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| − | [[image: Mormon_Congregation.jpg|400px|thumb|right|alt=Mormon Congregation|frame|As of end 2023, there were 17.25 million Latter-day Saints worldwide]] Worldwide, there were 17,255,394 members of [http://comeuntochrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] at the end of 2023. [https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2024/06/08/charts-growth-church-jesus-christ-latter-day-saints-1830-2023-member-temples-wards-stakes/] | + | [[image: Mormon_Congregation.jpg|400px|thumb|right|alt=Mormon Congregation|frame|As of the end of 2023, there were 17.25 million Latter-day Saints worldwide]] |
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| − | In North America the Church of Jesus Christ is the 4th largest individual denomination with over 6 million members, a population about equal to the number of [[Muslims]]. The Church had a healthy growth rate in the United States of 1.74% during 2006, and 1.42% in 2010 (while 1.5 million North Americans ceased to worship at any church in 2010). (To see comparative sizes of the 25 largest U.S. churches, go to the National Council of Churches website [http://www.ncccusa.org/news/060330yearbook1.html]) During 2010, the [[Mormon Church]] was one of only four religions in America to experience growth.
| + | Worldwide, there were 17,255,394 members of [http://comeuntochrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] at the end of 2023. [https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2024/06/08/charts-growth-church-jesus-christ-latter-day-saints-1830-2023-member-temples-wards-stakes/] |
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| − | Only 12% of all Mormons live in [[Utah]]. Most Mormons do not live in North America.
| + | In June 2024, the Church News released graphics showing the growth of the church from membership of six individuals on April 6, 1830—the day the Church was organized, to the end of 2023. |
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| − | Aside from the United States, other regions with significant Mormon populations include Mexico and Asia (1 million members each), South America (3 million members), and Central America and Europe (about half a million each). The rapid growth the Church has been experiencing in Africa, where there are already a quarter of a million members, is particularly exciting.
| + | [[Image:membership statistic-2023.png|400px|thumb|center|frame|Church News graphic]] |
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| − | After [[Catholicism|the Catholic Church]], the LDS Church is the largest sect in ten U.S. states.
| + | In a statement released through the Church newsroom, "despite its increasing numbers, the Church cautions against overemphasis on growth statistics. The Church makes no statistical comparisons with other churches and makes no claim to be the fastest-growing Christian denomination despite frequent news media comments to that effect. Such comparisons rarely take account of a multiplicity of complex factors, including activity rates and death rates, the methodology used in registering or counting members and what factors constitute membership. Growth rates also vary significantly across the world. Additionally, many other factors contribute to the strength of the Church, most especially the devotion and commitment of its members. |
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| − | == Religious Alliances ==
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| − | One way to classify religions is by grouping them into religious alliances. Religious alliances include those churches with central leadership and doctrinal uniformity (e.g. the Catholic Church) as well as those that lack central leadership. An example of the latter type is the “Assembly of God alliance,” which is comprised of many churches that are generally classified together even though each congregation has autonomy to teach as it pleases.
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| − | The LDS Church is the 15th largest religious alliance in the world and the 8th largest international religious alliance. | |
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| − | == Religious Bodies ==
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| − | When one considers only religious bodies, i.e. those religions with central leadership and doctrinal unity...
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| − | The LDS Church is the 9th largest religious body in the world and the 4th largest international religious body.
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| − | (Note that for some religions, particularly the Eastern Orthodox Church, classification as a unified religious body was hard to determine.)
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| − | == Ubiquity ==
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| − | It is also interesting to consider those religions that are the most ubiquitous (meaning most likely to have a meeting place "near you").
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| − | The LDS Church is the 5th most ubiquitous religious alliance in the world and the 4th most ubiquitous religious body.
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| − | == Worldwide Statistics ==
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| − | LDS Worldwide Statistics (2004)[http://www.allaboutmormons.com/number_of_mormons.php]:
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| − | Tonga: 46.0%.
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| − | Samoa: 36.0%.
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| − | American Samoa: 24.1%.
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| − | Niue: 12.0%.
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| − | Kiribati: 10.7%.
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| − | Tahiti: 7.8%.
