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Membership history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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The self-reported membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) as of December 31, 2023, was 17,255,394.[1]

Membership defined

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The LDS Church defines membership as:[2]

  1. Those who have been baptized and confirmed.
  2. Those under age nine who have been blessed but not baptized.
  3. Those who are born to members but are not accountable because of intellectual disabilities, regardless of age.
  4. Unblessed children under age eight when:
    1. Two member parents request it; or
    2. One member parent requests it and the nonmember parent gives permission.

Growth and demographic history

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The records of the LDS Church show membership growth every decade since its beginning in the 1830s, although that has slowed significantly. Following initial growth rates that averaged 10% to 25% per year in the 1830s through 1850s, it grew at about 4% per year through the last four decades of the 19th century. After a steady slowing of growth in the first four decades of the 20th century to a rate of about 2% per year in the 1930s (the Great Depression years), growth boomed to an average of 6% per year for the decade around 1960, staying around 4% to 5% through 1990. After 1990, average annual growth again slowed steadily to a rate around 2.2% for the ten years ending 2015, approximately double the average world population growth rate of 1.1% for the same period. The growth rate has not been greater than 3% per year in the 21st century and has decelerated steadily since 2012. The rate has not been above 2% since 2013. In May 2019, however, Phil Zuckerman, Ph.D., of Psychology Today expressed skepticism of how the LDS Church reports robust growth in membership, noting that while church membership was reported to be rising, separate analysis conducted by journalist Jana Riess argued that US retention, religious participation, and belief have been decelerating since 2007.[3]

Riess made a US study in her book The Next Mormons.[3][4] Book reviewer Stephen Cranney stated in his review of The Next Mormons that the book "fill[s] the need for a large, representative Latter-day Saint sample."[4] Cranney also stated that "Media outlets and others will occasionally perform one-off surveys that gather Latter-day Saint responses to specific (often political) issues, but generally social scientists, the media, and the public are flying in the dark when it comes to finding representative numbers about Latter-day Saint attitudes and beliefs. Furthermore, the few surveys that do have large numbers of Latter-day Saints (such as the American Religious Identification Survey or the Pew Religious Landscape Surveys) are generic religion surveys, so questions do not reflect concerns, language, or concepts specific to Latter-day Saints."[4]

The church maintains a membership record for every person who meets the church's membership criteria and has it recorded, so verification of the exact number who belong to the church is readily obtainable by church leaders.[citation needed]

LDS Church membership numbers

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LDS Church membership from 1830-2022
LDS Church growth rate vs world growth rate from 1980-2021
LDS Church growth rate from 1900-2022

Table for recent growth

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World population numbers as of April 7, 2024.[5]

Year LDS Church growth rate World growth rate Growth rate difference
1980 5.35% 1.70% 3.65%
1981 6.05% 1.75% 4.30%
1982 4.92% 1.76% 3.16%
1983 3.66% 1.70% 1.96%
1984 5.41% 1.69% 3.72%
1985 4.94% 1.71% 3.23%
1986 4.18% 1.74% 2.44%
1987 3.69% 1.72% 1.97%
1988 5.11% 1.69% 3.42%
1989 8.74% 1.68% 7.06%
1990 6.19% 1.57% 4.62%
1991 4.23% 1.55% 2.68%
1992 3.88% 1.50% 2.38%
1993 3.39% 1.45% 1.94%
1994 3.86% 1.44% 2.42%
1995 3.48% 1.41% 2.07%
1996 3.79% 1.38% 2.41%
1997 3.91% 1.34% 2.57%
1998 2.80% 1.31% 1.49%
1999 3.85% 1.28% 2.57%
2000 2.94% 1.26% 1.68%
2001 2.94% 1.23% 1.71%
2002 2.87% 1.21% 1.66%
2003 2.25% 1.21% 1.04%
2004 2.42% 1.20% 1.22%
2005 2.32% 1.19% 1.13%
2006 2.45% 1.18% 1.27%
2007 2.52% 1.18% 1.34%
2008 2.38% 1.17% 1.21%
2009 2.34% 1.15% 1.19%
2010 2.22% 1.13% 1.09%
2011 2.19% 1.11% 1.08%
2012 2.31% 1.11% 1.20%
2013 2.03% 1.09% 0.94%
2014 1.92% 1.08% 0.84%
2015 1.70% 1.19%[6] 0.51%
2016 1.59% 1.14%[6] 0.45%
2017 1.47% 1.12% 0.35%
2018 1.21% 1.09% 0.12%
2019 1.54% 1.08% 0.46%
2020 0.60% 0.98%[7] -0.38%
2021 0.85% 0.87% -0.02%
2022 1.17% 0.83% 0.34%
2023 1.49% 0.88%[8] 0.61%

