,  Asia, and Oceania, but has slowed or has stagnated in Latin America and Europe.

Final, official numbers for the number of stakes and districts at year-end 2015 will be available in April 2016 when the Church presents its annual statistical report.

Stake and District Database

After four months of development, we have completed a comprehensive database listing all of the Church's stakes and districts known to have ever operated. Information in the database includes the name of each stake or district and its corresponding country, administration division, creation date, former names, parent stake or district, notes, discontinuation date (when applicable), and reasons for discontinuation (if known). We hope that this database will be utilized by researchers and the public to promote greater interest and scholarship in the study of the growth of the LDS Church. If you notice any errors in the database or have something to add, please contact me by commenting to this blog post.

The database can be accessed here and may be viewed in Google Sheets or downloaded into Microsoft Excel.

3,100 Stakes

In September, the Church reached the milestone of 3,100 stakes. The Church reached 3,000 stakes in December 2012, indicating that it has taken less than two years for the number of stakes to increase by 100. For the past four years (2011-2014) the Church has had a net increase of 45 or more stakes a year. This is the longest streak of larger numbers of stakes being created within a four-year time period since the four-year period including the years 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. As stakes have the most rigorous standards for member activity rates, this recent development suggests some real, measurable progress in rectifying some inactivity and convert attrition problems.

With three more months remaining in 2014, this year is shaping out to be the largest net increase in the number of stakes since 1998. Currently 50 stakes have been organized in 2014, with many more to be created in the coming month or two. I predict that we may experience a net increase of 70 stakes in 2014 as new stake creations generally pick up in November in December based on recent trends over the past few years.

3,000th Stake Milestone Reached

Last Sunday, the Church created its 3,000th stake.  The Church designated the Freetown Sierra Leone Stake as its 3,000th stake as several new stakes were organized last Sunday.  On cumorah.com, I recently wrote an analysis on reaching the 3,000th stake milestone and factors that influence stake growth.  Please click here to access the case study on Google docs.  We are currently revamping the website and will post the case study on the website in the near future.

The Church reached its 1,000 stake milestone in 1979 and its 2,000 stake milestone in 1994. 

Increased Rate of the Number of Stake Organizations in 2011

The pace at which new LDS stakes have been organized in 2011 has increased compared to the pace of stake organizations in other years over the past decade.  No other year has experienced as many new stakes organized within the first six months of the year as 2011 since 1998 when the number of LDS stakes increased by 81 for the entire year.  The annual change in the number of stakes operating in the Church ranged from a high of 47 in 2009 to a low of -5 in 2002.  Currently the number of stakes has increased by 37 during 2011; a greater increase than all but four years for the LDS Church in the 2000s.  At present 42 stakes have been created and five stakes have been discontinued in 2011.  The increased rate of stake organizations in 2011 has been primarily attributed to the creation of ten new young single adult (YSA) stakes in Utah and the maturation of nine districts into stakes rather than the creation of new stakes from preexisting stakes.  Notwithstanding the accelerated pace at which new stakes have been organized this year, the number of new stakes organized remains far below many years of more rapid growth between the late 1970s and late 1990s when the number of stakes regularly increased by over 50 a year and at times over 100.  Increased church growth  for the LDS Church may be demonstrated if the pace at which new stakes is organized continues to hold steady for the remainder of 2011 and in the coming years as certain standards for the number of active members are required for stakes to operate.  However the rate at which new congregations are organized appears to be only a third of the rate at which membership is growing, suggesting that inactivity and retention challenges for new converts persist.

A list of the number of LDS stakes operating at the end of every year from 1975 to 2007 can be found here.  The number of stakes in the Church increased by 28 in 2008, 47 in 2009, and 31 in 2010.