Global Catholic Population Reaches 1.406 Billion Amid Declining Priests

The Vatican's latest reports reveal that the global Catholic population grew from approximately 1.39 billion to 1.406 billion between 2022 and 2023, marking a 1.15% increase. Africa saw the most significant growth, with a 3.31% rise, bringing its Catholic population to 281 million, primarily driven by countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. In contrast, the Americas, home to nearly 48% of the world's Catholics, experienced a modest growth of 0.9%, while Europe stagnated, showing only a 0.2% increase. Despite the rise in Catholic numbers, the overall number of priests, seminarians, and consecrated religious has continued to decline. The reports also highlight the dynamic nature of the Church's expansion in Africa compared to the more static growth in Europe. The Annuario Pontificio 2025 and Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2023 provide a comprehensive analysis of these trends and the continuing evolution of the Church globally.