Latest report figures

Chloe

Well-known member
1) Baptisms plummet

2019 - 303,866

2020 - 241,994

2021 - 171,393

Baptisms dropped 20% in 2020, and 30% more in 2021. The total drop from 2019 to 2021 is an amazing 44%.

One could argue that without in-person assemblies and conventions you'd expect baptisms to drop. BUT....if someone really wants to get baptized, JWs will find a way. JW social media is blanketed with video after video of JWs getting baptized in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, even laundry tubs & 55-gallon drums.

The count of JWs is based on "publishers", not "baptized people", and you can be an "unbaptized publisher", BUT....

The number of "unbaptized publishers" in any congregation is typically very small, usually less than 10% of the total. And probably 90% of the "unbaptized publishers" in a congregation are kids of baptized JWs not yet old enough to get dunked.

The decreasing count of new baptisms points toward major declines in future publisher counts, especially as the COVID death toll adds to the usual JW attrition.

2) Field service hours plummet

2019 - 2,088,560,437

2020 - 1,669,901,531

2021 - 1.423.039,931

Field service hours dropped 20% in 2020 compared to 2019, and another 15% in 2021 vs. 2020. The 2 year drop is 32%.

Without actual door to door or public witnessing, you'd expect the number to decrease, BUT....

On the other hand, it has literally never been easier to "get your time in". Just sit at home in your bathrobe making phone calls or writing letters. If you have Zoom, join in with your friends in their bathrobes, writing letters. With all the "easy time" that is possible now, how is there a 32% drop?

If a JW were really "zealous", he'd be writing, phoning, informal witnessing, etc. at every opportunity. Theoretically , we're in the "last days of the last days" - hardly time to reduce your activity by one-third.

3) Average Bible Studies plummet

2019 - 9,618,182

2020 - 7,705,765

2021 - 5,908,167

That's a 26% drop in 2020 vs, 2019, and an additional 23% drop in 2021 vs. 2020. The 2-year total drop is 39%.

This is arguably the most devastating number of all. Without Bible studies, no one progresses from "Bible student" to "unbaptized publisher" to "Baptized JW". The "pipeline" is drying up.

It's even more horrific when you consider that virtually all JW parents with kids under the age of 12 are counting the "family study" on their reports. In no way, shape, or form does a pandemic affect the ability of JW parents to study with their own kids in their own home - so that number is unchanged. So, the drop in [Bible studies other than with your own kids] is even more dramatic - undoubtedly more than a 50% drop in 2 years.

The WT organization is reeling. The overall numbers are still pretty OK for now, but that's mainly momentum. The numbers will drop precipitously in years to come. They have been utterly blindsided by the pandemic (so much for Jehovah "telling his prophets in advance") and have no clue how to right the severely listing ship.
 

a watcher

Well-known member
Maybe the field service hours dropped because the r&f publishers no longer have to report 'hours'. All they have to say is that they 'participated in the ministry'.
 

TheJehuChariot

Well-known member
1) Baptisms plummet

2019 - 303,866

2020 - 241,994

2021 - 171,393

Baptisms dropped 20% in 2020, and 30% more in 2021. The total drop from 2019 to 2021 is an amazing 44%.

One could argue that without in-person assemblies and conventions you'd expect baptisms to drop. BUT....if someone really wants to get baptized, JWs will find a way. JW social media is blanketed with video after video of JWs getting baptized in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, even laundry tubs & 55-gallon drums.

The count of JWs is based on "publishers", not "baptized people", and you can be an "unbaptized publisher", BUT....

The number of "unbaptized publishers" in any congregation is typically very small, usually less than 10% of the total. And probably 90% of the "unbaptized publishers" in a congregation are kids of baptized JWs not yet old enough to get dunked.

The decreasing count of new baptisms points toward major declines in future publisher counts, especially as the COVID death toll adds to the usual JW attrition.

2) Field service hours plummet

2019 - 2,088,560,437

2020 - 1,669,901,531

2021 - 1.423.039,931

Field service hours dropped 20% in 2020 compared to 2019, and another 15% in 2021 vs. 2020. The 2 year drop is 32%.

Without actual door to door or public witnessing, you'd expect the number to decrease, BUT....

On the other hand, it has literally never been easier to "get your time in". Just sit at home in your bathrobe making phone calls or writing letters. If you have Zoom, join in with your friends in their bathrobes, writing letters. With all the "easy time" that is possible now, how is there a 32% drop?

If a JW were really "zealous", he'd be writing, phoning, informal witnessing, etc. at every opportunity. Theoretically , we're in the "last days of the last days" - hardly time to reduce your activity by one-third.

3) Average Bible Studies plummet

2019 - 9,618,182

2020 - 7,705,765

2021 - 5,908,167

That's a 26% drop in 2020 vs, 2019, and an additional 23% drop in 2021 vs. 2020. The 2-year total drop is 39%.

This is arguably the most devastating number of all. Without Bible studies, no one progresses from "Bible student" to "unbaptized publisher" to "Baptized JW". The "pipeline" is drying up.

It's even more horrific when you consider that virtually all JW parents with kids under the age of 12 are counting the "family study" on their reports. In no way, shape, or form does a pandemic affect the ability of JW parents to study with their own kids in their own home - so that number is unchanged. So, the drop in [Bible studies other than with your own kids] is even more dramatic - undoubtedly more than a 50% drop in 2 years.

The WT organization is reeling. The overall numbers are still pretty OK for now, but that's mainly momentum. The numbers will drop precipitously in years to come. They have been utterly blindsided by the pandemic (so much for Jehovah "telling his prophets in advance") and have no clue how to right the severely listing ship.
You put a lot of effort into that. Great job. Btw, where'd you get your statistics from?
 

Sarah

Well-known member
1) Baptisms plummet

2019 - 303,866

2020 - 241,994

2021 - 171,393

Baptisms dropped 20% in 2020, and 30% more in 2021. The total drop from 2019 to 2021 is an amazing 44%.

One could argue that without in-person assemblies and conventions you'd expect baptisms to drop. BUT....if someone really wants to get baptized, JWs will find a way. JW social media is blanketed with video after video of JWs getting baptized in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, even laundry tubs & 55-gallon drums.

The count of JWs is based on "publishers", not "baptized people", and you can be an "unbaptized publisher", BUT....

The number of "unbaptized publishers" in any congregation is typically very small, usually less than 10% of the total. And probably 90% of the "unbaptized publishers" in a congregation are kids of baptized JWs not yet old enough to get dunked.

The decreasing count of new baptisms points toward major declines in future publisher counts, especially as the COVID death toll adds to the usual JW attrition.

2) Field service hours plummet

2019 - 2,088,560,437

2020 - 1,669,901,531

2021 - 1.423.039,931

Field service hours dropped 20% in 2020 compared to 2019, and another 15% in 2021 vs. 2020. The 2 year drop is 32%.

Without actual door to door or public witnessing, you'd expect the number to decrease, BUT....

On the other hand, it has literally never been easier to "get your time in". Just sit at home in your bathrobe making phone calls or writing letters. If you have Zoom, join in with your friends in their bathrobes, writing letters. With all the "easy time" that is possible now, how is there a 32% drop?

If a JW were really "zealous", he'd be writing, phoning, informal witnessing, etc. at every opportunity. Theoretically , we're in the "last days of the last days" - hardly time to reduce your activity by one-third.

3) Average Bible Studies plummet

2019 - 9,618,182

2020 - 7,705,765

2021 - 5,908,167

That's a 26% drop in 2020 vs, 2019, and an additional 23% drop in 2021 vs. 2020. The 2-year total drop is 39%.

This is arguably the most devastating number of all. Without Bible studies, no one progresses from "Bible student" to "unbaptized publisher" to "Baptized JW". The "pipeline" is drying up.

It's even more horrific when you consider that virtually all JW parents with kids under the age of 12 are counting the "family study" on their reports. In no way, shape, or form does a pandemic affect the ability of JW parents to study with their own kids in their own home - so that number is unchanged. So, the drop in [Bible studies other than with your own kids] is even more dramatic - undoubtedly more than a 50% drop in 2 years.

The WT organization is reeling. The overall numbers are still pretty OK for now, but that's mainly momentum. The numbers will drop precipitously in years to come. They have been utterly blindsided by the pandemic (so much for Jehovah "telling his prophets in advance") and have no clue how to right the severely listing ship.
Children under 12? I’ve never heard of that, we are not the best doing studies but chat and discuss more, my youngest are 16 and 14 and we can still class it as a study as they are not baptised.(not that I’ve put a report in for about 2 months!)
 

