- 1907-00-00 — It was estimated that there were from 1,000 to 1,100 believers in North America by this date, with about 12 believers in Montreal and six Bahá'ís in other localities in Canada. [BFA2:230]
- 1925-04-00 — Of the 38 localities where Bahá'ís resided in Europe, 26 were in Germany. [BBRSM182]
- 1928-04-00 — In this year there were 579 localities in the world in which Bahá'ís lived, 102 local spiritual assemblies, nine national spiritual assemblies, and about eight languages into which Bahá'í literature was translated. [BBRSM160–1]
- 1944-04-20 —
The end of the first Seven Year Plan. Some of the accomplishments of the plan were:
- Local Spiritual Assemblies were established in every province of Canada, in every state in the United States and in 14 republics in Latin America.
- Seven National Spiritual Assemblies were established during this approximate period.
- The exterior of the House of Worship in Wilmette was completed.
- In North America, 136 LSAs, 197 groups and 1,300 localities were established. [The Spiritual Conquest of the Planet (Supplement) p2]
- 1945-00-00 — See BBRSM166–7 for a chart showing the distribution of the Bahá'í Assemblies and localities in this year.
- 1950-04-25 —
- 1953-04-20 —
The Second Seven Year Plan ended with 2,425 localities, 611 local spiritual assemblies, 100 countries, islands and dependencies opened to the Faith. There were 12 national assemblies to this date; [UC43]
Accomplishments:
- NSAs in Canada, Central and South America;
- Assisted the systematic spread of Faith in Europe, incl.
forming 10 LSAs in goal cities;
- Interior ornamentation
complete;
- Supported the building of the Shrine of the
Báb;
- Expansion and more LSAs on homefront. [The Spiritual Conquest of the Planet (Supplement) p2]
- From 1921 to this time the Faith had expanded to 128 countries and territories, 15 during the time of Baha'u'llah, 20 during the time of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and an additional 58 under the stewardship of the Guardian. [Patheos website]
- 1956-04-00 — Shoghi Effendi announced that the Bahá'í Faith was established in 247 countries, in 3,700 localities and that there were more than 900 local spiritual assemblies, of which 168 were incorporated. Bahá'í literature had been translated into 190 languages. [MBW92–3]
- 1956-05-02 — After the annual reports were received from the 12 National Conventions Shoghi Effendi compiled a list of achievements made up to and including the two years since the start of the Ten Year Crusade. [MBW p76-86]
There were now 3,700 localities opened to the Faith over the surface of the entire planet -
237 Sovereign States and Chief Dependencies where the Bahá'í Faith was present -
900 Local Spiritual Assemblies -
All the countries listed as pioneering goals were now opened to the Faith except for those in the Soviet Union -
Over 70 islands in the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Indian Oceans, were opened except for 6, bringing the total to 98 islands worldwide -
40 territories were opened to the Faith in the Pacific, with 170 Bahá'í localities -
Bahá'í literature was now translated into 190 languages including 34 not included in the original plan -
In over 60 territories, the number of those who have become Bahá'ís has surpassed the number originally anticipated -
In a considerable proportion of these territories, Bahá'í membership has far exceeded the number required for the formation of local Assemblies, such as Gambia, for example, with 300 Bahá'ís -
There were 3,000 Bahá'ís in Africa -
58 territories and islands were opened in Africa, with 400 Bahá'í localities -
140 African tribes were now represented in the Bahá'í community -
120 Local Spiritual Assemblies in Africa were functioning -
Bahá'í literature was now published in 50 African languages -
There were 43 National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds—National Bahá'í Centres -
168 incorporated Local and National Spiritual Assemblies -
Land for 10 Temple Sites was acquired -
The value of National Bahá'í endowments in 51 countries exceeded $100,000—$1.1 million in today’s currency—and now included the Maxwell Home in Montreal -
The design for the House of Worship in Iran was approved -
Plans for three additional Houses of Worship in Europe, Africa, and Australia had begun -
In the Holy Land, the Covenant-breakers suffered defeat after defeat and Mírzá Majdi’d-Dín, the last survivor of the original Covenant-breakers from the time of 'Abdu'l-Bahá finally died -
In more positive news, 52 pillars of the International Bahá'í Archives had been raised and 450 tons of stone safely arrived in Haifa -
The contract was signed with the same factory in Utrecht who provided the golden tiles of the Shrine of the Báb for the green tiles of the Archives building -
The Monument Gardens were extended -
Several properties were acquired in Bahjí and on Mount Carmel -
The Temple Land on Mount Carmel was in the process of being purchased -
