Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism in South Korea has been growing steadily, with the number of baptised Catholics in the country increasing by 0.2% in 2022. According to the most recent statistics, there are 5,949,862 baptised Catholics in South Korea, accounting for 11.3% of the nation's population. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the Church's positive perception by the general public due to its role in the democratisation of South Korea, its active participation in social welfare initiatives, and its respectful approach to interfaith relationships and traditional Korean spirituality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in South Korea | 5,949,862 in 2022 |
| Percentage of Catholics in South Korea | 11.3% in 2022 |
| Number of Baptisms in 2022 | 41,384 |
| Percentage increase in Baptisms from 2021 | 13.3% |
| Average number of Sunday worshippers in 2022 | 699,681 |
| Percentage of believers attending Sunday Mass in 2022 | 11.8% |
| Number of parishes | 1,784 |
| Number of church organizations | 173 |
| Number of priests | 5,703 in 2022 |
| Number of missionaries abroad | 1,007 in 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholicism in South Korea has grown by 48.6% in 2 decades
- Catholics in South Korea account for 11.3% of the population
- South Korea has the fourth-largest number of saints
- The number of priests in South Korea increased by 52.2% from 1999 to 2018
- South Korea has one of the world's lowest birth rates, but a high number of baptisms
Catholicism in South Korea has grown by 48.6% in 2 decades
Catholicism has a long and tumultuous history in South Korea. During the Japanese invasion in the late 16th century, some Koreans were baptised, likely by Christian Japanese soldiers. Christianity was introduced to Korea in 1593 by Spanish Jesuit priest Gregorio Céspedes, who is considered the first Catholic missionary in Korea. However, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, thousands of Catholics were slain for maintaining their religious beliefs. The first priest of Korea, Father James Zhou Wen-mo, was among those murdered in 1801. Despite this persecution, the Catholic Church in South Korea has grown significantly in recent years.
According to a study by the Catholic Pastoral Institute of Korea (CPIK) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK), the number of Catholics in South Korea increased by 48.6% in the two decades between 1999 and 2018, rising from 3.9 million to 5.8 million. As of 2018, Catholics accounted for 11.1% of South Korea's population. The growth rate of Catholicism in South Korea has slowed in recent years, falling from 3% annually to 0.2% in 2022 and 2023. Despite this, the number of Catholics in South Korea continues to increase, reaching 5.9 million in 2022, according to the yearbook of "Statistics of the Korean Catholic Church 2022". This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the Church's positive perception by the public due to its role in the country's democratisation, its social welfare initiatives, and its respectful approach to interfaith relations and traditional Korean spirituality.
The demographics of Catholics in South Korea have also shifted over time. While the number of Catholics under 50 years old has decreased, there has been significant growth in the older age groups, with those in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s expanding by 76.9%, 93%, 117%, and 251.6%, respectively. The number of priests has increased as well, rising by 52.2% from 1999 to 2018, and continuing to grow in subsequent years. However, the number of seminary students and religious practitioners has decreased. The number of parishes and church organisations has also increased, with a total of 1,842 parishes serving the Catholic population in 2023.
The growth of Catholicism in South Korea is particularly notable given the country's low birth rate and high number of baptisms. In 2022, 41,000 people received the sacrament of baptism, with a nearly 10% increase in adult baptisms from the previous year. The rate of increase for adult baptism is 9.3%, while the rate of increase for death baptisms is 16%. The number of confirmed candidates, first confessions, and first communions has also increased slightly compared to 2021. Additionally, the number of Korean missionaries sent overseas surged by 204.2% from 1999 to 2018, although the number of missionaries abroad decreased by 108 units between 2021 and 2022.
In summary, Catholicism in South Korea has experienced significant growth over the past two decades, with a 48.6% increase in the number of Catholics between 1999 and 2018. This growth has contributed to a total of 5.9 million Catholics in South Korea as of 2022, accounting for 11.3% of the nation's population. The Church's positive perception, social initiatives, and respectful approach to interfaith relations have likely contributed to its expansion. However, it is important to note that the year-to-year growth rate has slowed, and the number of young people attending religious services has declined. Nonetheless, the Catholic Church in South Korea continues to play a significant role in the religious landscape of the country.