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| − | Cook Islands: 8.3%.
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| − | Marshall Islands: 7.0%.
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| − | Chile: 3.3%.
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| − | Palau: 2.1%.
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| − | USA: 1.9%.
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| − | Uruguay: 2.5%.
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| − | New Zealand: 2.35%.
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| − | Guatemala: 1.34%.
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| − | Honduras: 1.6%.
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| − | Bolivia: 1.6%.
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| − | Ecuador: 1.2%.
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| − | Peru: 1.4%.
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| − | Belize: 1.0%.
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| − | Approximate, as of end 2010:
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| − | USA: 6,145,000.
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| − | Mexico: 1,235,000.
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| − | Brazil: 1,139,000.
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| − | Chile: 564,000.
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| − | Philippines: 646,000.
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| − | Peru: 494,000.
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| − | Argentina: 389,000.
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| − | United Kingdom: 187,000.
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| − | Guatemala: 226,000
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| − | Canada: 182,000.
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| − | Nigeria: 98,000.
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| − | Worldwide, there are over 28,000 LDS congregations, and the basic Church curriculum text is available in over 175 languages. The Church creates about two new congregations every day.
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| − | The majority of Mormons worldwide (55%) are not Caucasian.
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| − | There are estimated to be between 350,000 and 500,000 members of the Church with African heritage, though exact numbers are unknown because the Church does not keep track of the race of its members. Over 150,000 live in Africa, 10,000 (or more) in Brazil, 20,000 in the Caribbean, and perhaps as many as 50,000 in the U.S.
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| − | 70% of Mormons worldwide were not born into the faith.
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| − | == U.S. Statistics ==
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| − | LDS U.S. Statistics (2006):
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| − | Utah: 71.76%. (11/2007 news reports in Utah declare a new low of 60.7%) [http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/244242/]
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| − | Idaho: 27%.
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| − | Wyoming: 11%.
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| − | Nevada: 7.1%.
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| − | Arizona: 6.0%.
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| − | Montana: 4.6%.
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| − | Hawaii: 5.1%.
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| − | Oregon: 4.0%.
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| − | Washington: 3.9%.
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| − | Alaska: 4.2%.
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| − | The following statistics are from 2010 [http://newsroom.lds.org/country/usa]:
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| − | Utah: 1,910,343.
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| − | California: 763,370.
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| − | Idaho: 414,182.
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| − | Arizona: 387,950.
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| − | Washington: 267,927.
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| − | Texas: 296,141.
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| − | Oregon: 147,965.
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| − | Nevada: 175,149.
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| − | Colorado: 142,473.
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| − | Florida: 136,549.
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| − | Some surveys suggest that the LDS Church has the highest U.S. attendance and service rates.
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| − | == Growth Rate ==
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| − | The growth of the LDS Church is among the fastest of any denomination on the planet.
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| − | In the last 50 years, membership has increased ten-fold.
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| − | For the last 15 years, an average of 800 people have joined the LDS Church every day.
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| − | Absolute growth is greatest in Latin America, but the rate of growth is highest in Africa and the former Soviet bloc. East Asia also has a high conversion rate.
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| − | In 1984, a prominent non-LDS researcher estimated that our membership would top 265 million by 2080 and said we would be the “first 'new' major world religion since Islam.” So far growth has exceeded his model's predictions. [http://www.mormontimes.com/article/19452/14-million-Mormons-and-counting]
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| − | [[Image:ChurchGrowth.gif]]
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| | ==See Also== | | ==See Also== |
In June 2024, the Church News released graphics showing the growth of the church from membership of six individuals on April 6, 1830—the day the Church was organized, to the end of 2023.
In a statement released through the Church newsroom, "despite its increasing numbers, the Church cautions against overemphasis on growth statistics. The Church makes no statistical comparisons with other churches and makes no claim to be the fastest-growing Christian denomination despite frequent news media comments to that effect. Such comparisons rarely take account of a multiplicity of complex factors, including activity rates and death rates, the methodology used in registering or counting members and what factors constitute membership. Growth rates also vary significantly across the world. Additionally, many other factors contribute to the strength of the Church, most especially the devotion and commitment of its members.
