There are more and more Catholics worldwide, but not in Europe

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The number of Catholics is increasing worldwide and is only declining in Europe. On December 31, 2022, the number of Catholics worldwide was 1,389,573,000, an increase of 13,721,000 people compared to the previous year.

The increase affects four of the five continents. Only in Europe is there a decrease in the number of Catholics: 474,000 people, according to the statistical data on the Church in the world published by the Fides agency.

Strongest increase in Catholics in Africa and America

As in previous years, the rise in the number of Catholics is strongest in Africa (plus 7,271,000) and America (plus 5,912,000). They are followed by Asia (plus 889,000) and Oceania (plus 123,000). The proportion of Catholics in the world population has risen slightly compared to the previous year (plus 0.03) and stands at 17.7 percent.

The total number of bishops worldwide has risen by 13 to 5,353 compared to the previous year’s survey. While the number of diocesan bishops has risen (plus 19), the number of religious bishops has fallen (minus 6). There are 2,682 diocesan bishops and 2,671 religious bishops. The number of priests worldwide has fallen to 407,730 (minus 142 compared to the previous year).

Once again, Europe (minus 2,745) is leading, followed by America (minus 164), which has seen a steady decline. As in the previous year, significant increases were recorded in Africa (plus 1,676) and Asia (plus 1,160). After an increase last year, Oceania is back in the red (minus 69).

The number of diocesan priests went down

The number of diocesan priests worldwide fell by 439 to 279,171. The number of religious priests, on the other hand, rose by 297 to 128,559. The number of diocesan and religious seminarians also fell in the last annual survey: there were 108,481 seminarians worldwide (the previous year, 109,895).

Increases were only recorded in Africa (plus 726) and Oceania (plus 12), while they fell in America (minus 921), Asia (minus 375) and Europe (minus 859). The total number of “minor seminarians” (students of the so-called “minor seminaries”, i.e. Catholic secondary schools with a spiritual orientation) also fell to 95,161 (minus 553). In detail, an increase can only be seen in Africa (plus 1,065), while decreases were recorded in the other continents: Asia (down 978), America (down 475), Europe (down 153), and Oceania (down 12).