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Jehovah's Witnesses have an active presence in most countries. These are the most recent statistics by continent, based on active members, or "publishers" as reported by the Watch Tower Society. [1] The Watch Tower Society provides 'average' and 'peak' figures for the number of active members. The 'peak' figure refers to the highest number of reports for any month, including late reports from the previous month; this results in some members being counted twice for the 'peak' figure. [2] [3]
Bible study figures indicate the average number of Bible studies conducted each month by Jehovah's Witness members with non-members. This includes studies conducted by Jehovah's Witness parents with their unbaptized children, [4] [5] which can be counted as one hour per week and one Bible study per month, per child. [6]
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The Watch Tower Society reports its activity in various dependencies and constituent states as separate 'lands', as noted.
Country | Population | Peak [2] | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Ratio [note 1] | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angola | 36,149,000 | 169,960 | 163,705 | 6 | 12,182 | 221 | 2,567 | 504,213 | 643,854 |
Benin | 13,124,000 | 14,838 | 14,115 | 5 | 901 | 930 | 260 | 26,080 | 44,735 |
Botswana | 2,346,000 | 2,391 | 2,308 | 1 | 36 | 1,016 | 42 | 3,658 | 6,115 |
Burkina Faso | 22,721,000 | 1,986 | 1,822 | 6 | 82 | 12,470 | 50 | 2,350 | 4,462 |
Burundi | 12,999,000 | 18,129 | 17,351 | 5 | 1,032 | 749 | 374 | 38,920 | 65,540 |
Cameroon | 28,608,000 | 44,558 | 43,022 | 2 | 2,139 | 665 | 500 | 56,561 | 103,587 |
Cape Verde | 573,000 | 2,277 | 2,242 | -1 | 86 | 256 | 35 | 3,136 | 7,802 |
Central African Republic | 5,119,000 | 2,932 | 2,858 | 17 | 224 | 1,791 | 64 | 7,575 | 20,176 |
Chad | 17,921,000 | 912 | 839 | 10 | 38 | 21,360 | 23 | 1,246 | 4,045 |
Congo (Democratic Republic) | 98,152,000 | 257,672 | 244,336 | 12 | 23,141 | 402 | 4,385 | 640,428 | 1,243,439 |
Congo (Republic) | 5,941,000 | 9,517 | 8,992 | 10 | 784 | 661 | 123 | 23,885 | 30,468 |
Côte d'Ivoire | 29,389,000 | 12,712 | 12,062 | 3 | 577 | 2,436 | 227 | 21,548 | 52,398 |
Equatorial Guinea | 1,543,000 | 2,542 | 2,417 | 4 | 189 | 638 | 30 | 6,627 | 7,944 |
Eswatini | 1,198,000 | 3,269 | 3,174 | 0 | 43 | 377 | 76 | 4,148 | 8,345 |
Ethiopia | 123,771,000 | 11,512 | 11,198 | 2 | 404 | 11,053 | 206 | 9,226 | 26,409 |
Gabon | 2,384,000 | 4,570 | 4,434 | 2 | 225 | 538 | 59 | 7,131 | 12,446 |
Gambia | 2,631,000 | 316 | 294 | 10 | 17 | 8,949 | 5 | 418 | 687 |
Ghana | 33,063,000 | 153,657 | 150,307 | 2 | 9,500 | 220 | 2,484 | 318,431 | 368,436 |
Guinea | 14,239,000 | 1,217 | 1,148 | 5 | 34 | 12,403 | 27 | 2,407 | 4,616 |
Guinea-Bissau | 2,112,000 | 205 | 192 | -1 | 12 | 11,000 | 4 | 474 | 719 |
Kenya | 55,101,000 | 31,017 | 29,572 | 5 | 1,454 | 1,863 | 605 | 41,549 | 70,228 |
Lesotho | 2,192,000 | 4,222 | 3,875 | 7 | 178 | 566 | 81 | 4,955 | 10,221 |
Liberia | 5,432,000 | 7,922 | 7,296 | 9 | 380 | 745 | 146 | 20,920 | 39,656 |
Madagascar | 29,443,000 | 40,035 | 38,580 | 14 | 2,858 | 763 | 841 | 75,846 | 157,128 |
Madeira [note 2] | 253,000 | 1,188 | 1,177 | -1 | 19 | 215 | 19 | 378 | 1,846 |