Table for LDS Church membership numbers

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Membership numbers from 1830-2011 come from the 2013 Church Almanac.[9]

Year Membership Number change Percentage growth Average % growth

(starting 1860 on)

7-Year Average

(3 years either side)

1829 6 6 0 N/A N/A
1830 280 274 4566.67% N/A N/A
1831 680 400 142.86% N/A N/A
1832 2,661 1,981 291.32% N/A N/A
1833 3,140 479 18.00% N/A N/A
1834 4,372 1,232 39.24% N/A N/A
1835 8,835 4,463 102.08% N/A N/A
1836 13,293 4,458 50.46% N/A N/A
1837 16,282 2,989 22.49% N/A N/A
1838 17,881 1,599 9.82% N/A N/A
1839 16,460 -1,421 -7.95% N/A N/A
1840 16,865 405 2.46% N/A N/A
1841 19,856 2,991 17.73% N/A N/A
1842 23,564 3,708 18.67% N/A N/A
1843 25,980 2,416 10.25% N/A N/A
1844 26,146 166 0.64% N/A N/A
1845 30,332 4,186 16.01% N/A N/A
1846 33,993 3,661 12.07% N/A N/A
1847 34,694 701 2.06% N/A N/A
1848 40,477 5,783 16.67% N/A N/A
1849 48,160 7,683 18.98% N/A N/A
1850 51,839 3,679 7.64% N/A N/A
1851 52,165 326 0.63% N/A N/A
1852 52,640 475 0.91% N/A N/A
1853 64,154 11,514 21.87% N/A N/A
1854 68,429 4,275 6.66% N/A N/A
1855 63,974 -4,455 -6.51% N/A N/A
1856 63,881 -93 -0.15% N/A N/A
1857 55,236 -8,645 -13.53% N/A N/A
1858 55,755 519 0.94% N/A N/A
1859 57,038 1,283 2.30% N/A N/A
1860 61,082 4,044 7.09% 7.09% 1.92%
1861 66,211 5,129 8.40% 7.75% 4.36%
1862 68,780 2,569 3.88% 6.46% 4.70%
1863 71,770 2,990 4.35% 5.93% 4.57%
1864 74,348 2,578 3.59% 5.46% 4.16%
1865 76,771 2,423 3.26% 5.10% 3.57%
1866 77,884 1,113 1.45% 4.57% 3.66%
1867 81,124 3,240 4.16% 4.52% 3.31%
1868 84,622 3,498 4.31% 4.50% 3.67%
1869 88,432 3,810 4.50% 4.50% 3.58%
1870 90,130 1,698 1.92% 4.26% 3.87%
1871 95,596 5,466 6.06% 4.41% 3.61%
1872 98,152 2,556 2.67% 4.28% 3.44%
1873 101,538 3,386 3.45% 4.22% 3.32%
1874 103,916 2,378 2.34% 4.10% 3.56%
1875 107,167 3,251 3.13% 4.04% 3.93%
1876 111,111 3,944 3.68% 4.01% 3.93%
1877 115,065 3,954 3.56% 3.99% 4.02%
1878 125,046 9,981 8.67% 4.24% 4.44%
1879 128,386 3,340 2.67% 4.16% 4.49%
1880 133,628 5,242 4.08% 4.15% 4.55%
1881 140,733 7,105 5.32% 4.21% 4.67%
1882 145,604 4,871 3.46% 4.17% 3.96%
1883 151,593 5,989 4.11% 4.17% 3.80%
1884 158,242 6,649 4.39% 4.18% 3.77%
1885 164,130 5,888 3.72% 4.16% 3.61%
1886 166,653 2,523 1.54% 4.07% 3.34%
1887 173,029 6,376 3.83% 4.06% 3.15%
1888 180,294 7,265 4.20% 4.06% 3.07%
1889 183,144 2,850 1.58% 3.98% 2.94%
1890 188,263 5,119 2.80% 3.94% 3.68%
1891 195,445 7,182 3.81% 3.94% 3.66%
1892 200,961 5,516 2.82% 3.90% 3.62%
1893 214,534 13,573 6.75% 3.99% 4.03%
1894 222,369 7,835 3.65% 3.98% 4.48%
1895 231,116 8,747 3.93% 3.98% 4.58%
