2014 Yearbook Stats - 7 Countries account for > 50% growth

by Westenddave 40 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  88JM

  Italy really dropped off a cliff from being the 5th fastest growing, from having a 10k increase around 1990, to an increase of only 600 less than 10 years later:

  	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
  Italy Incr.	7,101	6,705	6,219	4,714	3,559	600	644	935	1,464	1,773	960	1,180	1,171	2,882	1,625	2,524	1,561	1,631	1,872	1,933

  Were they really quick to take up the internet in Italy or something? This is representative of a lot of countries though.

  This is what the countries at the bottom of the table for 2013 look like - a negative number is a decrease. Lots of eastern European countries:

  Country or Territory	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
  Slovakia	-150	-288	-275	-59	-178	-19	21	46	-87	-10,038
  Poland	804	352	-902	140	-1,286	-2	-486	-361	-540	-1,014
  Japan	77	130	-46	748	-590	191	-290	112	-660	-726
  Germany	149	-580	-651	1,204	-521	346	-279	283	-189	-246
  Portugal	61	-274	-71	542	25	492	122	234	83	-206
  Greece	-77	-59	14	211	64	380	310	127	-3	-199
  Moldova	-134	213	358	728	271	400	246	135	-33	-164
  Guadeloupe	31	71	193	263	22	170	16	68	-222	-96
  Puerto Rico	-97	-401	34	398	-37	409	369	290	13	-75
  Hungary	13	-7	206	577	187	492	315	94	-147	-67
  Finland	-93	-183	-53	184	-80	-22	-70	-19	-141	-67
  Armenia	473	414	310	406	350	509	431	247	9	-54
  Estonia	70	40	48	47	-5	29	7	-24	-27	-44
  Croatia	15	-16	-7	47	18	59	24	22	-4	-43
  Sudan	0	1267	99	99	109	102	17	-103	-1095	-39
  Latvia	48	46	11	-4	-16	42	-13	-10	-10	-37
  Slovenia	18	31	3	24	4	35	24	13	-4	-35
  Luxembourg	5	25	39	47	34	58	47	32	-21	-25
  Czech Republic	-8	-115	-150	102	-147	9	-11	26	-11	-23
• 

  Gayle

  sometimes when the org, gets into a 'new' area, there can be a burst of energy at the newness,,new hopes,,new friends, love bombing and much, much forgiveness. After awhile, tiredness sets in, disappointments, realities of disfellowshippings, over demands of the org life. as said, worse thing for a cult is: TIME. No doubt the WTS will burn out even faster those in foreign countries if third-world. Japan had an amazing growth years ago,,slowly and steadily decreasing.

  A cult needs 'new blood.' Or it gets meaner and more demanding like a beast.
• 

  RunAsFastAsYouCan

  Self Grandizing Crapola.
• 

  problemaddict

  So in the top 15, there are no European countries or even Asian countries.

  There are 6 south american countries, 6 African countires (Congo? I didn't see that coming), and then there is Mexico, the US, and Phillipines (Pac islanders).

  Slovakia! What the heck happened in Slovakia? Anyone know? That kind of decrease hs to be related to an event of some kind.
• 

  88JM

  I think my figures were wrong for Slovakia, sorry (I obviously missed a "1")

  They actually only went down by 38.

  Need to correct my master spreadsheet...
• 

  besty

  nice to see that Brazil had a new record in 2013 - 'smallest increase for at least 10 years' - won't be broadcasting that one I guess...

  wow - Germany and Japan are basically death of a 1000 cuts - these are heartland countries for JW's
• 

  Crazyguy

  The fact that The US had only a little over 10k in new members is really good. It shows that in the most JW poplulated country that most of the JW's children are not following there parents into the Cult.
• 

  steve2

  Recording a country's percentage of increases one year to the next can be misleading. If there is 1 publisher in a country in 2012 and 2 in 2013 that's a 100% increase.

  Also, as the total ac Wow: 100%

  Also as total numbers get bigger, it's harder to sustain the earlier big percentage increases.
• 

  kaik

  Slovakia is mirroring the trend that happened in Czech Republic. Czech republic is one the most secular country in the world with extensive history of population that was religiously indifferent even in Renaissance era. Christianity as whole is decreasing since 1920 when Czechoslovakia was created. Czechs are the most agnostic to atheistic people you will run in the world and this attitude was also expanded bit into Slovakia during the common republic that ended in 1992. Slovakia is more religious especially further east, closer to Ukraine borders. JW established in Czechoslovakia around 1913 and were capturing souls that were disatisfied with a traditional christianity. Under communism, it was illegal religion, which entice a lot of people who felt to be in opposition to communist regime while having modern, americanized strucutre, and theocracy. As young man, I felt to be proud to be a member of modern religion with crosses and alley of the saints as you see throughout former Czechoslovakia. JW at the end of the communism had extensive membership, especially in Ostrava, Prague, and eastern Slovakia. The collapse of the communism had ushered a new era of freedom and work for Jehova peaked in 1989-1995 which were the most productive, and the number of JW peaked.

  However, there came series of scandals and new lights that lead to almost disintegration of the JW in CZ in the 1990's. First was the flip flop on alternative services caused expulsion of 1000 of males JWs before new light apporved. Second issue was gaining registration as own religious group at the ministry of culture, which was obtained illegally. Third issue was illegal money and laundering that involved prostitution, etc, with the Bethel. It was investigated by Czech Police and couple high rank elders at Prague bethel were expeled. Another exodus happened. Czech Republic like rest of post-communist world, expeirenced significant improvement of living standard, economy, social service, that maked them as wealthy as Spain or Italy. The improved quality of life does not match with hysteria of the end is near. JW could not combat the steady rise of living standard with apocalyptic vision. Slovakia experience indifferent population, especially among people under 40. Scandals are happening where you see oversee driving audis and mercedes and demand from the local population accommodation and want the locals to cook for them or pay them lunch and dinner expenses. People are leaving as they see to be used and milked of last penny.

  I doubt -10,038 is not correct number, I would see it as typo and should be -1038, similar that was in Czech Republic in 1990's
• 

  TheOldHippie

  Before you make way too much fuzz over Slovakia - the figure is totally and utterly wrong! The decrease is 38. Check the YB and you'll see. So no -10,038 but only -38.

  So a lot of pet theories will have to be stovced away, I am sorry. :-)

  A thing infrequently mentioned, is the massive exodus of particularly men aged 20 thru 40 from all the East European countries to Western Europe in search of jobs. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Rumania, Bulgaria in particular lose a lot of their male and young population each year.