Church Membership Surpasses 12 Million Worldwide in Early 2004

Based on growth rates, worldwide membership in the Church likely topped the 12 million mark earlier this year. As of 31 December 2003, members of the Church numbered 11,985,254 worldwide, up 263,706 from the year before. Worldwide, Church membership has nearly tripled during the past 25 years. Members numbered 4,160,000 on 31 December 1978.

A 2004 report on 215 U.S. churches lists the Church as the fifth largest in the United States with 5.4 million (based on 2002 data). The National Council of Churches’ 2004 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches also reports that the Church has the highest rate of growth (1.88 percent per year in the U.S.) among the 15 largest U.S. churches.

Projected growth rates estimate that Church membership topped 12 million early in 2004.
(Graph by Tom Child.)