1896 241,427 10,311 4.46% 3.99% 4.41%
1897 255,736 14,309 5.93% 4.04% 4.08%
1898 267,251 11,515 4.50% 4.05% 4.02%
1899 271,681 4,430 1.66% 3.99% 3.76%
1900 283,765 12,084 4.45% 4.00% 3.40%
1901 292,931 9,166 3.23% 3.98% 3.46%
1902 299,105 6,174 2.11% 3.94% 3.16%
1903 304,901 5,796 1.94% 3.90% 3.48%
1904 324,289 19,388 6.36% 3.95% 3.38%
1905 332,048 7,759 2.39% 3.92% 3.46%
1906 345,014 12,966 3.90% 3.92% 3.38%
1907 357,913 12,899 3.74% 3.91% 3.91%
1908 371,472 13,559 3.79% 3.91% 3.32%
1909 377,279 5,807 1.56% 3.86% 3.33%
1910 398,478 21,199 5.62% 3.90% 3.26%
1911 407,291 8,813 2.21% 3.87% 3.49%
1912 417,555 10,264 2.52% 3.84% 3.31%
1913 431,607 14,052 3.37% 3.83% 3.43%
1914 454,718 23,111 5.35% 3.86% 2.94%
1915 466,238 11,520 2.53% 3.83% 2.86%
1916 477,321 11,083 2.38% 3.81% 2.85%
1917 488,038 10,717 2.25% 3.78% 2.87%
1918 495,962 7,924 1.62% 3.75% 2.73%
1919 507,961 11,999 2.42% 3.72% 2.82%
1920 525,987 18,026 3.55% 3.72% 2.72%
1921 548,803 22,816 4.34% 3.73% 2.95%
1922 566,358 17,555 3.20% 3.72% 3.09%
1923 575,896 9,538 1.68% 3.69% 2.98%
1924 597,861 21,965 3.81% 3.69% 2.95%
1925 613,572 15,711 2.63% 3.68% 2.58%
1926 623,909 10,337 1.68% 3.65% 2.29%
1927 644,745 20,836 3.34% 3.64% 2.19%
1928 655,686 10,941 1.70% 3.61% 2.04%
1929 663,652 7,966 1.21% 3.58% 1.98%
1930 670,017 6,365 0.96% 3.54% 2.02%
1931 688,435 18,418 2.75% 3.53% 1.81%
1932 703,949 15,514 2.25% 3.51% 1.87%
1933 717,619 13,670 1.94% 3.49% 1.97%
1934 730,738 13,119 1.83% 3.47% 1.97%
1935 746,384 15,646 2.14% 3.45% 1.89%
1936 760,690 14,306 1.92% 3.43% 1.91%
1937 767,752 7,062 0.93% 3.40% 2.68%
1938 784,764 17,012 2.22% 3.39% 2.91%
1939 803,528 18,764 2.39% 3.37% 3.01%
1940 862,664 59,136 7.36% 3.42% 3.04%
1941 892,080 29,416 3.41% 3.42% 3.17%
1942 917,715 25,635 2.87% 3.42% 3.23%
1943 937,050 19,335 2.11% 3.40% 3.14%
1944 954,004 16,954 1.81% 3.38% 2.37%
1945 979,454 25,450 2.67% 3.37% 2.24%
1946 996,505 17,051 1.74% 3.35% 2.34%
1947 1,016,170 19,665 1.97% 3.34% 2.47%
1948 1,041,970 25,800 2.54% 3.33% 2.67%
1949 1,078,671 36,701 3.52% 3.33% 2.81%
1950 1,111,314 32,643 3.03% 3.33% 3.25%
1951 1,147,157 35,843 3.23% 3.33% 3.61%
1952 1,189,053 41,896 3.65% 3.33% 3.85%
1953 1,246,362 57,309 4.82% 3.35% 3.97%
1954 1,302,240 55,878 4.48% 3.36% 4.26%
1955 1,357,274 55,034 4.23% 3.37% 4.45%
1956 1,416,731 59,457 4.38% 3.38% 4.48%
1957 1,488,314 71,583 5.05% 3.40% 4.47%
1958 1,555,799 67,485 4.53% 3.41% 4.94%
1959 1,616,088 60,289 3.88% 3.41% 5.44%
1960 1,693,180 77,092 4.77% 3.43% 5.92%
1961 1,823,661 130,481 7.71% 3.47% 5.99%
1962 1,965,786 142,125 7.79% 3.51% 6.37%
