Title: Now More than 61.5 Million Lutherans in the World
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 9, 1999

NOW MORE THAN 61.5 MILLION LUTHERANS IN THE WORLD
99-05-27-PM*

     GENEVA (ELCA) -- The 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 number of Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches
remained steady at 124 as did that of the LWF's 12 recognized
congregations. Membership figures worldwide rose from more than 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 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 were 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.
     As in the previous year, Nigeria recorded an increase in the number
of Lutherans, moving from 655,000 in 1997 to 795,000 in 1998. The
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus had more than 2.27 million
Lutherans in 1998. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, whose
figures remained steady in the last two years, still has the largest
number of Lutherans in Africa, with 2.5 million members.
     Although still representing the largest number of Lutherans in any
one region, the figures in Europe fell from more than 37.23 million in
1997 to 37.09 million in 1998. Membership in the largest LWF member
church -- The Church of Sweden -- decreased from the previous year's 7.6
million to 7.5 million in 1998.
     Germany still has the largest number of Lutherans and LWF members in
any single country at more than 14 million. The number of Lutherans there
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 more than 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, figures for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, the second largest in the LWF constituency, were down 2,308 from
the previous year, putting its current membership at 5,180,055.
     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 Dec. 8, 1998.

[*Pauline Mumia is assistant editor (English) for Lutheran World
Information in the Office for Communication Services, Lutheran World
Federation, Geneva, Switzerland.]


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