How many United Methodists are there worldwide?

The United Methodist Church is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world, with approximately 12 million members in more than 130 countries. Understanding the church's global reach requires looking at its presence in both the United States and the international community.

In the United States

In the U.S., the UMC has approximately 6.3 million members in more than 30,000 local congregations. These churches are organized into 54 annual conferences across five jurisdictions covering every state and territory. While U.S. membership has been declining gradually for several decades—a trend common to most mainline Protestant denominations—United Methodist congregations remain deeply rooted in their communities and continue to make a significant impact through worship, service, and advocacy.

Around the World

Outside the United States, the UMC is experiencing significant growth, particularly in Africa and the Philippines. Major areas of international presence include:

• Africa — The fastest-growing region, with vibrant conferences in countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and many others.
• Asia — Strong presence in the Philippines, with affiliated and autonomous Methodist churches across the continent.
• Europe — Conferences in Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Eurasia.

The Broader Methodist Family

Beyond the United Methodist Church, the worldwide Methodist family includes more than 80 million people in over 130 denominations. Many of these churches trace their roots to John Wesley and maintain close relationships with one another through the World Methodist Council. When viewed as a whole, the Methodist tradition represents one of the largest and most geographically diverse movements in global Christianity.