Scientology Information > Questions and Answers about Scientology and its Related Entities
How Many Scientologists ARE There, REALLY?
Lorelei:
Certainly nowhere near the oft-quoted "8 million members worldwide" that the "Church" of Scientology claims.
http://www.newsfrombree.co.uk/stolgy_4.htm
Quote>>>>Conclusions
The CoS has never produced a shred of evidence to support its 'millions of members' claim. On the contrary, all other demographic data published by the CoS appears to contradict it.
CoS claims for national membership in European countries indicate a worldwide total of about half a million members. This seems to be a 'second layer' of claims, consistent with each other. It may equate to local mailing lists.
Below this lies a 'third layer' of claims such as staff numbers, magazine circulation figures and auditing hours. These point to a lower figure again.
Finally we have some independent data - national censuses. These also indicate a much lower figure.
An article in the Observer newspaper, October 1, 2006:
While it claims to have 10 million members worldwide, independent experts estimate the number as closer to 100,000.
which summed it up nicely. Plus, it's nice to called an independent expert even if I'm not! The ARIS 2008 result, if confirmed by data from other countries, may indicate that the worldwide estimate needs to be revised downwards to more like 50,000, but 'below 100,000' seems a safe bet.
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Discussion:
http://www.xenu.net/archive/COS_members.html
ethercat:
Well, there's 500 in the Netherlands:
http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,4602.msg10631.html#msg10631
And in Atlanta, there are either 600 (scientology spokesperson): http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,27.msg149.html#msg149
or 100 active (scientology lawyer): http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,881.msg3222.html#msg3222
Local critics think the lawyer is closer to correct, but is still lying a bit on the low side.
In 2008, there were less than 400 members in Ireland: http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,2170.msg5578.html#msg5578
In France, according to scientology, 45,000, but according to the French government, 2000-3000:
http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,785.msg3033.html#msg3033
Aaron Saxton thinks there are about 45,000 worldwide:
http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,4409.msg10192.html#msg10192
Lorelei:
Of course, the first linked page in the OP was last updated last April, too. :)
ethercat:
The number is a moving target - even scientology doesn't know it for sure, what with all the people who are only in because of the relatives, friends, and business connections they give up if they leave officially, the ones that are officially still members but aren't purchasing or attending any services, and those who have left but not said anything yet still get tracked down and sent promo material, even after they move.
An accurate estimated number would be nice to know, but is probably impossible to know for sure, at least until/unless the numbers dwindle to almost none. We sure can't count on the organization itself to give an honest and accurate count.
Lorelei:
Same topic: http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/so-how-big-is-the-church-of-scientology-really/
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