Rachel Evans
Catholicism is a division of Christianity, the largest religion globally. The Catholic Church is the largest of the Christian denominations, with just over half of global Christians identifying as Catholic. There are an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics in the world, according to 2018 Vatican figures. More recent estimates in 2023 place the number of Catholics at 1.375 billion. The percentage of the world's population that is Catholic ranges from 16% to 17.7%. While the number of priests is decreasing, the number of Catholics per priest is rising, with an average of 3,373 Catholics for every priest in the world. Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world, with approximately 120-140 million people identifying as Catholic. The share of self-identified Catholics in Brazil dropped from 74% in 2000 to 65% in 2010. The top ten nations with the highest Catholic populations are Vatican City, East Timor, San Marino, Paraguay, Malta, Andorra, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, and Italy.
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What You'll Learn
Brazil has the largest Catholic population
Catholicism is the second-largest religious body in the world after Sunni Islam. As of 2025, there are 1.272 billion Catholics globally, constituting about half of all Christians. The geographic distribution of Catholics worldwide is as follows: 20.0% in Africa, 47.8% in the Americas, 11.0% in Asia, 20.4% in Europe, and 0.8% in Oceania.
Furthermore, the Catholic Church in Brazil has played an influential role in shaping the country's society and culture. The Church has been actively involved in education, healthcare, and social services, contributing to the establishment of schools, hospitals, and charitable organizations. The Church's presence in these sectors has left a lasting impact on the country, even for those who do not identify as Catholic. Additionally, Brazil's large population, which is the fifth-largest in the world, also contributes to its high number of Catholic followers.
Following Brazil, the countries with the largest Catholic populations are Mexico, the Philippines, and the United States. The distribution of Catholics across the world has shifted over time. In 1910, Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics, with nearly nine-tenths living in Europe (65%) or Latin America (24%). However, by 2010, the distribution changed significantly, with Europe's share of the global Catholic population decreasing to 11%. On the other hand, regions like sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific have experienced rapid growth in their Catholic populations during this period.
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Mexico has the second-largest
Catholicism is the second-largest religious body in the world after Sunni Islam, with about 1.272 billion followers worldwide as of 2025. This number constitutes about half of all Christians and 17.4% of the world's population. The number of Catholics has more than tripled over the past century, from 291 million in 1910 to nearly 1.1 billion in 2010.
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world, with estimates ranging from 123 million to 140 million or higher. Mexico has the second-largest Catholic population, followed by the Philippines, the United States, Italy, France, Colombia, Poland, Spain, Argentina, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The number of Catholics in Mexico is not provided, but the total number of Catholics in North America has increased slowly, from about 15 million (5%) in 1910 to 89 million (8%) as of 2010. This includes the United States and Canada, which together are home to 84 million Catholics.
The distribution of Catholics in Mexico is not explicitly mentioned, but it is part of Latin America, which has traditionally been a Catholic continent. However, there has been a recent trend of moving towards Evangelical churches or becoming more secular in Central American nations.
In terms of the percentage of the population that is Catholic, Mexico is not among the top countries. Vatican City has the highest percentage, with 100% of its population being Catholic, followed by Timor-Leste with 97%. The rest of the top ten countries with the highest percentage of Catholics include San Marino (90.5%), Paraguay, Malta, Andorra, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, and Italy.
While the number of Catholics in Mexico is not specifically mentioned, the country is among those with the highest Catholic populations globally, reflecting the significant presence of Catholicism in the region.
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Catholicism is growing in Asia
Catholicism is the second-largest religious body in the world after Sunni Islam, with 1.272 billion Catholics globally as of 2025. They represent about half of all Christians, with 11% of the global Catholic population in Asia. Asia has experienced a notable growth of Catholicism in the 20th century, from 5% in 1910 to 12% in 2010. The Philippines and India account for more than three-quarters of the region's Catholic population, with 93 million and 23 million, respectively.
The Philippines has often been regarded as the most Catholic country in Asia, with 83% of its population being Catholic today. However, Timor-Leste has a higher percentage of Catholics, with 97-98% of its population following the religion. Catholicism in Timor-Leste is not merely a byproduct of Western colonization; it is linked to inter-Asian dynamics. During a period of violent occupation and starvation, Catholicism helped attract international attention to the country.
