Brazil alone accounts for the majority of SAD's membership, making it one of the most significant national Adventist presences globally. SAD combines strong institutional development (universities, hospitals, media) with ongoing evangelistic momentum.
Balancing Institutional Maturity and Growth
Estimated
SAD represents what happens when a division successfully builds both institutional depth and maintains growth. This balance — which NAD and SPD struggle with — makes SAD a valuable case study for Western divisions.
Health Scorecard
2024
Retention & Growth
Retention Rate
Members retained year-over-year
—
Net Growth
Overall membership change
+0.9%
Dropout Rate
Lost to dropped + missing
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Evangelism
Kingdom Growth Rate
Baptisms + POF per 100 members
—
Accessions per Worker
Worker evangelistic productivity (baptisms + POF)
—
Loss Rate
Total losses per 100 members
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Workforce
Members per Worker
Workforce stretch ratio
—
Members per Church
Average congregation size
—
Financial
Tithe per Capita
Annual tithe per member (USD)
—
Tithe Growth
Year-over-year tithe change
—
Membership Trend
South American Division
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Membership Growth
South American Division — Membership growth over time
+55066.0% since 1915
2.7M members (2024)
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Adventist Membership
Period Analysis
1934–1935
↑ +4.4%
25K → 27K
1953–1954
↑ +6.5%
70K → 75K
1972–1973
↑ +5.8%
309K → 327K
1991–1992
↑ +7.7%
1.1M → 1.2M
2010–2011
↓ -1.3%
2.1M → 2.0M
2023–2024
↑ +0.9%
2.7M → 2.7M
Baptisms Trend
South American Division
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Growth Composition
Kingdom growth (baptisms + POF) vs transfer balance vs losses. Above the line = growth. Below = losses.
Kingdom Growth (Baptisms + POF)
Transfer Balance
Losses
Membership Pipeline
Gains (baptisms, transfers in) vs Losses (deaths, dropped, transfers out)
Retention Curve
Percentage of members retained year-over-year. Green dashed line = 95% target.