Rachel Evans
While there are no statistics that indicate the exact number of American men who follow Catholicism, it is known that about 20% of American adults identify as Catholic, with the percentage being smaller among younger generations. The religion is spread out relatively evenly across the U.S., with about 29% of Catholics living in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest. The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by region, with the religion being comprised of 57% White, 33% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 2% Black individuals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of American men who are Catholic | 23% (2018), 25% (2020), 20% (2024) |
| Number of Catholics in the US | 61.9 million (2020), 73.2 million (2021) |
| Average number of adherents per congregation | 3,000 |
| Number of counties with at least one Catholic congregation | 2,961 |
| Number of Catholic congregations | 19,405 |
| Percentage of Catholics aged 50 or older | 58% |
| Percentage of Catholics with a bachelor's degree | 35% |
| Percentage of Catholics who attend Mass weekly or more | 28% |
| Percentage of Catholics who pray daily | 52% |
| Percentage of Catholics who say religion is very important in their life | 46% |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic men are more likely to be over 50
Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the United States, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. A 2020 Gallup poll found that 25% of Americans identified as Catholic, and the United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population globally. While these figures do not provide a breakdown by gender, there are indications that Catholic men are more likely to be over 50.
Firstly, it is important to note that Catholics in the United States tend to be older than the general population. According to the Pew Research Center's 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study, 58% of Catholic adults are aged 50 and older, compared to 47% of all U.S. adults. This trend is more pronounced among White Catholics, with 70% aged 50 and older, while 53% of Asian Catholics and 40% of Hispanic Catholics fall into this age range.
The decline in the number of priests in the Catholic Church also suggests a higher proportion of older Catholic men. The number of priests in the United States has decreased significantly over the years, with various sources citing different figures. One source mentions a decline from 59,000 to 35,000 since 1970, while another states that there were about 37,300 diocesan priests in 1970, compared to approximately 25,800 in 2018. The decline in the number of priests is attributed to factors such as sexual abuse scandals, the requirement of celibacy, and the aging and death of priests ordained in the wake of Vatican II.
Additionally, the Traditionalist Catholic movement, which has a presence in the United States, may also contribute to a higher proportion of older Catholic men. This movement emphasizes traditional worship and practices, which can be attractive to those who remember the Church from decades ago and long for a return to those days.
While the exact proportion of Catholic men over 50 in the United States is unclear, the provided information suggests that Catholic men are more likely to be over 50 compared to the general population and other religious groups. This trend is influenced by the aging Catholic population, the decline in the number of priests, and the appeal of traditionalism among older generations.
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Catholic men are more likely to be Republican
Catholics make up about one-fifth of the United States population, with 23% of the population as of 2018 and 18.7% as per a 2020 survey. This amounts to about 61.9 million Catholics in the US, making it the second-largest religious grouping after Protestantism. The US has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world.
Catholics in the US have a diverse range of political opinions, and there is no single "Catholic vote". However, there is a general trend of Catholic men being more likely to be Republican. In 2016, 52% of Catholics voted for Republican Donald Trump, and in 2004, Catholics backed Republican George W. Bush. In 2008, Catholics chose Democrat Barack Obama, but in 2012, Catholic votes were almost evenly split. White non-Hispanic Catholics have remained majority Republican, and in 2020, 57% of White Catholic registered voters identified with or leaned toward the Republican Party. Younger Catholic men are also more likely to be Republican, while younger Catholic women tend to be more Democratic.
There are several factors that may influence the political leanings of Catholic men. One factor is their views on social and cultural values, including abortion. While the Catholic Church opposes abortion, Catholic Democrats are more inclined to oppose it than other liberals. Catholic Republicans also value tradition and community, which may align with Republican policies on family and cultural issues. Additionally, Catholic Republicans prioritize free-market policies and may disagree with Democratic economic policies.
Another factor influencing Catholic men's political affiliation is their level of religious practice. Catholics who attend services weekly are more likely to support the Church's teaching on social issues and may therefore be more attracted to Republican policies that align with these teachings. For example, on the issue of immigration, Catholic Republicans favor expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, while Catholic Democrats oppose it. Catholic Republicans may also be influenced by the Church's stance on LGBTQ+ rights, as the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has opposed the Equality Act, arguing that it threatens religious freedom and existing prohibitions on federal funding of abortion.
While Catholic men may be more likely to identify as Republican, it is important to note that there is diversity within the Catholic population in the US, and political opinions vary among different racial and ethnic groups. Hispanic Catholics, for example, tend to be more Democratic, with 60% identifying as Democrats according to a 2019 poll.
