The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As of 2021, the LDS Church reported 102,862 members in 269 congregations in the DRC,[1] making it the third largest body of LDS Church members in Africa, behind Nigeria and Ghana.[4] Currently, the DRC ranks as having the 16th highest LDS growth rate among countries of the world, with an annual growth rate of 13 percent.[5]

AreaAfrica Central
Members115,027 (2023)[1]
Stakes27
Districts3
Quick facts Area, Members ...
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
AreaAfrica Central
Members115,027 (2023)[1]
Stakes27
Districts3
Wards237
Branches52
Total Congregations[2]289
Missions5
Temples
  • 1 operating
  • 1 under construction
  • 2 announced
  • 4 total
FamilySearch Centers24[3]
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History

More information Year, Membership ...
Membership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo[6][1]
YearMembership
1988*400
1989*1,400
1995*5,300
19998,197
200414,991
200920,883
201442,689
201968,871
2022102,862
2024134,067
*Membership was published as a rounded number.
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The LDS Church was first recognized in Zaire in 1986. That year the first missionaries began preaching in Kinshasa. The establishment of the church was aided by the Banza family, who had joined the church while studying at a university in Geneva, Switzerland. The third petitioner to establish the church that year was Nkitabungi Mbuyi, who had joined while studying in Belgium and subsequently served as a missionary for the church in England before his return to Zaire.[7] The church has grown quickly since then, with the first stake being organised in 1996.

Since establishing itself in the country, the LDS Church has played a large role in providing humanitarian aid services in the nation. This has involved installing clean water distribution systems in areas where sanitation and water are low.[8][9]

In 2011, it was reported that the church had reached a total of 100 congregations in the DRC.[10]

By late 2019, the church had 22 stakes and one district as well as several branches directly under missions in the DRC.

Stakes and districts

More information Stake, Organized ...
Stake Organized Mission
Bandundu DRC District8 Jun 2025DRC Kinshasa South
Boma DRC District23 Nov 2025DRC Kinshasa West
Bondoyi DRC Stake9 Jun 2024DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Dibindi DRC Stake11 Dec 2022DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Diulu DRC Stake28 Dec 2025DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Kabusanga DRC Stake5 Dec 2021DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Kananga DRC Stake21 Apr 2003DRC Kananga
Kananga DRC Lukonga Stake15 Jun 2025DRC Kananga
Kananga DRC Ndesha Stake15 Jun 2025DRC Kananga
Kananga DRC Nganza Stake15 Jun 2025DRC Kananga
Kasapa DRC Stake1 Dec 2024DRC Lubumbashi
Kasumbalesa DRC Stake9 Nov 2025DRC Lubumbashi
Katoka DRC Stake13 Dec 2015DRC Kananga
Katuba DRC Stake15 Mar 2009DRC Lubumbashi
Kikula DRC Stake4 Jul 2021DRC Kolwezi
Kikwit DRC District22 Jun 2025DRC Kinshasa South
Kimpese DRC District30 Nov 2025DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Stake3 Nov 1996DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Binza Stake25 Nov 2012DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Binza UPN Stake15 Sep 2024DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Fer Bois Stake9 Nov 2025DRC Kinshasa South
Kinshasa DRC Kimbanseke Stake23 Aug 2009DRC Kinshasa South
Kinshasa DRC Kimbwala Stake15 Jun 2025DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Limete Stake9 Feb 2025DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Lukunga Stake10 Feb 2019DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Mapela Stake29 Jun 2025DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Masina Stake2 May 1999DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Mikonga Stake1 Dec 2024DRC Kinshasa South
Kinshasa DRC Mont Ngafula Stake13 Apr 2008DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Mpasa Stake24 Jun 2018DRC Kinshasa South
Kinshasa DRC N'Djili Stake24 Jun 2018DRC Kinshasa South
Kinshasa DRC Ngaba Stake29 May 2016DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Ngaliema Stake9 Nov 2003DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Siforco Stake16 Dec 2012DRC Kinshasa South
Kintambo DRC Stake8 Dec 2024DRC Kinshasa West
Kisanga DRC Stake25 Aug 2013DRC Lubumbashi
Kisangani DRC District2 Apr 2023DRC Kinshasa East
Kolwezi DRC Stake3 Oct 1991DRC Kolwezi
Kolwezi DRC Joli Site Stake27 Jul 2025DRC Kolwezi
Likasi DRC Stake27 Aug 2002DRC Kolwezi
Lubumbashi DRC Stake7 Sep 1997DRC Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi DRC Bel-Air Stake8 Mar 2026DRC Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi DRC Upemba Stake30 Nov 2025DRC Lubumbashi
Lubunga DRC District11 May 2025DRC Kinshasa East
Malandji DRC Stake8 Dec 2019DRC Kananga
Mbandaka DRC District8 Feb 2026DRC Kinshasa East
Muanda DRC District16 Nov 2025DRC Kinshasa West
Luputa DRC Stake26 Jun 2006DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Luputa DRC Katubi Stake23 Nov 2025DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Luiza DRC District9 Nov 2025DRC Kananga
Matadi DRC Stake4 May 2025DRC Kinshasa West
Mbuji-Mayi DRC Stake28 Nov 2010DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Mwene-Ditu DRC Stake18 May 2014DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Ngandajika DRC Kabanda Stake11 Jan 2026DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Ngandajika DRC Kalubanda Stake6 Nov 2016DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Ruashi DRC Stake22 Oct 2017DRC Lubumbashi
Tshikapa DRC District14 Dec 2025DRC Kananga
Tshitenge DRC District15 Jun 2025DRC Mbuji-Mayi
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Missions

More information Mission, Organized ...
Mission Organized
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kananga[11] 1 Jul 2023
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa East 28 Jun 2019
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa South Jun 2024
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa West 1 Jul 1987
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kolwezi Jun 2024
Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi 30 Jun 2010
Democratic Republic of the Congo Mbuji-Mayi 1 Jul 2016
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Temples

Temples in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Red = Operating
Blue = Under Construction
Yellow = announced
Black = Closed for Renovations

On October 1, 2011 the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple was announced by church president Thomas S. Monson. On February 12, 2016 ground was broken for the temple in a ceremony conducted by Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The temple was dedicated by Dale G. Renlund on April 14, 2019.[12] Since then three other temples have been announced.

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Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size:		 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1 October 2011 by Thomas S. Monson[13][14]
12 February 2016[15] by Neil L. Andersen
14 April 2019 by Dale G. Renlund[16][17]
12,000 sq ft (1,100 m2) on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site
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Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Size:		 Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
5 April 2020 by Russell M. Nelson[18]
20 August 2022 by Matthew L. Carpenter[19]
19,300 sq ft (1,790 m2) on a 2.57-acre (1.04 ha) site
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Location:
Announced:
Size:		 Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
3 October 2021 by Russell M. Nelson[20][21]
11,000 sq ft (1,000 m2) on a 1.6-acre (0.65 ha) site
 edit
Location:
Announced:		 Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1 October 2023 by Russell M. Nelson[22][23]

See also

References

External links

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