When President Thomas S. Monson announced the age change for missionary service in 2012, the number of missionaries serving around the world surged from 58,000 to 88,000, and more missions were created to accommodate them. Now that the initial wave of missionaries has since receded to about 68,000, the Church is once again changing the number of missions around the world.
Mormon Newsroom reported in October that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would adjust the number of its 421 missions to better fit the needs of each region of the world. Today, the Church announces boundary realignments for 19 missions, as well as the creation of five new missions. With the changes there will be 407 missions.
The following five missions will open in July 2018:
Brazil Rio de Janeiro South Cote d’Ivoire Yamoussoukro Nigeria Ibadan Philippines Cabanatuan Zimbabwe Bulawayo
And the Church will realign the boundaries for the following 19 missions in July 2018 and merge them with adjoining missions: