wfn.org | Lutherans worldwide now more than 61.5 million

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

LWI Daily News Service, 1/99, No.3
Date: 25 January 1999

Lutherans worldwide now more than 61.5 million
Africa records highest increase

GENEVA, January 25, 1999 (lwi) - The total number of Lutherans worldwide
rose from 61.2 million in 1997 to 61.5 million in 1998, with significant
increases registered in Africa while Europe showed a general reduction in
numbers.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches remained steady at 124
as did the 12 recognized congregations. Membership figures worldwide rose
from over 57.6 million in 1997 to more than 57.8 million in 1998.

LWF member churches in Africa recorded more than 338,000 new members,
pushing the figure from 9.01 million in 1997 to over 9.35 million in 1998.
Compared to the previous year, LWF member churches in Asia increased
membership by 18,455 to stand at 4,860,357 in 1998 compared to 4,841,902
in 1997. North America had 4,145 more, moving from 5,396,593 in 1997 to
5,400,738 in 1998. In Latin America, there was an additional 680 new
members in the LWF member churches, pushing the figures from the previous
year's 1,134,107 to 1,134,787 in 1998. Worldwide, the number of Lutherans
outside the LWF constituency was 3.68 million in 1998.

Like in the previous year, Nigeria recorded an increase in the number of
Lutherans, pushing the figure from 655,000 in 1997 to 795,000 in 1998.The
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) had over 2.27 million
Lutherans in 1998. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT),
whose figures remained steady in the last two years, still has the largest
number of Lutherans in Africa, with its 2.5 million members.

Although still representing the largest number of Lutherans in any one
region, the figures in  Europe fell from over 37.23 million in 1997 to
37.09 million in 1998. Membership in the largest LWF member church- Church
of Sweden- decreased from the previous year's 7.6 million to 7.5 million
in 1998.

Whereas Germany still has the highest number of Lutherans and LWF members
in any single country at more than 14 million, Lutherans fell from 14.02
million in 1997 to 14.01 million in 1998.

Churches in Europe that had increased membership included the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Finland with over 4.59 million members against the
previous year's 4.58 million. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark
too had an additional 316 members, moving from 4,541,380 in 1997 to
4,541,696 in 1998.

In the United States of America, figures in the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA), the second largest in the LWF constituency, rose
by 4,145 in 1998 compared to 1997, putting its current membership at
nearly 5.19 million.

These statistics are based on information provided by the LWF member
churches, LWF recognized congregations and other Lutheran churches or
bodies in frequent contact with the LWF. The figures of the previous year
were cited for those churches that had not indicated any change of
statistical data by December 8, 1998.

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/