Activity Rates
While no regular reports of LDS activity rates are published, activity rate ranges for each country are based on the following published references, as well as from numerous inquiries to members, and returned missionaries, and mission homes in various areas.
"Attendance at sacrament meeting varies substantially. Asia and Latin America have weekly attendance rates of about 25 percent, Europe averages about 35 percent" (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, 1992, 4:1527.)
"Canada, the South Pacific, and the United States average between 40 percent and 50 percent." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, 1992, 4:1527.)
As noted above, activity (almost 10 years ago) was as high as 35% in some areas. Recently I've received a personal correspondance from an LDS professor who has done a study in major cities of Western Europe (I have not received permission to cite his name, although the data was presented at the Mormon History Association conference in Copenhagen in June 2000). He found 20-30% activity rates in most of the major European cities he visited.
We have collected considerable recent activity rate data from missions, recently returned missionaries, and local members in many countries. However, as no official activity rates have been published for a number of years, listed activity rates should be considered to be well-researched estimates based on a variety of sources, and not as official church statistics. As such, activity rate estimates for individual countries may have some error (generally within 5%), but are likely to be very close to the real numbers. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of listed figures. If you have additional data, please submit it for consideration on the respective country pages.
Advancement to Melchizedek Priesthood
"For the U.S. as a whole, only 59% of baptized males ever receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. In the South Pacific, the figure drops to 35%; in Great Britain, 29%. In Mexico (with almost 850,000 members) the figure is 19%; and in Japan, only 17% of the male members ever make it past the Aaronic Priesthood. (Lowell C. Bennion and Lawrence Young, Dialogue, Spring 1996, p.19.)
Temple marriage data:
"The percentage of adults in a temple marriage varies from about 45 percent in Utah to less than 2 percent in Mexico and Central America." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, 1992, 4:1531)
"For all of South America, with 2.25 million members, less than 1.8% of the total adult membership has been married in the temple." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, 1992, 4:1532.)
Membership data on this site is from published figures in the LDS Church Almanac, or from more recent local sources, where available.