Malawi | 20,728,000 | 109,108 | 98,392 | 7 | 6,543 | 211 | 1,882 | 135,485 | 353,572 |
Mali | 22,106,000 | 367 | 350 | 0 | 12 | 63,160 | 6 | 568 | 914 |
Mauritius | 1,216,000 | 2,124 | 2,088 | -1 | 66 | 582 | 27 | 1,984 | 5,017 |
Mayotte [note 3] | 336,000 | 144 | 134 | -8 | 3 | 2,507 | 3 | 237 | 366 |
Mozambique | 32,420,000 | 87,668 | 81,454 | 10 | 6,763 | 398 | 1,651 | 139,864 | 352,094 |
Namibia | 2,680,000 | 2,711 | 2,603 | 4 | 134 | 1,030 | 47 | 4,391 | 8,793 |
Niger | 27,066,000 | 373 | 323 | 6 | 10 | 83,796 | 9 | 415 | 881 |
Nigeria | 222,182,000 | 400,375 | 377,184 | 7 | 13,378 | 589 | 6,071 | 666,328 | 820,920 |
Réunion [note 3] | 982,000 | 3,571 | 3,452 | 1 | 73 | 284 | 41 | 1,783 | 6,839 |
Rodrigues [note 4] | 45,000 | 68 | 65 | -2 | 0 | 692 | 1 | 76 | 166 |
Rwanda | 13,246,000 | 33,664 | 31,716 | 6 | 2,945 | 418 | 593 | 58,265 | 105,966 |
Saint Helena [note 5] | 4,000 | 125 | 113 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 47 | 314 |
São Tomé and Príncipe | 232,000 | 901 | 876 | -2 | 36 | 265 | 14 | 2,525 | 3,412 |
Senegal | 18,117,000 | 1,564 | 1,508 | 5 | 58 | 12,014 | 29 | 1,784 | 3,384 |
Seychelles | 108,000 | 360 | 339 | -5 | 11 | 319 | 5 | 400 | 1,047 |
Sierra Leone | 8,472,000 | 2,564 | 2,340 | 5 | 94 | 3,621 | 42 | 4,395 | 8,034 |
South Africa | 60,605,000 | 100,331 | 98,175 | 2 | 1,923 | 617 | 1,966 | 94,890 | 249,364 |
South Sudan | 11,089,000 | 1,910 | 1,732 | 9 | 134 | 6,402 | 34 | 3,838 | 6,857 |
Sudan | 48,109,000 | 643 | 528 | -17 | 25 | 91,116 | 13 | 1,094 | 2,491 |
Tanzania | 67,438,000 | 20,846 | 19,881 | 6 | 1,415 | 3,392 | 417 | 36,357 | 61,072 |
Togo | 8,887,000 | 23,432 | 22,710 | 4 | 1,143 | 391 | 363 | 49,963 | 65,534 |
Uganda | 45,910,000 | 9,669 | 9,400 | 3 | 460 | 4,884 | 175 | 21,598 | 30,841 |
Zambia | 20,018,000 | 239,427 | 211,048 | 10 | 11,081 | 95 | 3,605 | 396,733 | 969,298 |
Zimbabwe | 15,179,000 | 48,748 | 46,826 | 9 | 2,727 | 324 | 961 | 81,159 | 120,702 |
Country | Population | Peak | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Ratio | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Azores [note 2] [note 6] | 240,000 | 802 | 796 | 1 | 16 | 302 | 15 | 523 | 1,651 |
Belize | 441,000 | 2,492 | 2,452 | -3 | 54 | 180 | 53 | 2,135 | 7,698 |
Bermuda [note 5] | 62,000 | 425 | 385 | -1 | 4 | 161 | 5 | 167 | 870 |
Canada | 38,704,000 | 120,388 | 118,942 | 1 | 1,797 | 325 | 1,164 | 42,070 | 189,604 |
Costa Rica | 5,213,000 | 32,084 | 31,936 | -1 | 807 | 163 | 429 | 21,398 | 70,119 |
El Salvador | 6,582,000 | 37,680 | 37,431 | -2 | 677 | 176 | 607 | 20,137 | 81,625 |
Greenland [note 7] | 57,000 | 119 | 114 | -9 | 2 | 500 | 5 | 74 | 278 |
Guatemala | 18,918,000 | 39,022 | 38,765 | -1 | 1,255 | 488 | 825 | 27,091 | 93,889 |
Honduras | 9,727,000 | 21,646 | 21,533 | -2 | 711 | 452 | 418 | 16,669 | 58,906 |
Mexico | 132,834,000 | 864,738 | 856,289 | 0 | 25,897 | 155 | 12,706 | 582,908 | 2,184,372 |
Nicaragua | 6,855,000 | 28,843 | 28,545 | -1 | 933 | 240 | 466 | 24,100 | 81,770 |
Panama | 4,511,000 | 18,525 | 18,288 | 0 | 687 | 247 | 310 | 15,123 | 53,366 |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon [note 8] | 6,000 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 353 | 1 | 12 | 19 |
