Ethan Walker
Catholicism has had a significant cultural, social, and political impact on the United States. The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, with 23% of Americans identifying as Catholic as of 2018. While Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the country after Protestantism, Catholics are a minority group within the Christian population, which makes up 73.7% of adults in the US. The Catholic Church in the United States has a diverse racial and ethnic makeup, with White, Hispanic, Black, and Asian Catholics spread across different regions. The history of Catholicism in the US dates back to the colonial era, with territories having a pre-existing Catholic presence under the governance of New France and New Spain, and the founding of the Province of Maryland as a Catholic colony in the 17th century.
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism is the second-largest religion in the US
Catholicism is the second-largest religion in the United States, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is in communion with the pope, who as of 2025 is Chicago, Illinois-born Leo XIV.
The history of Catholicism in the United States is deeply intertwined with the country's territorial evolution. After the American Revolution, the United States incorporated territories with a pre-existing Catholic history under their previous governance by New France and New Spain, the two premier European Catholic powers in North America at the time. This included the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which added vast territories with a culturally French and Catholic population, known today as the Louisiana Creole and Cajun people. The Spanish also had a significant influence on the Catholic presence in the United States, naming many settlements after Catholic saints or religious symbolism, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Antonio.
Catholicism has had a significant cultural, social, and political impact on the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies, Maryland, was founded in the 17th century with an explicitly English Catholic identity. Catholics have also played a role in the country's political landscape, with two Catholics, Daniel Carroll and Thomas Fitzsimons, helping to draft the United States Constitution in 1787.
Within the Catholic population in the United States, there are racial and ethnic variations. For example, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, while in the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics (58%) than White Catholics (27%). Black Catholics, while a minority within the Catholic Church, number approximately 3 million in the United States. They have distinct religious habits and experiences compared to other Catholic groups.
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Catholics are a minority within the Black Christian community
Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the United States, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. However, within the Black community, Catholics are a minority, comprising only 6% of Black adults and 4% of Catholic adults. There are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the US, and they have a long tradition of cooperation and collaboration with other Black Christian traditions.
The roots of Catholic Christianity among African-descended people can be traced back to the earliest converts to Christianity, including Mark the Evangelist, the unnamed Ethiopian eunuch, Simon of Cyrene, and Simeon Niger. Several early Church Fathers were also native to Africa, including Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, Athanasius, and Augustine. There have been three African popes: Victor I, Melchiades, and Gelasius I.
Black Catholics often supplement mainstream Catholic theology with beliefs common to the Black church. These include a strong belief in the omnipresence and omnipotence of God in daily life struggles, a commitment to social and political justice, and a sense of hope in the face of adversity. The academic classification of "Black Catholic theology" emerged within the Black Catholic Movement of the late 1960s and continued through the 1990s. This discipline collaborated with the broader development of black theology.
Black Catholics tend to have different experiences from Black Protestants, who make up the majority of Black Christians in the US. Many Black Protestants belong to historically Black denominations such as the National Baptist Convention and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which were formed during the 19th century when Black Americans faced restrictions on where they could worship. Black Catholics, on the other hand, are more likely to attend predominantly white congregations or mixed congregations. They are also more likely than other Catholics to emphasize the importance of racial affirmation in their congregations.
The experiences of Black Catholics are shaped by their commitment to opposing racism and sexism within Christianity. A significant majority of Black Catholics (77%) consider opposition to racism as essential to their Christian identity, while 75% say the same about opposing sexism. They are also more likely than other Catholics to encounter racism within the Church, which has sometimes been a barrier to participation in predominantly white Catholic spaces.
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Catholics tend to be older than the general US population
Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the United States, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. This makes the United States the country with the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world. While the majority of Americans identify as Christians, the dominance of Christianity has declined in recent decades, and Protestants no longer form a majority in the US.
