By Cheon Won Choi Chair, IEEE R10 Membership Development Committee
As the new term of the IEEE Region 10 Membership Development Committee begins, Cheon Won Choi Chair, IEEE Region 10 Membership Development Committee has analyzed the membership statistics.
As the IEEE R10 Membership Development Committee enters a new term this September, a comprehensive analysis has been conducted to understand membership and retention trends over the past 17 years. Drawing on MD Monthly reports and OU Analytics data, this review highlights long-term trends to support ongoing efforts in membership growth and retention.
Membership Growth Trends
Figure 1 displays membership trends for IEEE and IEEE Region 10, accompanied by linear regression lines that indicate a positive trajectory over the past 17 years.
The slopes of the regression lines—1475 (global, orange line) and 5131 (Region 10, sky blue line)—indicate steady growth, with the p-value of 0.0534 suggesting this trend is not statistically strong but still supportive of positive membership growth over time.
Figure 2 shows IEEE membership growth rates, calculated by comparing membership numbers year-over-year from August to August. A linear regression of these growth rates reveals a slight positive slope of 0.08348, signaling a generally upward trend despite a higher p-value of 0.5758, which limits its statistical strength. However, the sustained positive direction reflects IEEE’s ongoing membership development efforts.
Comparison with Global Population Growth
For context, Figure 3 provides global population growth rates over the same period, using data from Worldometer (website https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/world-population-by-year/#google_vignette was used for drawing the curves in the figure). Interestingly, while population growth rates have shown a decline (with a negative slope of -0.03216), IEEE membership continues to grow. This comparison suggests that IEEE’s development strategies have effectively attracted new members despite slowing global population growth.
Figure 4 shows retention rates in IEEE and IEEE Region 10 for last 13 years. Note that the retention rate in 2024, for example, is roughly defined by (number of members who have renewed until August, 2024)/(membership in August, 2023)*100. Retention plays a critical role in ensuring the organization’s growth. As the data indicate, membership growth has been positive, but a decline in retention rates suggests potential gaps in member engagement or satisfaction. A focus on member retention can help bolster membership, enhancing IEEE’s capacity to sustain and grow its community over the long term.
Key Takeaways
The positive growth in IEEE membership, particularly when set against the backdrop of declining global population growth, highlights the organization’s success in attracting new members. However, the declining retention rates underscore an opportunity to strengthen membership satisfaction and engagement. Checking in with members to understand their evolving needs and ensuring that IEEE offerings continue to resonate will be crucial in reversing retention trends and supporting a robust IEEE community.
The new term is an opportune time to reflect on and reinforce IEEE’s value proposition, ensuring that members find pride and enjoyment in their IEEE affiliation.