United States | 336,679,000 | 1,233,609 | 1,220,070 | -1 | 23,029 | 276 | 11,942 | 466,083 | 2,355,217 |
Country | Population | Peak | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Ratio | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anguilla [note 5] | 15,000 | 62 | 55 | -5 | 0 | 273 | 1 | 45 | 254 |
Antigua | 100,000 | 481 | 462 | -1 | 5 | 216 | 7 | 325 | 1,301 |
Aruba [note 9] | 108,000 | 1,097 | 1,077 | -2 | 30 | 100 | 14 | 633 | 2,725 |
Bahamas | 404,000 | 1,750 | 1,690 | -3 | 33 | 239 | 28 | 1,595 | 4,489 |
Barbados | 288,000 | 2,350 | 2,290 | -3 | 57 | 126 | 30 | 1,724 | 6,020 |
Bonaire [note 10] | 24,000 | 139 | 132 | 10 | 0 | 182 | 2 | 100 | 392 |
Cayman Islands [note 5] | 68,000 | 301 | 281 | 5 | 0 | 242 | 3 | 154 | 728 |
Cuba | 11,090,000 | 87,907 | 86,048 | -5 | 1,615 | 129 | 1,366 | 80,336 | 194,684 |
Curaçao [note 9] | 166,000 | 1,967 | 1,949 | -2 | 36 | 85 | 24 | 1,360 | 5,219 |
Dominica | 73,000 | 413 | 391 | -3 | 6 | 187 | 10 | 473 | 1,272 |
Dominican Republic | 11,156,000 | 38,792 | 38,074 | 0 | 1,016 | 293 | 536 | 45,943 | 117,176 |
Grenada | 114,000 | 557 | 523 | -1 | 9 | 218 | 9 | 390 | 1,388 |
Guadeloupe [note 3] | 396,000 | 8,488 | 8,352 | 0 | 159 | 47 | 118 | 6,407 | 19,549 |
Haiti | 11,818,000 | 17,870 | 17,297 | -3 | 581 | 683 | 262 | 25,855 | 68,862 |
Jamaica | 2,996,000 | 10,988 | 10,741 | -2 | 262 | 279 | 152 | 7,233 | 31,924 |
Martinique [note 3] | 367,000 | 4,882 | 4,814 | -3 | 102 | 76 | 57 | 3,737 | 10,497 |
Montserrat [note 5] | 5,000 | 36 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 1 | 55 | 138 |
Nevis [note 11] | 11,000 | 89 | 76 | 7 | 0 | 145 | 1 | 56 | 234 |
Puerto Rico [note 12] | 2,854,000 | 23,032 | 22,715 | -1 | 335 | 126 | 227 | 7,551 | 43,543 |
Saba [note 10] | 2,000 | 18 | 16 | 23 | 0 | 125 | 0 | 14 | 55 |
Saint Barthélemy [note 8] | 11,000 | 40 | 37 | 16 | 0 | 297 | 1 | 24 | 87 |
Saint Kitts [note 11] | 35,000 | 341 | 240 | 10 | 7 | 146 | 3 | 208 | 754 |
Saint Lucia | 186,000 | 787 | 772 | -1 | 10 | 241 | 11 | 667 | 2,129 |
Saint Martin [note 8] | 32,000 | 303 | 278 | 0 | 7 | 115 | 5 | 344 | 952 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 112,000 | 295 | 282 | -1 | 2 | 397 | 8 | 314 | 911 |
Sint Eustatius [note 10] | 3,000 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 1 | 25 | 87 |
Sint Maarten [note 9] | 45,000 | 324 | 302 | -8 | 14 | 149 | 4 | 220 | 848 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 1,409,000 | 10,529 | 10,420 | -1 | 226 | 135 | 130 | 8,277 | 26,040 |
Turks and Caicos [note 5] | 40,000 | 340 | 329 | 3 | 4 | 122 | 7 | 336 | 1,024 |
Virgin Islands (British) [note 5] | 31,000 | 222 | 221 | 4 | 0 | 140 | 4 | 146 | 668 |
Virgin Islands (US) [note 12] | 104,000 | 536 | 508 | -2 | 9 | 205 | 8 | 396 | 1,355 |
Country | Population | Peak | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Ratio | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 46,045,000 | 153,751 | 152,782 | -1 | 3,120 | 301 | 1,938 | 87,893 | 306,400 |
Bolivia | 12,152,000 | 29,440 | 29,034 | 0 | 1,073 | 419 | 452 | 30,288 | 79,933 |
Brazil | 203,063,000 | 907,121 | 898,785 | 0 | 22,660 | 226 | 12,637 | 543,098 | 1,819,948 |
Chile | 19,961,000 | 87,175 | 85,938 | 0 | 1,442 | 232 | 964 | 44,353 | 192,704 |
