The Catholic Church grows around the world, led by Africa, although vocations decrease

On the occasion of the 99th World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday, October 19, 2025 with the theme “Missionaries of hope among peoples”, the Vatican agency Fides presents some statistics that offer a general overview of the Catholic Church in the world.

The study is based on the year 2023, in which the world population amounted to 7,914,582,000 people, with a positive trend in all continents, including Europe. The increase in Catholics was 15,881,000 compared to the previous year.

Catholics increase around the world

The most notable growth of Catholics occurs in Africa, with an increase of 8,309,000; and America with 5,668,000; followed by Asia with 954,000; Europe with 740,000 and Oceania with 210,000.

The percentage of Catholics in the world population increased by 0.1% compared to the previous year, standing at 17.8%.

It should be noted that the total number of bishops in the world increased by 77 compared to the previous year’s survey, reaching 5,430. Diocesan bishops also increased by 84, while religious bishops decreased by 7. In total there are 4,258 diocesan bishops and 1,172 religious bishops.

The number of priests decreases

The number of priests in the world continues to decrease. According to data from the Fides agency, in 2023 it decreased by 734 compared to the previous year, leaving a total of 406,996 priests.

The most significant decrease is again recorded in Europe, with 2,486 fewer priests, followed by America, where the number was reduced by 800, and Oceania, with 44 fewer. On the other hand, the number of priests increases in Africa, with 1,451 more, and in Asia, which adds 1,145 new priests.

Diocesan priests decreased by 429, remaining at 278,742. Religious priests also registered a drop—reversing the trend of the previous year—and now number 128,254, that is, 305 less than in the last measurement.

For their part, permanent deacons continue to increase, reaching a total of 51,433. Growth is mainly concentrated in America (+1,257) and Oceania (+57), while slight declines are recorded in Asia (–1), Africa (–3) and Europe (–27).

Non-priest religious also decreased, with 736 fewer than the previous year, standing at 48,748. The declines occurred in Europe (–308), America (–293), Asia (–196) and Oceania (–46), although Africa showed a slight increase (+107).

Likewise, the global decrease in nuns is confirmed, a trend that has been maintained for years. Currently there are 589,423, that is, 9,805 less than in the previous report. They increase in Africa (+1,804) and Asia (+46), but continue to decrease in Europe (–7,338), America (–4,066) and Oceania (–251).

The number of seminarians decreases

The number of major seminarians, diocesan and religious, also decreases, with a total of 106,495 (the previous year they were 108,481). Africa alone registers an increase of 383.

Minor seminarians, diocesan and religious, also decrease, reaching 95,021, with a decrease of 140. In addition, Africa goes from an increase in the 2022 survey to a slight decrease of 90.

Education and assistance

Fides Agency also reported that the Catholic Church manages a total of 74,550 kindergartens in the world with 7,639,051 students; 102,455 primary schools with 36,199,844 students; 52,085 secondary schools with 20,724,361 students; 2,688,625 students in higher education institutions; and 4,468,875 students in Catholic universities.

Furthermore, in the health and care field there are 103,951 institutions linked to the Catholic Church, including 5,377 hospitals and 13,895 dispensaries; 504 leper colonies;

15,566 homes for the elderly, chronically ill or disabled; 10,858 daycare centers; 10,827 marriage counseling centers; 3,147 education or social reintegration centers and 5,184 other types of institutions.

Ecclesiastical constituencies increase

The ecclesiastical circumscriptions dependent on the Dicastery for Evangelization are a total of 1,130, with an increase of 7 compared to the last recorded variation.

The majority of these ecclesiastical constituencies are found in Africa (530) and Asia (483), followed by America (71) and Oceania (46).

The data relating to the total world population and the number of baptized Catholics are updated as of June 30, 2023 and the other data corresponds to December 31, 2023.