How many Mennonites are there (is the Mennonite population growing)?

As a theologian, I’m fascinated by the global influence of certain denominations. I’m especially intrigued by how the Mennonite church managed to spread its doctrines beyond Europe and North America. When I heard that there are plenty of Mennonites in African countries like Congo, I had to visit. Last week, some of my students were curious about the exact numbers of Mennonites in various parts of the world. Having travelled to Africa and Asia to find answers to these questions, I was ready to answer their questions. So, how many Mennonites are there?

In this article, I invite you on a journey around the globe. We will find out the exact number of Mennonites in places like Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. We will also identify the countries with the most number of Mennonites. Keep reading to understand how the Mennonite population is distributed around the world.

Where are most Mennonites located today?

Today, Statistics reveal that modern-day Mennonites predominantly live in Canada and the U.S. There are also plenty of Mennonites in the southern hemisphere. Data shows that many Mennonites live in Asia and Africa. The countries like India, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia have over 100,000 Mennonites within their territories. There are also many Mennonites in several European countries.

In terms of percentages, Asia and Pacific regions contain 20.58% of Mennonites, while Africa has 36.43%. The percentage of Mennonites left in Europe is 2.98%, while those left in North America are 30.50%. The regions in Latin America and the Caribbean have 9.51% of the Mennonites.

How many Mennonites are in the world?

There are more than 1.75 million members of the Mennonite church in the world today. These people are spread-out in more than 80 countries globally. As of 2012, more than two-thirds of Mennonites have left North America to settle in other parts of the world.

Most recently (2022), over 100 churches were categorizing themselves as members of the Mennonite World Conference. Put simply, 1.47 million believers were baptized in these churches. This figure makes up 69.24% of the global Mennonite family. The following is a breakdown of the Mennonites in different parts of the world;

Country	Number of Mennonites
Africa
Kenya	34,566
Ivory Coast	1,100
South Africa	1,675
Ghana	5,109
Namibia	300
Nigeria	19,173
Malawi	4,185
The Gambia	55
Zimbabwe	42,446
Zambia	17,946
Tanzania	64,534
Angola	18,854
Ghana	5,109
Central and South America, the Caribbean
Brazil	12, 873
Peru	907
Columbia	2,825
Chile	1,200
Dominican Republic	6,164
Cuba	6,361
Guatemala	14,869
Honduras	18,008
Nicaragua	10,401
Mexico	32,036
Uruguay	1,457
Paraguay	33,251
Ecuador	1,270
Belize	4,817
Argentina	4,678
Venezuela	546
Trinidad & Tobago	280
Puerto Rico	604
Haiti	4,617
Costa Rica	1,978
Bolivia	24,988
Europe
Germany	46,757
CIS	3,000
Netherlands	8,030
Switzerland	2,500
Italy	250
France	2,100
United Kingdom	289
Ukraine	409
Spain	379
Portugal	150
Austria	368
Ireland	25
Poland	10

Top ten countries with the most number of Mennonites in the world

Country	Number of Mennonites
United States	391,900
Canada	137,208
Democratic Republic of Congo	235,202
Ethiopia	224,407
India	149,849
Indonesia	108,528
Tanzania	64,534
Germany	46,757
Zimbabwe	42,446
Kenya	34,566

Why are there so many Mennonites in Africa and Asia?

Mennonite culture is rooted in peace and a minimalist lifestyle. The majority of Western countries have technology woven into their lives. It is harder to find converts in these countries because they do not readily accept stringent and old fashion beliefs. On the other hand, the majority of African and Asian people lead simple lives. It is easier to avoid the charms of modern technology in certain parts of Africa and Asia. These regions are also far more tolerant of strict religious doctrines concerning dress codes and other contentious issues. That explains why countries like Tanzania, India, Kenya and Congo have a large number of Mennonites.