Colombia | 51,673,000 | 186,712 | 185,002 | 0 | 6,305 | 279 | 2,271 | 148,657 | 544,651 |
Ecuador | 16,939,000 | 100,195 | 98,869 | -1 | 3,153 | 171 | 1,212 | 93,088 | 282,370 |
Falkland Islands [note 5] | 4,000 | 17 | 12 | -25 | 0 | 333 | 1 | 8 | 16 |
French Guiana [note 3] | 312,000 | 2,937 | 2,869 | -1 | 90 | 109 | 46 | 4,597 | 10,469 |
Guyana | 798,000 | 3,280 | 3,201 | -3 | 111 | 249 | 46 | 3,455 | 12,125 |
Paraguay | 7,391,000 | 11,042 | 10,932 | -1 | 319 | 676 | 186 | 10,261 | 22,816 |
Peru | 33,966,000 | 133,366 | 130,156 | 1 | 4,177 | 261 | 1,551 | 134,295 | 372,007 |
Suriname | 567,000 | 3,397 | 3,171 | -1 | 81 | 179 | 55 | 3,587 | 9,970 |
Uruguay | 3,506,000 | 12,000 | 11,825 | 0 | 165 | 296 | 149 | 8,326 | 22,407 |
Venezuela | 28,302,000 | 134,096 | 131,934 | 1 | 5,644 | 215 | 1,700 | 115,824 | 419,189 |
Country | Population | Peak | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Ratio | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armenia | 3,103,000 | 11,313 | 11,194 | 1 | 374 | 277 | 134 | 4,650 | 25,977 |
Azerbaijan | 10,127,000 | 1,736 | 1,713 | 3 | 79 | 5,912 | 23 | 2,179 | 3,642 |
Bangladesh | 172,075,000 | 346 | 338 | 1 | 12 | 509,098 | 6 | 484 | 1,189 |
Cambodia | 16,855,000 | 1,116 | 1,102 | 0 | 35 | 15,295 | 17 | 1,314 | 2,545 |
Cyprus | 1,231,000 | 3,116 | 3,047 | 5 | 62 | 404 | 41 | 1,644 | 5,673 |
East Timor | 1,395,000 | 391 | 381 | 1 | 12 | 3,661 | 5 | 541 | 1,185 |
Georgia | 3,736,000 | 18,841 | 18,752 | 1 | 704 | 199 | 224 | 5,081 | 34,169 |
Hong Kong [note 13] | 7,498,000 | 5,464 | 5,432 | -1 | 173 | 1,380 | 70 | 4,274 | 9,349 |
India | 1,419,656,000 | 57,795 | 57,386 | 2 | 2,811 | 24,739 | 999 | 55,195 | 166,521 |
Indonesia | 281,844,000 | 31,023 | 30,389 | 2 | 1,190 | 9,275 | 491 | 23,517 | 61,059 |
Israel | 9,888,000 | 2,129 | 2,090 | 4 | 63 | 4,731 | 32 | 1,106 | 3,835 |
Japan | 124,752,000 | 214,457 | 214,144 | 0 | 2,106 | 583 | 2,888 | 89,612 | 296,139 |
Kazakhstan | 19,899,000 | 17,287 | 17,100 | 0 | 382 | 1,164 | 229 | 7,485 | 31,006 |
Korea (Republic) | 51,408,000 | 106,161 | 106,073 | 0 | 1,695 | 485 | 1,252 | 36,482 | 138,920 |
Kyrgyzstan | 7,038,000 | 5,167 | 5,073 | 0 | 180 | 1,387 | 86 | 2,801 | 10,146 |
Macau [note 13] | 679,000 | 379 | 367 | -7 | 6 | 1,850 | 6 | 397 | 824 |
Malaysia | 33,200,000 | 5,645 | 5,571 | 0 | 221 | 5,959 | 119 | 5,025 | 11,982 |
Mongolia | 3,423,000 | 432 | 406 | -4 | 9 | 8,431 | 8 | 648 | 1,337 |
Myanmar | 56,145,000 | 5,171 | 5,122 | 1 | 145 | 10,962 | 96 | 5,527 | 11,975 |
Nepal | 29,165,000 | 2,823 | 2,787 | -1 | 136 | 10,465 | 43 | 3,591 | 8,064 |
Pakistan | 233,757,000 | 1,259 | 1,125 | 3 | 53 | 207,784 | 16 | 911 | 4,378 |
Palestinian territories [note 14] | 5,490,000 | 78 | 76 | 25 | 2 | 72,237 | 2 | 61 | 213 |
Philippines | 113,964,000 | 253,876 | 245,475 | 5 | 12,954 | 464 | 3,552 | 227,611 | 665,087 |
Sri Lanka | 22,181,000 | 7,003 | 6,942 | -2 | 206 | 3,195 | 98 | 7,451 | 15,721 |
Taiwan [note 15] | 23,375,000 | 11,460 | 11,346 | 0 | 368 | 2,060 | 177 | 8,868 | 20,436 |
Thailand | 70,183,000 | 5,350 | 5,287 | 1 | 203 | 13,275 | 144 | 4,813 | 10,214 |
Türkiye | 85,957,000 | 5,692 | 5,545 | 5 | 182 | 15,502 | 71 | 2,619 | 8,873 |