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Catholic men are spread across the US
Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the United States, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. This equates to around 61.9 million Catholics in the US as of 2020, about 18.7% of the population. This makes the US the country with the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Catholics are spread relatively evenly across the US. Around 29% live in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest. The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by region. 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 split, with 44% White and 45% Hispanic Catholics. In the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White, with 58% and 27% respectively. The West also has a larger population of Asian Catholics, making up 10% of the Catholic population in that region.
The number of self-identified Catholics in the US has grown by 48.5 million to 73.2 million as of 2021. Of these, 14.9 million, or around 20%, are foreign-born. The US has a strong Traditionalist Catholic movement, with over 600 locations across the country where the Traditional Latin Mass is offered. The Catholic Church in the US has also founded a vast system of schools and hospitals, as well as hundreds of colleges and universities, and thousands of primary and secondary schools.
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Catholic men are more likely to be white
According to a 2020 Gallup poll, 25% of Americans identify as Catholic, making the United States the country with the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world. While there is no data on how many of these are men, we can assume that Catholic men make up around 12.5% of the male population in the United States.
In terms of the racial breakdown of Catholic men in the United States, it is important to note that the racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by region. For example, in the Northeast, 72% of Catholics are White and 20% are Hispanic, while in the South, 44% are White and 45% are Hispanic. In the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, and in the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics (58% vs. 27%).
Overall, it appears that Catholic men in the United States are more likely to be White than Hispanic or of other racial backgrounds. This is particularly true in regions such as the Midwest and the Northeast, where the percentage of White Catholic men is higher than in other regions. However, it is important to note that the Hispanic Catholic population is growing and currently makes up 37% of the total Catholic population.
While the focus of this query is on race, it is also worth noting that Catholic men are also more likely to be older, with nearly six-in-ten Catholic adults (58%) being ages 50 and older. This is in comparison to 47% of all U.S. adults in the same age range. Additionally, Catholic men are more likely to have higher levels of educational attainment, with 43% of White Catholic men having at least a bachelor's degree.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that racism among White Christians, including White Catholics, is higher than among non-religious whites. Surveys have found that White Christians are more likely to deny the existence of structural racism and to view the killings of Black men by police as isolated incidents rather than a pattern of how police treat African Americans. These attitudes are positively and independently associated with White Christian identity, including that of White Catholic men.
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Fewer Catholic men are entering the priesthood
Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the United States, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. A 2020 Gallup poll put this figure at 25%. The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, with 61.9 million Catholics as of 2020. However, despite these large numbers, there is a shortage of Catholic priests in the United States. In 1965, there were an estimated 60,000 Catholic priests in the country, but by 2022, this number had dropped to around 35,000. This decline has occurred even as the country's population has grown by 100 million, and the number of Catholics has increased by 2 million in the past decade.
There are several possible reasons for the decline in the number of Catholic priests in the United States. One factor may be the collapse of Catholic culture and the decline of religious belief in the country. With the weakening of Catholic cultural traditions, there is less external encouragement for young men to pursue priestly vocations. In addition, the decision to become a priest is now seen as a radical personal choice rather than an expected path for some young men. The priesthood is also facing competition from other career paths as socioeconomic opportunities and expectations have risen in Western societies. Joining the priesthood may no longer be seen as a pinnacle of success for Catholic families, and some may even view it as diminishing their family's prosperity.
Another significant deterrent for potential priests is the requirement of celibacy, or abstaining from marriage. In a 1985 survey of Catholic college students, celibacy was found to be the single biggest reason why men chose not to enter the priesthood. It is estimated that if celibacy were optional for diocesan priests, there could be four times the number of men entering the priesthood. However, some church leaders, such as Pope Benedict XVI, attribute the priest shortage to smaller family sizes and changing family priorities rather than priestly celibacy.
Despite the overall decline in the number of priests, there are some encouraging trends. For example, a surprising number of young alumni from Boston University have entered the priesthood in recent years, inspired by the university's campus ministry program and Catholic chaplains. Additionally, there has been a net increase in the number of post-baccalaureate U.S. seminarians, with more men studying for the diocesan priesthood and religious orders. While the number of ordinations has remained stable at a low level, some church leaders emphasize the importance of focusing on the quality and spirit of the men who are entering the priesthood rather than just the quantity.
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Frequently asked questions
There are no precise figures on the number of American men who are Catholic. However, according to a 2020 survey, there were about 61.9 million Catholics in the US, comprising 18.7% of the population. Another source states that 20% of American adults identify as Catholic, which equates to about 52 million people out of 262 million adults in the US.
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on various factors, such as the specific demographic characteristics of the Catholic population in a given region. However, it is worth noting that Catholics tend to be older than Americans overall, with nearly six in ten Catholic adults (58%) aged 50 and older.
As of 2018, the Catholic Church is the second-largest religious grouping in the US after Protestantism. The US has the fourth-largest Catholic population worldwide, following Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