In the United States the Bahá'ís were invited by the San Francisco Council of Churches to attend a prayer meeting for the United Nations -
At this inter-religious gathering, the voice of the Bahá'í representative was the first to be raised, reciting a prayer revealed by Bahá'u'lláh -
A prayer revealed by `Abdu'l-Bahá for America was presented by the elected national representatives of the United States Bahá'í Community to President Eisenhower, who acknowledged its receipt in warm terms and above his own signature. -
A Bahá'í Publishing Trust was established in India -
30 new centers and 15 assemblies were formed in India, Pakistan and Burma -
In Edirne, Bahá'ís were able to purchase sites blessed by the footsteps of Bahá'u'lláh -
The very first Bahá'í Summer School in Central Africa was held in Kobuka, Uganda, with 100 attendees -
The first All-France Teaching Conference was convened -
The Bahá'ís of Tripoli, Libya and the Capital of Tanganyika both identified plots to serve as future Bahá'í cemeteries -
In Iraq, the Bahá'ís purchased land for a Bahá'í Summer School in Iraq -
The women of Egypt were granted the right to be elected to the Egyptian National Spiritual Assembly and participate as delegates at National Convention -
In the Mentawai Islands, a plot of land was purchased supplementing the National Bahá'í Endowment of Indonesia -
The northernmost outpost of the Faith in Alaska was pushed beyond the Arctic Circle -
The Seychelles and the Sudan both initiated plans for the propagation of the Faith -
The worldwide Bahá'í communities appealed with over 1,000 messages to the United Nations after the massacres of the Bahá'ís in Iran in 1955, subjected to the severest persecutions in decades. -
The Bahá'ís also contacted the Sháh of Iran, Government, the Majlis and the Senate -
Publicity was given on radio, in the world’s leading newspapers, protests were voiced by scholars, statesmen, government envoys and people of eminence such as Pandit Nehru, Eleanor Roosevelt, Professor Gilbert Murray and Professor A. Toynbee -
A written memorandum listing the atrocities was submitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations, who appointed a commission of United Nations officers, headed by the High Commissioner for Refugees, instructing its members to contact the Persian Foreign Minister and urge him to obtain from his government in Tihrán a formal assurance that the rights of the Bahá'í minority in that land would be protected. [Utterance Project part 20] - 1957-04-02 — Shoghi Effendi announced that the Faith had been established in 251 countries, that there were more than a thousand local spiritual assemblies, that Bahá'ís lived in more than 4,200 localities, and that every territory mentioned in the Tablets of the Divine Plan had been opened to the Faith. Bahá'í literature had been translated into 230 languages. [MBW105–6]
- 1959-04-21 — The Custodians announced that the number of national and regional spiritual assemblies had risen to 31, the Faith was established in 255 countries, Bahá'ís lived in over 5,200 localities and had formed nearly 1,275 local spiritual assemblies, and Bahá'í literature had been translated into 261 languages. [MC137–8]
- 1960-04-21 — The Custodians announced that the Bahá'í Faith was represented in over 256 territories and was established in over 5,800 localities; there were 31 national spiritual assemblies and nearly 1,500 local spiritual assemblies; and Bahá'í literature is in 268 languages. [Mc183–96]
- 1963-04-20 —
The Ten Year Crusade was successfully completed. The achievements of the Ten Year Crusade were celebrated at the Most Great Jubilee in April and May 1963, which commemorated the Centenary of the Declaration of Baha'u'llah's Mission. Two historic events transpired during that time: the International Convention, convened in Haifa, Israel, to elect the first Universal House of Justice; and the World Congress held in London, England.
- For a summary of achievements during the Crusade see BW13:459–60.
- For countries, islands and dependencies opened to the Faith during the Crusade see BW13:461–2. (259)
- During the Ten Year Crusade the Faith had expanded to 93 more countries and major territories. bringing the total to 259. [Patheos website]
- For number of localities in which Bahá'ís reside in different parts of the world see BW13:462. (from 2,000 to more than 11,000)
- For languages into which Bahá'í literature has been translated see BW13:462–4.
- For races represented in the Bahá'í world community see BW13:464.
- For national spiritual assemblies at the end of the plan see BW13:468–9. (from 12 to 56)
- See The Bahá'í Faith: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963 compiled by the Hands of the Cause Residing in the Holy Land.
- See also Addenda to Statistical Information Published by the Hands of the Cause of God Residing in the Holy Land in Ridván 1963. This publication shows the countries and territories opened by the Faith as well as "supplementary accomplishments".
