Church Now Recognized in 150 Lands

The Church is becoming increasingly well established internationally, and an indication of that growth is the number of organized wards and branches in the world’s countries, territories, and possessions (as defined by the United Nations).

According to the Church Finance and Records Department, the Church has arrived at a new milestone: There are now organized wards and branches in 150 countries, territories, and possessions. Several months ago, the Church organized the 150th unit in Ethiopia.

International growth has been especially significant in the last four decades. Prior to that, the vast majority of the Church population lived in the United States and Canada. Since that time, however, international membership has sharply increased.

An increase in the number of units in countries, territories, and possessions comes in two ways—through the creation of new Church units or the creation of new countries. Both have increased since 1980. (It has only been since 1982 that the distinction between countries, territories, and possessions was made.)

	Countries	Territories	Total
1830			1
1850			7
1880			16
1900			21
1920			22
1940			24
1960			47
1970			60
1980			83
1985	95	20	115
1990	107	23	130
1991	115	23	138
1992	122	24	146
1993	125	24	149
1994 (Jan.)	126	24	150

The above chart indicates growth of the Church in countries, territories, and possessions around the world. The significant jump from 1980 to 1985 is due in part to the fact that starting in 1982, territories and possessions with organized Church units were added to the total number of nations.

Below: Charts indicate Church membership growth in the United States and internationally since 1960.

1960: 91% U.S. & Canada; 9% Other Countries, Territories, and Possessions; Total: 1,693,000

1975: 81% U.S. & Canada; 19% Other Countries, Territories, and Possessions; Total: 3,572,000

1993: 54% U.S. & Canada; 46% Other Countries, Territories, and Possessions; Total: 8,688,000