The Australian Bahá’í Community had a net increase of 124 individuals but youth are not reaffirming

The Australian Bahá’í Community had a net increase of 124 from 21,651 at the end of 180 B.E. to 21,775 at the end of 181 B.E. There were 111 enrolments, a 63% increase compared to last year. 96 young Bahá’ís reaffirmed their faith in Bahá’u’lláh during the year, but 83 did not reaffirm by age 18. The number of Local Spiritual Assemblies at Ridván 2024 was 165.

(National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia Incorporated - Annual Report for 181 B.E.)

National_Spiritual_Assembly_Annual_Report_181_BE_singles

The following statistics from the annual report highlight specific areas of decline or ongoing challenges within the Australian Bahá'í community during the 182 B.E. (2025–2026) period:

• Net Population Decrease: The community experienced a net decrease of 25 members, falling from 21,775 at the end of the previous year to 21,750.
• Declining Enrolments: There were 77 formal enrolments, representing a 31% decrease compared to the previous year. This is described as a "persistently low number".
• Youth Retention Issues: While 75 young Bahá'ís reaffirmed their faith, 83 youth did not reaffirm by age 18, resulting in a net loss in this demographic.
• Reduction in Core Activities: The total number of core activities (devotionals, children's classes, junior youth groups, and study circles) dropped from 3,228 to 3,071, a 4.9% decrease.
• Lower Participation: Overall participation in core activities fell from 20,476 to 19,186, a 6.3% decrease.
• Drop in Study Circles: The number of study circles saw a significant decline from 608 to 525.
• Human Resource Shortages: The community faces difficulty engaging skilled resources to replace staff completing their service, leading to a work overload for existing personnel.
• Institutional Disunity: The report notes that a small number of Local Spiritual Assemblies have had their progress "arrested, or even reversed, by serious disunity among the members".
• Pioneering Vacancies: Replacing international pioneers remains a "high priority," with seven goal areas currently requiring pioneers to be placed as soon as possible.

(National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia Incorporated - Annual Report for 182 B.E.)

https://horizons.bahai.org.au/bahai-institutions/a-year-of-courage-conviction-and-confirmation-national-assembly-releases-annual-report/