[United States of America]

LDS Membership: 6,321,416 (2012)

In 1973, there were 2.53 million members, 97.4% of which resided in a stake.[3] Membership increased to 3.05 million in 1983, 4.1 million in 1987, 4.52 million in 1993, 4.92 million in 1997, and 5.21 million in 2000. There were 5.41 million members in 2002, 5.6 million in 2004, 5.78 million in 2006, 5.97 million in 2008, and 6.14 million in 2010. Church membership generally increased by approximately 100,000 a year. During the 2000s, annual membership growth rates ranged from a high of 1.95% in 2001 to a low of 1.41% in 2010 and generally decreased year to year. Increase of children on record in the United States may account for 50% or more of the worldwide increase.

During the 2000s membership growth was highest in the District of Columbia (87%), Tennessee (44%), Iowa and Kentucky (37%), and Texas and North Dakota (35%) whereas membership growth was lowest in California (2%), Oregon (9%), New Hampshire (10%), Michigan (11%), and Vermont (13%). In 2010, states with the most Latter-day Saints included Utah (1.91 million), California (763,370), Idaho (414,182), Arizona (387,950), and Texas (296,141). Overall membership increased by 18% between 2000 and 2010 in the United States.

In 2010, approximately one in 50 was nominally LDS (1.96%) whereas in 2000 one in 54 was nominally LDS (1.85%). The Pew Forum reported that Latter-day Saints comprised 1.7% of the United States population in 2009.[4] States with the highest percentage of Latter-day Saints in 2010 included Utah (69.1%), Idaho (26.4%), Wyoming (11.2%), Nevada (6.5%), and Arizona (6.1%) whereas New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania had the lowest (less than 0.4%). The greatest increase in the percentage of members in the general population between 2000 and 2010 occurred in Hawaii (0.43%), Alaska (0.41%), North Dakota (0.24%), and

Montana and West Virginia (0.22%) whereas the percentage of members in the general population declined in Utah (-3.87%), Nevada (-0.93%), Idaho (-0.51%), California (-0.16%), Oregon (-0.12), and Arizona (-0.04%).

Congregational Growth

Wards: 11,831 Branches 1,950 (April 2013)

There were 8,682 congregations in 1987, including 7,456 wards. The number of congregations increased to 10,013 in 1993, 10,811 in 1997, and 11,562 in 2000. There were 11,879 congregations in 2002, 12,463 in 2004, 13,010 in 2006, 13,363 in 2008, and 13,601 in 2010.

The number of wards increased to 8,433 in 1993, 9,189 in 1997, and 9,853 in 2000. There were 10,158 wards in 2002, 10,567 in 2004, 10,978 in 2006, 11,289 in 2008, and approximately 11,560 in 2010. The first stake in the LDS Church was organized in Kirtland, Ohio in February 1834 followed by a second stake in Clay-Caldwell, Missouri later that year. By 1840, there were ten stakes in the United States, most of which were in Illinois. As a result of the exodus of Latter-day Saints to Utah in the mid-1840s, all stakes were discontinued by 1846. A stake was established in Salt Lake in 1847 and the number of stakes increased to four in 1860, nine in 1870, and 23 in 1880. By the 1930s there were over 100 stakes in the United States. There were 537 stakes in 1973 and 1,108 stakes and 18 districts in 1987. The number of stakes increased to 1,169 in 1993, 1,257 in 1997, and 1,310 in 2000. There were 1,336 stakes in 2002, 1,380 in 2004, 1,410 in 2006, 1,438 in 2008, and 1,465 in 2010. In April 2011, states with the most stakes included Utah (550), California (158), Idaho (121), Arizona (91), and Texas and Washington (56). North Dakota became the last state to have an LDS stake organized in 1977.

Between 2000 and 2010 congregational growth was most rapid in Delaware (63%), Virginia (33%), North Carolina (32%), and Texas and Tennessee (29%) whereas congregational decline occurred in Louisiana (-18%), Connecticut and New York (-6%), Maryland (-5%), and New Jersey (-3%). During this period, the number of congregations increased by 2,039 in the United States; states with the largest increases in congregations were Utah (962), Idaho (229), Arizona (158), Texas (130), and Washington (49). The number of districts has declined over the past two decades from 16 in 1993 to 14 in 2004, 13 in 2006, 12 in 2008, and 10 in 2010. Districts currently function in Texas and New York (3) and Utah, Michigan, New Jersey, and South Dakota (1).