Country | Population | Peak | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Ratio | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | 2,762,000 | 5,461 | 5,406 | -2 | 90 | 511 | 83 | 3,581 | 10,644 |
Andorra | 84,000 | 174 | 165 | -1 | 0 | 509 | 3 | 86 | 351 |
Austria | 9,105,000 | 22,443 | 22,162 | 2 | 371 | 411 | 283 | 7,322 | 35,177 |
Belarus | 9,419,000 | 6,082 | 6,061 | -1 | 130 | 1,554 | 82 | 3,556 | 11,235 |
Belgium | 11,698,000 | 26,424 | 26,048 | 1 | 497 | 449 | 338 | 10,340 | 44,558 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3,237,000 | 969 | 947 | -4 | 5 | 3,418 | 16 | 263 | 1,507 |
Britain [note 16] | 66,357,000 | 142,073 | 140,109 | 1 | 2,361 | 474 | 1,599 | 44,362 | 224,661 |
Bulgaria | 6,792,000 | 2,832 | 2,780 | 4 | 79 | 2,443 | 57 | 1,841 | 6,181 |
Croatia | 4,038,000 | 4,687 | 4,642 | -1 | 50 | 870 | 57 | 1,039 | 7,256 |
Czech Republic | 10,851,000 | 16,764 | 16,515 | 6 | 238 | 657 | 217 | 5,472 | 30,590 |
Denmark | 5,941,000 | 14,639 | 14,491 | 0 | 216 | 410 | 172 | 4,013 | 20,460 |
Estonia | 1,366,000 | 4,110 | 4,075 | 2 | 65 | 335 | 54 | 1,636 | 6,719 |
Faroe Islands [note 7] | 55,000 | 137 | 132 | 1 | 3 | 417 | 4 | 67 | 187 |
Finland | 5,564,000 | 18,186 | 18,112 | 0 | 239 | 307 | 272 | 8,201 | 26,038 |
France | 64,793,000 | 138,133 | 136,770 | 1 | 2,739 | 474 | 1,461 | 46,500 | 230,018 |
Germany | 84,359,000 | 174,907 | 172,974 | 3 | 3,020 | 488 | 2,002 | 50,612 | 273,222 |
Gibraltar [note 5] | 34,000 | 161 | 154 | 12 | 0 | 221 | 2 | 27 | 213 |
Greece | 10,482,000 | 27,759 | 27,644 | -1 | 490 | 379 | 345 | 7,669 | 43,572 |
Hungary | 9,597,000 | 21,332 | 21,177 | 1 | 465 | 453 | 283 | 7,113 | 38,999 |
Iceland | 388,000 | 418 | 400 | 2 | 3 | 970 | 7 | 169 | 728 |
Ireland [note 17] | 7,052,000 | 7,974 | 7,775 | 6 | 107 | 907 | 121 | 2,738 | 13,498 |
Italy | 58,851,000 | 250,193 | 249,588 | 0 | 3,879 | 236 | 2,804 | 85,997 | 424,115 |
Kosovo [note 18] | 1,800,000 | 240 | 231 | -4 | 6 | 7,792 | 8 | 233 | 440 |
Latvia | 1,883,000 | 2,135 | 2,098 | 1 | 37 | 898 | 29 | 931 | 3,279 |
Liechtenstein | 39,000 | 98 | 94 | 3 | 0 | 415 | 1 | 27 | 146 |
Lithuania | 2,811,000 | 2,945 | 2,919 | 2 | 39 | 963 | 41 | 1,073 | 4,761 |
Luxembourg | 649,000 | 2,183 | 2,165 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 31 | 861 | 3,954 |
Malta | 542,000 | 877 | 843 | 1 | 7 | 643 | 11 | 279 | 1,416 |
Moldova | 2,978,000 | 17,979 | 17,816 | -2 | 460 | 167 | 195 | 8,372 | 33,198 |
Montenegro | 628,000 | 397 | 371 | 13 | 5 | 1,693 | 7 | 140 | 823 |
Netherlands | 17,878,000 | 29,584 | 29,234 | 1 | 448 | 612 | 346 | 8,982 | 49,084 |
North Macedonia | 1,830,000 | 1,233 | 1,216 | -2 | 14 | 1,505 | 23 | 548 | 2,540 |
Norway | 5,504,000 | 12,034 | 11,869 | 1 | 184 | 464 | 162 | 3,483 | 17,728 |
Poland | 37,749,000 | 116,307 | 115,149 | 2 | 1,530 | 328 | 1,267 | 27,666 | 185,930 |
Portugal | 9,974,000 | 52,498 | 51,998 | 2 | 929 | 192 | 653 | 19,182 | 93,441 |
Romania | 18,944,000 | 39,723 | 39,498 | 0 | 784 | 480 | 528 | 18,182 | 81,896 |
San Marino | 34,000 | 203 | 195 | 3 | 0 | 174 | 2 | 76 | 342 |
Serbia | 6,641,000 | 3,733 | 3,690 | -1 | 82 | 1,800 | 60 | 1,667 | 6,906 |
Slovakia | 5,432,000 | 11,276 | 11,200 | 1 | 192 | 485 | 134 | 3,249 | 21,751 |