1963 2,117,451 151,665 7.72% 3.55% 6.33%
1964 2,234,916 117,465 5.55% 3.57% 6.41%
1965 2,395,932 161,016 7.20% 3.60% 5.69%
1966 2,480,899 84,967 3.55% 3.60% 5.24%
1967 2,614,340 133,441 5.38% 3.62% 4.76%
1968 2,684,073 69,733 2.67% 3.61% 4.75%
1969 2,807,456 123,383 4.60% 3.62% 4.31%
1970 2,930,810 123,354 4.39% 3.63% 4.20%
1971 3,090,953 160,143 5.46% 3.64% 3.87%
1972 3,218,908 127,955 4.14% 3.65% 4.17%
1973 3,306,658 87,750 2.73% 3.64% 4.20%
1974 3,409,987 103,329 3.12% 3.63% 4.43%
1975 3,572,202 162,215 4.76% 3.64% 4.36%
1976 3,742,749 170,547 4.77% 3.65% 4.59%
1977 3,969,220 226,471 6.05% 3.67% 4.96%
1978 4,166,854 197,634 4.98% 3.68% 5.38%
1979 4,404,121 237,267 5.69% 3.70% 5.40%
1980 4,639,822 235,701 5.35% 3.72% 5.24%
1981 4,920,449 280,627 6.05% 3.73% 5.15%
1982 5,162,619 242,170 4.92% 3.74% 5.15%
1983 5,351,724 189,105 3.66% 3.74% 4.93%
1984 5,641,054 289,330 5.41% 3.76% 4.69%
1985 5,919,483 278,429 4.94% 3.77% 4.56%
1986 6,166,974 247,491 4.18% 3.77% 5.10%
1987 6,394,314 227,340 3.69% 3.77% 5.47%
1988 6,721,210 326,896 5.11% 3.78% 5.30%
1989 7,308,444 587,234 8.74% 3.82% 5.15%
1990 7,761,179 452,735 6.19% 3.84% 5.03%
1991 8,089,848 328,669 4.23% 3.84% 5.06%
1992 8,404,087 314,239 3.88% 3.84% 4.82%
1993 8,689,168 285,081 3.39% 3.84% 4.12%
1994 9,024,368 335,200 3.86% 3.84% 3.79%
1995 9,338,859 314,491 3.48% 3.83% 3.59%
1996 9,692,441 353,582 3.79% 3.83% 3.58%
1997 10,071,783 379,342 3.91% 3.83% 3.52%
1998 10,354,241 282,458 2.80% 3.83% 3.39%
1999 10,752,986 398,745 3.85% 3.83% 3.30%
2000 11,068,861 315,875 2.94% 3.82% 3.08%
2001 11,394,522 325,661 2.94% 3.81% 2.87%
2002 11,721,548 327,026 2.87% 3.81% 2.80%
2003 11,985,254 263,706 2.25% 3.80% 2.60%
2004 12,275,822 290,568 2.42% 3.79% 2.54%
2005 12,560,869 285,047 2.32% 3.78% 2.46%
2006 12,868,606 307,737 2.45% 3.77% 2.38%
2007 13,193,999 325,393 2.53% 3.76% 2.38%
2008 13,508,509 314,510 2.38% 3.75% 2.35%
2009 13,824,854 316,345 2.34% 3.74% 2.35%
2010 14,131,467 306,613 2.22% 3.73% 2.29%
2011 14,441,346 309,879 2.19% 3.72% 2.20%
2012 14,782,473 341,127 2.31% 3.71% 2.10%
2013 15,082,028 299,555 2.03% 3.70% 1.99%
2014 15,372,337[10] 290,309 1.92% 3.69% 1.89%
2015 15,634,199[11] 261,862 1.70% 3.68% 1.75%
2016 15,882,417[12] 248,218 1.59% 3.66% 1.64%
2017 16,118,169[13] 235,752 1.47% 3.65% 1.43%
2018 16,313,735[14] 195,566 1.21% 3.63% 1.28%
2019 16,565,036[15] 251,301 1.54% 3.62% 1.20%
2020 16,663,663[16] 98,627 0.60% 3.60% 1.19%
2021 16,805,400[17] 141,737 0.85% 3.58% N/A
2022 17,002,461[18] 197,061 1.17% 3.57% N/A
2023 17,255,394[19] 252,933 1.49% 3.55% N/A

