The global Catholic population continued its upward trend between 2022 and 2023, rising by 1.15% to reach approximately 1.406 billion faithful.
Asia, home to around 11% of the world’s Catholics, recorded a modest growth of 0.6% during this period, with the Philippines and India accounting for more than three-quarters of the region’s Catholic population.
According to the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2023, published by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV) and compiled by the Central Office of Church Statistics under the Secretariat of State, “76.7% of Southeast Asian Catholics are concentrated in the Philippines, with 93 million, and in India, with 23 million.”
This data forms part of the latest statistical snapshot of the Church’s pastoral activity across the globe for the biennium 2022–2023.
Africa remains the most dynamic region in terms of Catholic population growth, with an increase of 3.31% from 272 million to 281 million.
The Democratic Republic of Congo holds the largest Catholic population in Africa with nearly 55 million baptized Catholics, followed by Nigeria with 35 million.
In contrast, Europe, while hosting 20.4% of the global Catholic population, is “the least dynamic area, with an increase in the number of Catholics over the biennium of just 0.2%.” Italy, Poland, and Spain have Catholic majorities exceeding 90% of their respective populations.
The Americas account for 47.8% of the global Catholic population, with a growth of 0.9%. Brazil remains the country with the highest number of Catholics worldwide at 182 million, representing 13% of the global total.
Oceania’s Catholic population grew by 1.9% in 2023, totaling just over 11 million.
Growth in Bishops and Clergy Distribution
The number of Catholic bishops worldwide increased by 1.4% from 5,353 in 2022 to 5,430 in 2023. The Vatican report noted that “the relative variation is somewhat more pronounced for Africa and Asia and below the world average for Europe and America.” Africa’s share of bishops rose from 13.8% to 14.2% of the global total.
While the global average is 259,000 Catholics per bishop, the ratio in Asia stood at 262,000, according to the underlying data, indicating a closer-than-average alignment with pastoral demand.
Slight Decline in Number of Priests
As of 2023, there were 406,996 priests worldwide, a decrease of 734 from the previous year or -0.2%. Asia bucked the global trend with a 1.6% increase in priests, while Africa also posted growth at 2.7%. Europe (-1.6%), Oceania (-1.0%), and America (-0.7%) saw declines.
The Vatican noted that “in Asia and Africa, the overall increase in priests is attributable to the dynamics of both diocesan and religious priests.” Specifically, Africa saw a 3.3% rise in diocesan priests and 1.4% in religious priests.
In terms of distribution, “38.1% of the total priests are in Europe, 29.1% belong to the American continents, while the other continental areas follow with 18.2% in Asia, 13.5% in Africa, and 1.1% in Oceania.”
Increase in Permanent Deacons
Permanent deacons grew by 2.6% globally, reaching 51,433 in 2023. Asia had the lowest ratio of deacons per 100 priests at just 0.5, compared to 29 in the Americas and 10 in Europe. “This category of pastoral worker is particularly present in the Americas (especially in North America, which accounts for 39% of all deacons worldwide) and also in Europe (31%).”
Decline in Religious Brothers and Sisters
The number of professed religious sisters declined from 599,228 in 2022 to 589,423 in 2023, a reduction of 1.6%. Asia accounts for 30% of all religious sisters globally, second only to Europe’s 32%. Notably, Southeast Asia saw a slight increase of 0.1% in 2023, while Africa grew by 2.2%. Europe recorded the steepest decline at -3.8%.
The Vatican observed that the overall decrease is “largely attributable to a considerable increase in deaths, resulting from a high proportion of elderly religious sisters.”
Decrease in Major Seminarians Worldwide
The number of major seminarians continued its long-term decline, dropping from 108,481 in 2022 to 106,495 in 2023, a decrease of 1.8%. Asia experienced a notable decline of -4.2%, while Africa saw an increase of 1.1%.
Despite the decline, Asia contributed 28.6% of all major seminarians in 2023, surpassing its share of the Catholic population. The Vatican noted that “in 2023, significant disparities were recorded,” with Asia’s percentage of seminarians (28.6%) far exceeding its share of Catholics (11%). This suggests that Asia, alongside Africa, is well-positioned to “autonomously sustain their local apostolate.”
In contrast, Europe and the Americas, which host 20.4% and 47.8% of the world’s Catholics respectively, saw seminarians account for only 12.0% and 25.7% of the global total, making it “more difficult to adequately respond to the needs of the Catholic population, particularly in terms of generational turnover in the priesthood.” – with reports from Vatican News