Slovenia | 2,117,000 | 1,726 | 1,719 | 0 | 29 | 1,232 | 27 | 652 | 2,727 |
Spain | 48,197,000 | 122,061 | 121,384 | 1 | 2,245 | 397 | 1,397 | 38,467 | 201,792 |
Sweden | 10,541,000 | 22,454 | 22,319 | 0 | 303 | 472 | 280 | 6,736 | 33,899 |
Switzerland | 8,813,000 | 20,024 | 19,803 | 2 | 282 | 445 | 258 | 6,715 | 32,786 |
Ukraine | 41,130,000 | 109,375 | 105,235 | -14 | 1,819 | 391 | 1,234 | 28,342 | 185,910 |
Country | Population | Peak | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Ratio | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Samoa [note 12] | 49,000 | 140 | 124 | -5 | 3 | 395 | 3 | 152 | 568 |
Australia | 26,636,000 | 71,188 | 70,244 | -1 | 925 | 379 | 726 | 21,347 | 114,089 |
Chuuk [note 19] | 54,000 | 30 | 23 | -15 | 0 | 2,348 | 2 | 47 | 103 |
Cook Islands [note 20] | 17,000 | 193 | 184 | -8 | 0 | 92 | 3 | 105 | 538 |
Fiji | 916,000 | 3,005 | 2,932 | -3 | 107 | 312 | 60 | 3,611 | 12,901 |
Guam [note 12] | 173,000 | 709 | 692 | -5 | 19 | 250 | 9 | 513 | 1,622 |
Kiribati | 123,000 | 118 | 97 | 17 | 0 | 1,268 | 2 | 159 | 433 |
Kosrae [note 19] | 8,000 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 889 | 1 | 15 | 56 |
Marshall Islands | 61,000 | 138 | 123 | 3 | 2 | 496 | 4 | 225 | 742 |
Nauru | 11,000 | 18 | 15 | -6 | 0 | 733 | 1 | 12 | 85 |
New Caledonia [note 21] | 271,000 | 2,693 | 2,631 | 2 | 97 | 103 | 34 | 2,810 | 7,604 |
New Zealand | 5,199,000 | 14,607 | 14,430 | -1 | 238 | 360 | 170 | 5,669 | 26,669 |
Niue [note 20] | 2,000 | 20 | 19 | -5 | 0 | 105 | 1 | 6 | 78 |
Palau | 18,000 | 81 | 72 | 7 | 2 | 250 | 2 | 112 | 205 |
Papua New Guinea | 9,466,000 | 5,692 | 4,735 | 1 | 280 | 1,999 | 89 | 7,263 | 41,613 |
Pohnpei [note 19] | 34,000 | 54 | 50 | -6 | 2 | 680 | 1 | 66 | 145 |
Rota [note 22] | 3,000 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 750 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
Saipan [note 22] | 48,000 | 220 | 214 | -2 | 9 | 224 | 3 | 213 | 529 |
Samoa | 206,000 | 552 | 525 | 2 | 40 | 392 | 12 | 587 | 2,311 |
Solomon Islands | 738,000 | 1,907 | 1,715 | 14 | 108 | 430 | 50 | 1,703 | 11,887 |
Tahiti [note 8] | 280,000 | 3,194 | 3,166 | 0 | 111 | 88 | 45 | 2,874 | 10,450 |
Tinian [note 22] | 3,000 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 1 | 13 | 33 |
Tonga | 109,000 | 212 | 201 | 2 | 2 | 542 | 3 | 180 | 666 |
Tuvalu | 12,000 | 93 | 50 | 2 | 0 | 240 | 1 | 35 | 202 |
Vanuatu | 334,000 | 694 | 596 | -2 | 34 | 560 | 13 | 887 | 4,308 |
Wallis and Futuna [note 8] | 11,000 | 70 | 62 | -2 | 2 | 177 | 2 | 86 | 272 |
Yap [note 19] | 11,000 | 36 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 355 | 1 | 109 | 134 |
In addition to the published figures for individual countries, statistics are also published collectively for countries where Jehovah's Witnesses operate covertly under ban, [7] [8] including several Islamic and communist states.
"Other Lands" | Peak | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | 210,286 | 207,592 | -0.2 | 4,426 | 2,778 | 92,603 | 325,497 |
There are 37 sovereign states not specifically listed in the Watch Tower Society's reported statistics:
"Lands" | Peak | Publishers | Increase (%) | Baptized | Cong. | Bible studies | Memorial attendance | Memorial partakers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