- 1964-04-21 —
The Universal House of Justice released statistics on the growth and spread of the Bahá'í Faith at Ridván. [BW14:124–35]
- Localities: 15,186
- Local Assemblies: 4,566
- National Assemblies: 69
- 1969-08-00 — New Statistics
based on information received from
the Universal House of Justice:
Countries Opened to the Faith:
Independent countries ..... 139
Significant territories and
islands .................. 173
Totals ................. 312
Number of Localities where
Bahá'ís Reside:
United States ............. 2,533
Worldwide ................ 33,326
Number of Administrative
Bodies:
National spiritual
assemblies ................ 83
Local spiritual assemblies worldwide .............. 6,828
Local spiritual assemblies in the United States ............ 440
Number of languages into
which Bahá'í literature
has been translated ..... 428
Bahá'í schools and institutes-worldwide ........ 109
Sites acquired for future
houses of worship ....... 51
Number of tribes and minority groups representedworldwide .............. 1,136 [Bahá'í National Review Issue 20 August 1969 p16] - 1970-06-15 — Worldwide Bahá'í Statistics [CBN248,February1971p11]
Countries opened to the Faith:
Independent countries 134
Significant territories and islands 179
Total 373
Number of localities where Bahá'ís reside 43,341
Number of local spiritual assemblies 10,318 - 1971-04-21 — Localities: 46,707
Local Assemblies: 10,461
National Assemblies: 113 [from a pamphlet published by the NSA of Canada "Baha'i A New Man A New World Order"] - 1973-04-21 — Localities: 54,102
Local Assemblies: 13,737
National Assemblies: 113
Tribes and minorities represented: 1,191
Literature translated into 567 languages
Schools and Institutes: 153
Independent countries and important territories opened to the Bahá'í Faith: 317
[from a pamphlet published by the NSA of Canada "Baha'i A New Man A New World Order"] - 1975-06-05 — In a message to the Bahá'ís of the world, the Universal House of Justice recalled the "capital institutional significance" of the transference to Mount Carmel of the sacred remains of the Purest Branch and Navváb, interring them in the immediate neighbourhood of the resting-place of the Greatest Holy Leaf some thirty-six years prior.
Now, on the occasion of the commencement of the construction of the seat of the Universal House of Justice, they recounted the progress of the Faith in the eighteen years since the completion of the first building on the Arc, the International Archives Building in June of 1957. In the time between 1957 to 1975.......
- National Spiritual Assemblies have increased from 26 to 119
- Local Spiritual Assemblies have increased from 1,000 to 17,000
- Localities have increased from 4,500 to over 70,000 [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 5 June 1975] - 1982-08-19 —
A Bahá'í International Conference to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf was held in Lagos, Nigeria, attended by some 1,110 Bahá'ís from 46 countries representing some 90 ethnic groups. [BW18:100; VV61]
- For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW18:158–9 In the message the Universal House of Justice reported that in a little more than three decades there were 37 National Spiritual Assemblies, 4,490 Local Assemblies, 29,000 localities with believers drawn from 1,152 tribes.
- For a pictorial report see BW18:144–6.
- 1986-04-21 —
The Seven Year Plan was successfully completed. (1979-1986) [BW19:23]- For a graph showing the growth of the Bahá'í Faith in this period see BW19:23.
- For statistics on the Bahá'í Faith at this date see BINS155:13 and BW19:61–98, 112–46.
- A series of further plans from 1964 to 1986, The Nine Year Plan (1964-19730), The Five Year Plan (1974-1979), and the Seven Year Plan (1979-1986) carried forward the process of establishing the Bahá'í Faith in every country and major territory of the world, such that, once it became possible to spread the Baha'i Faith in the former communist countries in the 1990s, this process was more or less complete. [Patheos website]
- the restoration and opening to pilgrimage of the southern wing of the House of 'Abdu'llah Pasha;
- the completion and occupation of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice;
- the approval of detailed plans for the remaining edifices around the Arc;
- the expansion of the membership and responsibilities of the International Teaching Centre and the Continental Boards of Counsellors;
- the establishment of the offices of Social and Economic Development, and of Public Information;
- the dedication of the Mother Temple of the Pacific, and dramatic progress with the building of the Temple in India;
- the expansion of the teaching work throughout the world, resulting in the formation of twenty-three new National Spiritual Assemblies, nearly 8,000 new Local Spiritual Assemblies, the opening of more than 16,000 new localities and representation within the Baha'i community of 300 new tribes;
- the issuing of 2,196 new publications, 898 of which are editions of the Holy Text and the enrichment of Baha'i literature by productions in 114 new languages; the initiation of 737 new social and economic development projects;
- the addition of three radio stations, with three more soon to be inaugurated--
these stand out as conspicuous achievements in a Plan which will be remembered as having set the seal on the third epoch of the Formative Age. [Ridván Message 1986]
- 1991-04-21 — Number of National Assemblies - 155
Number of Local Assemblies - more than 17,000
Number of nationalities and tribes represented is estimated at 2,112 [B'91pg54 note 2]
Number of localities - over 108,000. [CoB375]
Number of languages - over 800 [B'91pg3] - 2015-09-00 — As of this date the Bahá'í community in the United States had about 175,000 Bahá'ís (less than one percent of the nation's population), residing in more than 9,000 localities. The makeup of the Faith's adherents was very diverse. The largest communities were in California, Georgia, Illinois, South Carolina, and Texas. There were Bahá'í communities in every state. (From 'Information about the Bahá'í Faith for Funeral Directors', a document available at US National website)[ Bahá'í Historical Facts MARCH 4, 2018]
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