Pope Francis has visited Asia six times in the past eleven years, indicating his interest in the region as a key area for the future of global Catholicism. He has also appointed more cardinals eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a pope from Asia, with Asian voting-age cardinals increasing from 9% in 2013 to 18% in 2024. The Pope's commitment to Muslim-Christian dialogue is evident in his signing of the Abu Dhabi Declaration with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb.
Asian Catholics are a vibrant component of the global networks that shape the contemporary world. They contribute to the economy and culture of their adopted countries, and their growing presence in the Catholic Church will likely reshape the priorities and direction of the religious organization.
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Catholic numbers are declining in Europe
According to the Vatican, the number of Catholics in Europe declined at the end of 2022, falling by about 474,000 from the previous year. This decrease coincided with a net loss of 517,000 people in Europe's overall population. Despite this, Catholics still accounted for around 39.5% of Europe's population in 2022, a drop of 0.08%. The decline in Catholic numbers in Europe has been a persistent trend for several years.
In 1910, Europe was home to around two-thirds of the world's Catholics, with 65% of the global Catholic population residing on the continent. However, by 2010, Europe's share of the global Catholic population had dropped to 11%. This shift is attributed to the varying rates of overall population growth in different regions. While the number of Catholics worldwide has more than tripled since 1910, the distribution has changed significantly.
The decline in Catholic numbers is not limited to Europe, as Asia has also witnessed a decrease in the percentage of Catholics within its total population. Furthermore, the number of Catholic priests worldwide has declined for five consecutive years, with Europe experiencing the most significant loss of 2,745 priests. The number of major seminarians has also decreased, including a drop of 859 in Europe.
Several factors have contributed to the decline of Catholicism in Europe. One reason is the rise of secularism and atheism. For instance, in the Netherlands, the number of adults claiming no religious affiliation rose from 36% in 2006 to 50.1% in 2015. Additionally, the growth of liberal thinking, particularly among younger generations, has influenced the decline, as seen in Ireland following the legalisation of abortion and same-sex marriage.
The closing of Catholic parishes and churches further reflects the decrease in Catholic followers. For instance, in 2024, the Archdiocese of Baltimore announced the closure of two-thirds of its parishes, and the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York, closed 89 churches. Furthermore, Catholic school enrolment in the United States has declined, with moderate and liberal denominations experiencing higher rates of church closures.
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Catholics make up 48% of Christians
Catholicism is the second-largest religious body in the world, after Sunni Islam. According to the World Christian Database, there are 1.272 billion Catholics globally as of 2025, constituting 48% of 2.645 billion Christians. This figure has risen from 291 million in 1910, when Catholics comprised 48% of all Christians. Thus, despite shifts in the regional distribution of Catholics, they have consistently made up around half of all Christians.
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world, with estimates ranging from 123 million to 140 million or higher. This is followed by Mexico, the Philippines, the United States, Italy, France, Colombia, Poland, Spain, Argentina, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country where the membership of the Catholic Church is the largest percentage of the population is Vatican City at 100%, followed by Timor-Leste at 97%. Based on percentages, the top 10 nations with the highest Catholic populations are Vatican City, East Timor, San Marino, Paraguay, Malta, Andorra, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, and Italy.
The Catholic Church has experienced rapid growth in sub-Saharan Africa, with about 171 million Catholics (16%) today, up from an estimated 1 million (less than 1%) in 1910. There has also been significant growth in the Asia-Pacific region, with 131 million Catholics (12%) now, compared to 14 million (5%) a century ago. In contrast, the Middle East and North Africa, the ancient cradle of Christianity, are home to less than 1% of Catholics today, similar to a century ago.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by region within the United States. For example, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, while in the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics (58% vs. 27%). Overall, the share of U.S. Catholics who are Hispanic is rising, with the current population comprising 54% White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 2% Black. Additionally, more than one-third of U.S. Catholics (35%) hold a bachelor's degree, while 38% have a high school education or less.
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Frequently asked questions
There are approximately 1.375 billion Catholics worldwide as of 2021, making up around 17.7% of the world's population.
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world, with an estimated 120-140 million followers.
Vatican City has the highest percentage of Catholic followers, with 100% of its population identifying as Catholic.
The United States is home to about 7% of all Catholics in the world, with an estimated 23-24% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2010.
While Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics in 1910, Latin America and the Caribbean have since experienced rapid growth, with the largest share of Catholics (39%) living in this region as of 2010. There has also been significant growth in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.