239 | 8,816,562 | 8,625,042 | 1.3 | 269,517 | 118,177 | 7,281,212 | 20,461,767 | 22,312 |
A comparison of the GPS velocities of Pico, Faial, S. Jorge and Terceira islands with the Nubia–Eurasia velocity in the Azores region (ca. 4.5 mm/yr, DeMets et al., 2010) shows that the islands belong to neither the Eurasia nor Nubia plates.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Jehovah's Witnesses is a nontrinitarian, millenarian, restorationist Christian denomination. In 2023, the group reported approximately 8.6 million members involved in evangelism, with around 20.5 million attending the annual Memorial of Christ's death. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the destruction of the present world system at Armageddon is imminent, and the establishment of God's kingdom over earth is the only solution to all of humanity's problems.
Jehovah's Witnesses' practices are based on the biblical interpretations of Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916), founder of the Bible Student movement, and of successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford and Nathan Homer Knorr. Since 1976, practices have also been based on decisions made at closed meetings of the group's Governing Body. The group disseminates instructions regarding activities and acceptable behavior through The Watchtower magazine and through other official publications, and at conventions and congregation meetings.
A number of corporations are used by Jehovah's Witnesses. They publish literature and perform other operational and administrative functions, representing the interests of the religious organization. "The Society" has been used as a collective term for these corporations.
Jehovah's Witnesses have been criticized by adherents of mainstream Christianity, members of the medical community, former Jehovah's Witnesses, and commentators with regard to their beliefs and practices. The Jehovah's Witness movement's leaders have been accused of practicing doctrinal inconsistencies and making doctrinal reversals, making failed predictions, mistranslating the Bible, harshly treating former Jehovah's Witnesses, and leading the Jehovah's Witness movement in an authoritarian and coercive manner. Jehovah's Witnesses have also been criticized because they reject blood transfusions, even in life-threatening medical situations, and for failing to report cases of sexual abuse to the authorities. Many of the claims are denied by Jehovah's Witnesses and some have also been disputed by courts and religious scholars.
Joseph Franklin Rutherford, also known as Judge Rutherford, was an American religious leader and the second president of the incorporated Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. He played a primary role in the organization and doctrinal development of Jehovah's Witnesses, which emerged from the Bible Student movement established by Charles Taze Russell.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom is an illustrated religious magazine, published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Jehovah's Witnesses distribute The Watchtower—Public Edition, along with its companion magazine, Awake!.
