The global footprint of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expanded significantly in September 2026, reaching a total of 506 operating missions worldwide. This milestone follows the addition of 55 new missions across the globe during the year 2026, stretching an ecclesiastical network across the world’s six inhabited continents.
A Rapidly Accelerating Global Reach
Out of the 506 total missions currently operating, 209 have been established since 2000. This means roughly 41% of the current global administrative units are products of twenty-first-century expansion. The newly updated directory encompasses regions spanning from the United States and Canada to sprawling urban centers in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
North America maintains a heavy concentration of these administrative regions, featuring missions distributed across U.S. states like Utah, alongside Canadian provinces. Meanwhile, Barbados Bridgetown reflects international locations included in the sources.
Geographic Distribution Across Six Continents
Latin America and the Caribbean host a dense network of missions, particularly in Mexico, where dozens of districts operate from Tijuana down to Villahermosa, alongside multiple jurisdictions across Central America, the Dominican Republic, and South American nations like Peru. In Europe and Africa, administrative boundaries cross complex linguistic and national lines, grouping nations or dividing major metropolitan areas such as London.
The extensive directory, published in the Deseret News’ September 2026 special magazine titled Missionary Work in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, provides a comprehensive accounting of these regions. It details active jurisdictions while omitting historical boundaries that have previously closed or consolidated into neighboring missions.
Logistical Realities of an Expanded Workforce
Managing over 506 distinct missions requires sophisticated operational infrastructure, ranging from welfare farms in Idaho to localized assignments spanning Asia and the Pacific. As new missions continue to open—55 in 2026 alone—church leadership faces the ongoing task of staffing and supplying administrative headquarters to regional hubs across the globe. It is unclear how this rapid expansion will alter logistical demands and local community engagement in newly minted mission areas as these regional offices settle into their operational footprints.