[Nigeria]

LDS Membership: 109,998 (2012)

In the 1960s, there were approximately 16,000 self-identified Nigerian Latter-day Saints meeting in over 60 congregations. In 1983, there were 2,255 Latter-day Saints. Membership reached 8,000 in 1987, 22,000 in 1993, 33,000 in 1997, and 49,935 in 2000. There were 60,087 Latter-day Saints in 2002, 68,777 in 2004, 79,482 in 2006, 88,374 in 2008, and 98,359 in 2010. During the 2000s, LDS annual membership growth rates decreased from 6-11% between 2001 and 2006 to 5-6% from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, one in 1,578 was LDS.

[Cote D'Ivoire]

LDS Membership: 18,602 (2012)

The LDS Church has consistently experienced rapid membership growth on Cote d'Ivoire. There was 16Latter-day Saints living in Cote d'Ivoire in 1987. By May of 1991, there were 600 members. Menbership reached 2,500 in 1996 and 6,178 by year-end 2000. THere were 7,840 members in 2002, 9,345 in 2004, 11,341 in 2006, and 13,245 in 2008. Annual membership growth rates during the 2000s ranged from a low of 6.3% in 2008 to a high of 13.7% in 2002 but averaged around 10%. In 2009, one in 1,461 was LDS.

[Mexico]

LDS Membership: 1,317,700 (2012)

In 1942, there were 5,300 Latter-day Saints. In 1947, there were less than 5,000 members, half of whom resided in the Mormon colonies. By 1961, membership totalled 25,000. Membership reached 100,000 in 1972, 150,000 in 1976, and 240,000 in 1983. There were over 500,000 Latter-day Saints in 1989.

By year-end 2000, there were 884,071 members. Membership steadily increased during the 2000s, reaching 980,053 in 2003, 1.044 million in 2005, and 1.158 million in 2008. Annual membership growth rates varied from a low of 2.8% in 2003 to a high of 3.95% in 2001. Membership generally increases arithmetically by approximately 40,000 per year. In 2009, one in ninety-three was nominally LDS.

. . .

Activity and Retention

In 2008, 87,000 attended a cultural night preceding the dedication of the Mexico City Mexico Temple in what is believed to be the largest live audience to be addressed by a Church president. 47,089 were enrolled in seminary and institute during the 2008-2009 school year. The average number of members per congregation increased from 499 in 2000 to 597 in 2009. Member activity rates widely vary by congregation. Many wards have over 150 active members and others fewer than 80 active members. Most appear to have over 125 active members. Some branches have well over 100 active members or fewer than 20 active members but most seem to have 60 to 80 active members. In the 2000 census, only 205,229 persons identified as a Latter-day Saint, just 23% of the number of members reported by the LDS Church at year-end 2000. Current nationwide active membership is estimated at between 250,000 and 300,000, or 20-25% of total membership.

[Australia]

LDS Membership: 136,617 (2012)

In 1900, there were 300 Latter-day Saints. Membership increased to 2,000 by 1940 and 7,000 by 1960. Membership stood at 25,000 in 1970, 40,000 in 1980, and 76,000 in 1990. Most stakes in the Sydney area baptized over 100 converts annually during the early 1990s. In 1998, Church membership reached 100,000. Church membership growth slowed in the early 2000s but accelerated in the late 2000s. Membership increased to 105,087 in 2002, 111,098 in 2005, and 123,650 in 2008. 2001 was the only year in the 2000s that experienced membership decline. Annual membership growth rates fluctuated from a low of -0.6% in 2001 to a high of 5.2% in 2005 and generally ranged from 2 to 4%.

The Australia census has reported increases in Latter-day Saint membership from 35,500 in 1986 to 45,200 in 1996, and 53,100 in 2006. LDS Church figures for membership were reported at approximately 60,000 in 1986, 87,000 in 1996, and 116,925 in 2006. The percentage of members on LDS Church records that self-identified on the Australian census declined from 59% in 1986 to 52% in 1996 and 45% in 2006. In 2009, one in 170 was nominally LDS.

[Germany]

LDS Membership: 38,739 (2012)

Membership increased from 13,829 in 1975 to 29,900 in 1985. There were 27,506 members in West Germany in 1983. Membership in both Germanys totaled 36,600 in 1987, 36,000 in 1993, 36,000 in 1997, and 36,359 in 2000. In the 2000s, extremely slow membership growth occurred as membership reached 36,704 in 2002, 37,063 in 2004, 37,478 in 2006, 37,539 in 2008, and 38,257 in 2010. Annual membership growth rates during the 2000s ranged from a low of -0.9% in 2007 to a high of 1.2% in 2010 and generally varied between zero and one percent. In 2010, one in 2,130 was nominally LDS.