Awake! is an illustrated religious magazine published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. It is considered to be a companion magazine of The Watchtower, and is distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses. The Watch Tower Society reports a worldwide circulation of about 12.8 million copies per issue in 252 languages.
Jehovah's Witnesses are organized hierarchically, and are led by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses from the Watch Tower Society's headquarters in Warwick, New York. The Governing Body, along with other "helpers", is organized into six committees responsible for various administrative functions within the global Witness community, including publication, assembly programs, and evangelizing activity.
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society produces a significant amount of printed and electronic literature, primarily for use by Jehovah's Witnesses. Their best known publications are the magazines, The Watchtower and Awake!
Watchtower Bible School of Gilead is the formal name of the missionary school of Jehovah's Witnesses, typically referred to simply as Gilead or Gilead School. Gilead is the flagship school at the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York, United States.
The Bible Student movement is a Millennialist Restorationist Christian movement. It emerged in the United States from the teachings and ministry of Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916), also known as Pastor Russell, and his founding of the Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society in 1881. Members of the movement have variously referred to themselves as Bible Students, International Bible Students, Associated Bible Students, or Independent Bible Students.
Various individuals, courts and the media around the world have raised concerns about the manner in which cases of child sexual abuse are handled when they occur in congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. An independent 2009 study in Norway was critical of how Jehovah's Witnesses dealt with cases of child sexual abuse but stated there is no indication that the rate of sexual abuse among Jehovah's Witnesses is higher than found in general society. The organization's stated position is that it abhors child sexual abuse.
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Warwick, New York. It is the main legal entity used worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses to direct, administer, and disseminate doctrines for the group and is often referred to by members of the denomination simply as "the Society". It is the parent organization of a number of Watch Tower subsidiaries, including the Watchtower Society of New York and the International Bible Students Association. The number of voting shareholders of the corporation is limited to between 300 and 500 "mature, active and faithful" male Jehovah's Witnesses. About 5,800 Jehovah's Witnesses provide voluntary unpaid labor, as members of a religious order, in three large Watch Tower Society facilities in New York. Nearly 15,000 other members of the order work at the Watch Tower Society's other facilities worldwide.
The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is the ruling council of Jehovah's Witnesses, based in the denomination's Warwick, New York, headquarters. The body formulates doctrines, oversees the production of written material for publications and conventions, and administers the denomination's worldwide operations. Official publications refer to members of the Governing Body as followers of Christ rather than religious leaders.
Jehovah's Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which developed in the United States in the 1870s among followers of Christian restorationist minister Charles Taze Russell. Bible Student missionaries were sent to England in 1881 and the first overseas branch was opened in London in 1900. The group took on the name International Bible Students Association and by 1914 it was also active in Canada, Germany, Australia, and other countries.
"Faithful and discreet slave" is the term used by Jehovah's Witnesses to describe the group's Governing Body in its role of directing doctrines and teachings. The group is described as a "class" of "anointed" Christians that operates under the direct control of Jesus Christ to exercise teaching authority in all matters pertaining to doctrine and articles of faith.
As of 2023, Jehovah's Witnesses reported a monthly average membership of approximately 8.6 million actively involved in preaching, with a peak of around 8.8 million. Jehovah's Witnesses have an active presence in most countries, though they do not form a large part of the population of any country.
Nathan Homer Knorr was the third president of the incorporated Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. He was appointed president in January 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1917. Knorr was also a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses since 1971.
Milton George Henschel was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses from 1971 until his death in 2003. He succeeded Frederick W. Franz as president of the Watch Tower Society, serving from 1992 until 2000.
The beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of Charles Taze Russell—founder of the Bible Student movement—and successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and Nathan Homer Knorr. Since 1976, all doctrinal decisions have been made by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, a group of elders at the denomination's headquarters. These teachings are disseminated through The Watchtower magazine and other publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, and at conventions and congregation meetings.
"Peak publishers" is the highest number reporting for any one month of the service year and may include late reports that were not added to the preceding month's report. In this way some publishers may be counted twice.
If a publisher turns in his report late, it should be added to the congregation's report for the following month and the "Number Reporting" figure should be adjusted accordingly.
Due to the viciousness of the enemy, and to protect our brothers, some of these places are not listed individually in the tabulated report, but the totals of their service appear in the line above the grand total, headed ... Other Countries