Michael Brooks
Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the United States, with approximately 77.4 million members as of 2017, or about 20% of the population. The US is home to the world's fourth-largest Catholic population, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. While Catholics are spread out relatively evenly across the US, some cities have larger Catholic populations than others. This paragraph will explore the distribution of Catholics in the US and whether more Catholics live in urban or rural areas.
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What You'll Learn
- Boston, New York, and Pittsburgh have the largest Catholic populations
- Catholicism is growing fastest in the South and West
- Hispanic groups are a large presence in Catholic urban areas
- Rhode Island has the largest Catholic population by state
- The global Catholic population is growing, with 1.4 billion Catholics in 2023
Boston, New York, and Pittsburgh have the largest Catholic populations
Boston, in particular, has been described as "the most Catholic major city in the country." In 2001, of the 3.8 million people living in the Boston metropolitan area, approximately 2 million identified as Catholic. This high concentration of Catholics in Boston can be attributed to the significant influx of Catholic Irish and Italians who migrated to the city, transforming the Catholic Church's role in the US from a primarily missionary entity to a well-established presence.
New York City, which Pope Francis visited in 2015, shares the top spot with Boston and Pittsburgh as the most Catholic city in the United States. Philadelphia and Chicago tie for second place, with 33% of their residents identifying as Catholic.
While the Catholic population is spread across the country, there are slight variations in the regional distribution. The South has the highest percentage of Catholics (29%), followed by the Northeast (26%), the West (25%), and the Midwest (20%). However, when looking at the racial and ethnic makeup, the Midwest has the highest percentage of White Catholics (78%), while the South has the highest percentage of Hispanic Catholics (45%).
Catholicism is a significant religious force in the United States, with approximately 20% of U.S. adults identifying as Catholics as of 2025. This percentage has remained relatively stable since 2014, although it is slightly lower than in 2007, when 24% of U.S. adults identified as Catholic. With 61.9 million Catholics in 2020, the United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
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Catholicism is growing fastest in the South and West
The South has seen the most significant growth in the number of Catholics, with the percentage of Catholics in this region increasing in recent years. Texas, Louisiana, and Florida have seen some of the largest increases in Catholics, with Florida's Catholic population rising by 5.6 percentage points from 2010 to 2020. The South now has the highest percentage of Catholics among the four regions, with 32% of U.S. Catholics residing there.
The West has also experienced notable growth in Catholicism, with 24% to 25% of U.S. Catholics calling this region home. In the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics, and it has a relatively larger population of Asian Catholics compared to other regions. Large Catholic congregations are common in the West, with an average of 4,700 Catholics per congregation.
The decline in the Midwest and Northeast, once Catholic strongholds, has resulted in a loss of 3 million Catholics in these regions over the past decade. The Northeast now has 24% to 26% of the country's Catholics, while the Midwest has 19% to 21%.
This growth in Catholicism in the South and West coincides with a period of overall stability in the percentage of Americans identifying as Catholic, which has remained at around 20% over the past decade. However, the number of practicing Catholics has increased nationwide, even as the number of churches has decreased.
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Hispanic groups are a large presence in Catholic urban areas
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with around 20% of U.S. adults identifying as Catholic. This equates to about 61.9 million Catholics in the U.S., or 18.7% of the population, according to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census. While the percentage of U.S. adults identifying as Catholic has decreased slightly since 2007, it has remained relatively stable since 2014.
Hispanic Catholics are a significant and growing presence within this religious group. More than half of U.S. Catholics under the age of 25 are Hispanic, and the overall percentage of first-generation Hispanic Catholic immigrants is expected to decline over the next three decades, while the second and third generations will double and triple, respectively. Most Hispanics live in the South and West of the U.S., and in these regions, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics.
