LDS Missions Increase: Church Announces 55 New Missions Worldwide as Ranks Top 84,000

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unveiled a major expansion of its missionary program on Friday, announcing plans to create 55 new missions effective July 1, 2026. The move reflects a sustained rise in young and senior missionaries over the past two years and will lift the global mission count to 506, the highest in church history.

Where the LDS missions increase will happen

Church leaders said the new missions will be established by adjusting boundaries of existing missions and deploying additional leadership and resources where growth and logistics demand it. Early details highlight a wide geographic spread with notable concentrations in several regions:

• Africa: 16 new missions, underscoring one of the fastest-growing areas of church activity.

• United States: 14 new missions, aimed at strengthening outreach, leadership training, and support for expanding congregations.

• Asia-Pacific: 6 new missions, including 5 in the Philippines, a long-standing center for missionary work.

• Other regions: Additional missions distributed across Latin America and Europe to balance language capacity, travel corridors, and member support.

These placements reflect two priorities: bringing missionaries closer to dense population centers and calibrating mission sizes so leaders can supervise more effectively and train more frequently.

By the numbers: momentum behind the announcement

• Missionaries now serving: More than 84,000 (young teaching, service, and senior missionaries).

• Recent growth: From just over 65,000 at the end of 2022 to nearly 72,000 at the end of 2023, climbing again into 2025.

• Total missions after expansion: 506 by mid-2026.

The rising totals mirror a broader post-pandemic rebound in applications and departures, aided by streamlined medical and visa processes, digital proselytizing tools, and renewed emphasis on service opportunities that match missionaries’ health and skills.

Why the LDS missions increase now?

Three strategic currents are driving the decision:

1. Capacity for growing congregations. Many stakes and wards in high-growth corridors need more missionary coverage to support teaching, retention, and leadership development. Smaller, better-distributed missions reduce travel time and increase face time with local members.

2. Language and culture alignment. The expansion allows leaders to align companionships with language needs—especially in regions with rapid urbanization and migration—so missionaries can teach and serve more effectively.

3. Training cadence and well-being. More missions mean more mission leaders and a tighter supervision ratio, improving onboarding, safety protocols, mental-health support, and frequent in-person instruction.

What it means for prospective missionaries and families

• Earlier clarity on assignments: With more missions and recalibrated boundaries, many applicants will receive calls that keep them closer to growing hubs, potentially shortening travel and easing visa hurdles.

• Expanded service-mission pathways: Interest in service missions has climbed alongside teaching missions. The new structure should make it easier to place volunteers where their skills—medical, technical, humanitarian—are needed.

• Language training: Expect continued emphasis on quick-start language tools and immersion strategies so missionaries are productive in the field sooner.

Families should also anticipate adjustments to mission lists and handbooks in the coming months as boundary maps and leadership assignments are finalized for the 2026 rollout.

Regional takeaways from the LDS missions increase

• Africa: The scale-up matches sustained growth in membership and congregations. Smaller geographic footprints per mission will help with travel logistics and leadership training across vast territories.

• United States: Additional missions are expected to bolster outreach in metro areas with diverse languages and to support young-adult retention through institute programs and service opportunities.

• Philippines and broader Asia: Concentrated additions in the Philippines reflect consistent receptivity and the need for more localized leadership pipelines; elsewhere in Asia, boundary refinements aim to balance dense urban centers with restrictive travel regimes.

Timeline and next steps

• Now–Q1 2026: Boundary planning, housing and vehicle procurement, leadership calls, and language/resource allocation.

• Spring 2026: Publication of updated mission maps and transfers to align existing companionships with new boundaries.

• July 1, 2026: Official activation of the 55 new missions; total missions reach 506.

The bigger picture

This expansion marks the second major mission increase in recent years and signals confidence in the long-run trajectory of the missionary program. With more missionaries, more leaders, and smaller administrative footprints, the church is positioning its workforce for sustained, relationship-driven outreach rather than occasional surges. For communities worldwide, the practical effect should be more consistent teaching, deeper service partnerships, and stronger support for congregations navigating rapid demographic change.

Details are subject to refinement as boundary work continues. The core direction is clear: more missions, more proximity, and more capacity to meet rising demand for both teaching and service work.