jw.org (FAQ), “How Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses Are There Worldwide?”
“9,205,326 … we count only those who are actively preaching the good news of God's Kingdom each month”
Explains that monthly reports flow from congregations to branches to headquarters; the peak for each country is compiled; non-preaching associates are not counted; and explains why government census figures (which rely on self-identification) are higher than its count.
Official source (opens in new tab)
Provenance and verification note for jw.org (FAQ), How Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses Are There Worldwide?
Confidence note. Opened the live jw.org page (2025 figures displayed).
Corroborated by. src-syr-2025-0000-grand-totals
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-jworg-2026-0000-faq-how-many-jw