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Latest stats show 'a lot of positive developments' in LDS Church growth". Salt Lake Tribune. 2024-04-06. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  2. ^ General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Section 33.6.2
  3. ^ a b Zuckerman, Phil (May 6, 2019). "Secularization Hits the Mormons". Psychology Today. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "The Next Mormons – BYU Studies".
  5. ^ "World Population Clock: 8.10 Billion People (2024) - Worldometer".
  6. ^ a b "Population Growth Rate". April 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "World Population Clock: 7.9 Billion People (2021) - Worldometer". www.worldometers.info. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  8. ^ "World Population Clock: 8.10 Billion People (2024) - Worldometer". www.worldometers.info. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  9. ^ 2013 Church Almanac. Deseret Book Company. December 12, 2012. ISBN 978-1-60907-420-3.
  10. ^ "2015 Statistical Report for April 2016 General Conference", Mormon Newsroom, April 2, 2016.
  11. ^ "LDS Church membership grows to 15.6 million people". April 2, 2016.
  12. ^ "2016 Statistical Report for 2017 April Conference". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Newsroom. April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  13. ^ "2017 Statistical Report for 2018 April Conference". www.mormonnewsroom.org. 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
  14. ^ "2018 Statistical Report for 2019 April Conference". Mormon Newsroom. 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  15. ^ "2019 Statistical Report for 2020 April Conference". Mormon Newsroom. 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  16. ^ "2020 Statistical Report for the April 2021 Conference". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  17. ^ "2021 Statistical Report for the April 2022 Conference". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2022-04-02. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  18. ^ "2022 Statistical Report for the April 2023 Conference". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  19. ^ "2023 Statistical Report for the April 2024 Conference". 2024-04-06.