Hispanic Catholics have a long history in the United States, with Spanish-speaking Catholics having lived in what is now the country for twice as long as the nation has existed. The first diocese in the New World was established in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1511, and Catholic subjects of the Spanish crown founded the first permanent European settlement within the current borders of the 50 states in 1565. Today, the majority of Hispanics are ethnically Mexican, but many also hail from various other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Hispanic Catholics are actively involved in their faith communities, taking on roles such as catechists, youth leaders, prayer group leaders, and community organizers. They are a driving force in the evolution of the U.S. Catholic parish, contributing to the transformation of ethnic enclaves into shared or multicultural congregations. Their vibrant faith practices and active church social scenes have been noted as factors in the growth of Hispanic Catholicism in the U.S.
Despite their growing presence and contributions, there are questions about the representation of Hispanic Catholics in leadership positions within the Church and their support for parishes and programs. These discussions prompt reflections on the attitudes towards Hispanics within Catholic communities and the need to understand the complex realities shaping their lives.
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Rhode Island has the largest Catholic population by state
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States, with a population of 1,048,319. Despite its size, it has the highest percentage of Catholics in the country, with around 61% of its population identifying as Catholic. This equates to approximately 635,590 Catholics. To put this into context, 20% of US adults describe themselves as Catholic.
The first permanent Catholic church in Rhode Island was founded in Newport in 1828. The growth of the Catholic Church in the state was primarily due to the transformation of the state's economy from mercantile and agrarian to one based on manufacturing. The factories and mills drew Catholic immigrants in large numbers, with the Irish being the first and largest group. In the 1870s, Portuguese immigrants also began to arrive in significant numbers, and from the late 1880s, Italians started to settle in the state. Between 1860 and 1910, over 35,000 French Canadians immigrated to Rhode Island, and the city of Woonsocket became known as the "Quebec of New England".
The Catholic population of Rhode Island is notably ageing, and the state faces the same issues with parish consolidation as other Northeast areas. Despite this, Rhode Island remains a cultural hub for Catholicism, with many beautiful churches and active parishes.
While Rhode Island has the highest percentage of Catholics by state, the cities of Boston, New York, and Pittsburgh are tied as the most Catholic cities in the US, with 36% of residents identifying as Catholic.
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The global Catholic population is growing, with 1.4 billion Catholics in 2023
The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare in the world. As of 2023, the global Catholic population has reached 1.4 billion, with a notable growth of 1.15% from 2022, when there were approximately 1.39 billion Catholics worldwide.
The Americas continue to be the region with the highest proportion of Catholics, accounting for 47.8% of the global total. South America is home to 27.4% of Catholics in the Americas, while 6.6% reside in North America, and 13.8% in Central America. Brazil has the largest number of Catholics in South America, with 182 million, representing 13% of the world's total Catholic population. Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay also stand out, with more than 90% of their populations identifying as Catholic.
In Asia, the Catholic population grew by 0.6% between 2022 and 2023, with the Philippines and India registering significant numbers. Africa, however, registered the greatest growth, with a 3.31% increase in the Catholic population. The Democratic Republic of Congo leads the region with nearly 55 million Catholics, followed by Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, which have also experienced significant increases.
In Oceania, the Catholic population increased by 1.9%, reaching just over 11 million in 2023. The number of bishops worldwide also increased by 1.4% during this period, rising from 5,353 in 2022 to 5,430 in 2023. This growth was observed in all regions except Oceania, where the number of bishops remained constant.
The Catholic Church's global presence is evident in its educational and charitable initiatives. It runs over 74,000 kindergartens, 100,000 primary schools, and nearly 50,000 secondary schools worldwide. Additionally, the Church operates more than 5,400 hospitals, 15,000 homes for the elderly or disabled, and over 9,700 orphanages, with the majority located in Asia.
While the number of priests worldwide has slightly decreased, the number of Catholics per priest has increased, with an average of 3,373 Catholics for every priest. In terms of geographical distribution, Europe continues to have the largest number of women religious, representing almost 32% of the world's total, followed by Asia with 30%.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2017, 22% of the US population is Catholic, making it the largest religious denomination in the country. This is approximately 77.4 million people.
Boston, New York City, and Pittsburgh are tied as the cities with the largest Catholic populations in the US, with 36% of residents identifying as Catholic.
While Catholics are spread out relatively evenly across the US, the most significant enclaves of dedicated Catholics are found in rural Midwest areas, originating from the lineage of Central European immigrants.