Catholics in the US tend to be older than the general population. According to a 2023-24 survey, nearly six in ten Catholic adults (58%) are aged 50 and older, compared to 47% of all US adults. White Catholics are older than Hispanic and Asian Catholics, with 70% of White Catholics aged 50 and above, compared to 40% of Hispanic Catholics and 53% of Asian Catholics. Additionally, 39% of White Catholics are 65 and older, while only 14% of Hispanic Catholics and 20% of Asian Catholics fall into this age group.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies across regions. In the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic. In the Northeast, 72% are White and 20% are Hispanic. The South has a more even distribution, with 44% of Catholics being White and 45% Hispanic. In the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics (58% vs. 27%), and this region also has a relatively larger population of Asian Catholics (10%) compared to other regions.
Education levels among US Catholics are similar to those of the general population. About one-third of US Catholics (35%) have a bachelor's degree, 27% have attended college, and 38% have a high school education or less. Asian Catholics and White Catholics tend to have higher educational attainment than Hispanic Catholics. Half of Asian Catholics (53%) hold a college degree, while only 21% have a high school education or less.
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Catholics are spread out relatively evenly across the US
Catholics make up 23% of the United States' population as of 2018, making them a minority group in the country. They are, however, spread out relatively evenly across the US. About 29% live in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest. The US has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is in communion with the pope, who, as of 2025, is Chicago-born Leo XIV. The territorial evolution of the United States has meant that many areas that are now part of the country were Catholic in colonial times before they were Protestant. The old colonial laws imposing restrictions on Catholics were gradually abolished by the states and were prohibited in the new federal constitution.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by region. For example, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic. In the Northeast, 72% of Catholics are White and 20% are Hispanic. In the South, 44% are White and 45% are Hispanic. The West has the most Hispanic Catholics, with 58% compared to 27% White Catholics. This region also has a relatively larger population of Asian Catholics than other regions (10%).
Catholics tend to be older than Americans overall. Almost six in ten Catholic adults (58%) are aged 50 and older, compared to 47% of all US adults. However, Hispanic Catholics and Asian Catholics tend to be younger than White Catholics.
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The US has the fourth-largest Catholic population globally
The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, with 23% of the country's population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. This makes the Catholic Church the second-largest religious grouping in the US after Protestantism, and the country's largest single church if Protestantism is divided into separate denominations. A 2020 Gallup poll showed a slight increase, with 25% of Americans identifying as Catholic.
The US has a diverse religious landscape, with higher reported levels of belief than other wealthy Western nations. While Christianity is the most widely professed religion, the dominance of Christianity has declined in recent decades, and as of 2012, Protestants no longer formed a majority in the US. The US also has the largest Christian and Protestant population in the world.
The history of Catholicism in the US is deeply intertwined with the country's territorial evolution. The US has incorporated territories with a pre-existing Catholic history, such as the former colonies of New France and New Spain, which were active Catholic powers in North America. The French and Spanish influences can still be seen in the names of many settlements, which were often named after Catholic saints or symbols. For example, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Santa Fe all bear traces of their Catholic colonial past.
Catholicism in the US also has a significant cultural, social, and political impact. The state of Maryland, founded by Catholic Lord Baltimore, was the first 'non-denominational' colony and the first to accommodate Catholics. Catholics have also played a role in shaping the country's laws and constitution, with several Catholics, including Daniel Carroll and Thomas Fitzsimons, involved in drafting the United States Constitution.
Within the Catholic population in the US, there are racial minorities such as Black Catholics, who make up a small share of Black adults (6%) and Catholic adults (4%). Black Catholics often have different experiences from Black Protestants, who constitute the majority of Black Christians in the US. They are more likely to worship in predominantly white congregations and express a desire for racial affirmation from their churches.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholics are a minority in America. As of 2018, they made up 23% of the population, making them the second-largest religious group after Protestants.
Christianity is the most widely professed religion in America, with the majority of Americans being Evangelical, Protestant, or Catholic.
There are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the US, comprising a small share of Black adults (6%) and an even smaller share of Catholic adults (4%).
Polls indicate that an overwhelming majority of Americans (2021) believe in a higher power.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by region. For example, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic. More than four-in-ten US Catholics are immigrants (29%) or the children of immigrants (14%).