Chloe

Well-known member
No it wasn’t me. I just copy and pasted it from another site. I like the site because Barbara Anderson contributes, mainly with court updates and also ‘Atlantis’ where the watchtowers letters appear first.
The figures come from the end of year service report.
 

יהוה_saves

Well-known member
1) Baptisms plummet

2019 - 303,866

2020 - 241,994

2021 - 171,393

Baptisms dropped 20% in 2020, and 30% more in 2021. The total drop from 2019 to 2021 is an amazing 44%.

One could argue that without in-person assemblies and conventions you'd expect baptisms to drop. BUT....if someone really wants to get baptized, JWs will find a way. JW social media is blanketed with video after video of JWs getting baptized in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, even laundry tubs & 55-gallon drums.

The count of JWs is based on "publishers", not "baptized people", and you can be an "unbaptized publisher", BUT....

The number of "unbaptized publishers" in any congregation is typically very small, usually less than 10% of the total. And probably 90% of the "unbaptized publishers" in a congregation are kids of baptized JWs not yet old enough to get dunked.

The decreasing count of new baptisms points toward major declines in future publisher counts, especially as the COVID death toll adds to the usual JW attrition.

2) Field service hours plummet

2019 - 2,088,560,437

2020 - 1,669,901,531

2021 - 1.423.039,931

Field service hours dropped 20% in 2020 compared to 2019, and another 15% in 2021 vs. 2020. The 2 year drop is 32%.

Without actual door to door or public witnessing, you'd expect the number to decrease, BUT....

On the other hand, it has literally never been easier to "get your time in". Just sit at home in your bathrobe making phone calls or writing letters. If you have Zoom, join in with your friends in their bathrobes, writing letters. With all the "easy time" that is possible now, how is there a 32% drop?

If a JW were really "zealous", he'd be writing, phoning, informal witnessing, etc. at every opportunity. Theoretically , we're in the "last days of the last days" - hardly time to reduce your activity by one-third.

3) Average Bible Studies plummet

2019 - 9,618,182

2020 - 7,705,765

2021 - 5,908,167

That's a 26% drop in 2020 vs, 2019, and an additional 23% drop in 2021 vs. 2020. The 2-year total drop is 39%.

This is arguably the most devastating number of all. Without Bible studies, no one progresses from "Bible student" to "unbaptized publisher" to "Baptized JW". The "pipeline" is drying up.

It's even more horrific when you consider that virtually all JW parents with kids under the age of 12 are counting the "family study" on their reports. In no way, shape, or form does a pandemic affect the ability of JW parents to study with their own kids in their own home - so that number is unchanged. So, the drop in [Bible studies other than with your own kids] is even more dramatic - undoubtedly more than a 50% drop in 2 years.

The WT organization is reeling. The overall numbers are still pretty OK for now, but that's mainly momentum. The numbers will drop precipitously in years to come. They have been utterly blindsided by the pandemic (so much for Jehovah "telling his prophets in advance") and have no clue how to right the severely listing ship.
wowowow

Chloe, thank you for putting these number together. good job!!!!! i can’t believe the declines- that is something the gov body members cannot cover up easily with their pep talks. Wow.
 

יהוה_saves

Well-known member
Maybe the field service hours dropped because the r&f publishers no longer have to report 'hours'. All they have to say is that they 'participated in the ministry'.
that could be. what month did they say JWs could just report they participated in the ministry?
 

a watcher

Well-known member
that could be. what month did they say JWs could just report they participated in the ministry?
I can't remember exactly what month but like I said, it was about a year ago. It's been so long that I can't even remember where I got that info from. It might have been from a leaked letter to the Elders.
 

jorn

Active member
Great job you've done.
Its just that phone witnessing is a huge obstacle to many Jws. Its not that easy as you may think.
 

David1982

Well-known member
The WT board cared about these numbers when they meant more donations and assets acquisition. Now these must look like pocket money, as they have tasted the beast's unlimited printing press, in exchange for their complicity with the covid scam and injection agenda.
 

Watchman

Moderator
Staff member
I watched part of the Annual Meeting today. It is hard to watch. Mark Sanderson was boasting about the all-time highs of publishers and Memorial attendance. I felt embarrassed for him. They pretend that sitting at home in your jammies writing letters is the same as going out on the street and engaging people. They pretend watching a program on a computer is the same as meeting together. Maybe the numbers are up. So what? Where is the spirit of sacrifice?
 
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