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Catholics in South Korea account for 11.3% of the population
Catholicism is the fastest-growing religion in South Korea, with the number of adherents rising from 7.9% in 1997 to 11.3% in 2022. This growth is even more remarkable given that South Korea has one of the lowest birth rates globally. The growth of the Catholic Church in South Korea can be attributed to several factors, including its positive perception by the general public due to its role in the country's democratization, its active participation in social welfare initiatives, and its respectful approach to interfaith relations and traditional Korean spirituality.
The number of Catholics in South Korea has increased by nearly 1200% in the last 50 years, growing from about half a million in the 1960s to nearly 6 million today. According to the yearbook of "Statistics of the Korean Catholic Church 2022", published by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, there were 5,949,862 baptized Catholics in South Korea in 2022, an increase of 11,817 (0.2%) from the previous year. This growth occurred simultaneously with a decrease in the country's overall population, which shrank by 104,077 people.
The Catholic Church in South Korea is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. As of 2023, there were almost 5,000 priests and 9,000 nuns serving across 1,842 parishes. The number of priests in 2022 was 5,703, an increase of 77 from the previous year. The number of parishes also increased by 5, from 1,784 to 1,789.
The growth of Catholicism in South Korea has been accompanied by a decline in Sunday Mass attendance. While the average number of Sunday worshippers in 2022 totalled 699,681, an increase of 3% compared to 2021, it is still significantly lower than the pre-pandemic level of 1,080,687 in 2019. The decrease in Mass attendance is particularly notable among young people, and the number of seminary students has fallen by 17.7% since 1999. However, the number of baptisms has increased, with 41,384 people receiving the sacrament in 2022, a rise of 13.3% compared to the previous year.
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South Korea has the fourth-largest number of saints
South Korea has experienced significant growth in its Catholic population over the past two decades. Between 1999 and 2018, the number of Catholics in South Korea increased by 48.6%, from 3.9 million to 5.8 million. As of 2022, there were approximately 5.95 million baptised Catholics in the country, representing about 11.3% of the nation's total population. This growth has occurred despite a general decline in the country's population.
The history of Catholicism in South Korea has been marked by periods of intense persecution. Between 1791 and 1866, there were five major persecutions of Christians in the country, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Catholics. Many of those who died during these persecutions were later recognised as martyrs and canonised as saints. It is estimated that there were at least 8,000 martyrs, and in 1984, Pope John Paul II canonised 103 of these martyrs in a ceremony held in Seoul.
South Korea's unique inculturation of Catholicism with traditional Confucian customs has resulted in a distinct expression of the faith. South Korean Catholics continue to observe many Confucian customs and philosophies, and the Church has incorporated these traditions into its practices. This integration of Catholicism and Confucianism is reflected in the significant number of saints recognised by the Catholic Church in South Korea.
The canonisation of the Korean Martyrs, including priests, missionaries, and lay leaders, highlights the deep devotion and courage of South Korean Catholics. The Korean Catholic Church's resilience and growth, despite historical persecutions, have contributed to it having the fourth-largest number of saints in the Catholic world. This distinction underscores the strength and impact of the Catholic faith in South Korea, which continues to grow and inspire new generations of believers.
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The number of priests in South Korea increased by 52.2% from 1999 to 2018
Catholicism in South Korea has a rich and unique history. It is said to have begun in 1784 when Yi Seung-hun was baptised in China and returned to Korea with religious texts, baptising many of his countrymen. The Catholic Church in South Korea has grown significantly in recent years, with membership rising from 7.9% to 11.1% of the population between 1997 and 2021. In 2022, the number rose slightly to 11.3%.
The number of priests in South Korea has also been increasing. In 2020, it was reported that there were 5,703 priests in the country, 77 more than the previous year. As of February 2024, there were an estimated 5,721 priests in active ministry across the nation's 16 dioceses. Notably, the number of priests in South Korea increased by 52.2% from 1999 to 2018, rising from 2,972 to 4,456. This can be contrasted with the number of seminary students, which fell by 17.7% during the same period.
The Archdiocese of Seoul, in particular, has a strong presence of priests. In 2020, the archdiocese celebrated its 50th year, marking the occasion with the ordination of new priests, bringing the total number of diocesan priests to 1,000. In February 2024, the archdiocese reached another milestone, entering the "era of 1,000 priests" with an ordination ceremony that brought the number of priests in active ministry to quadruple digits.
The increase in the number of priests in South Korea can be attributed to various factors, including the support of parishioners and the work of organisations like the Seoul Vocation Support Association. Despite a global decline in priestly vocations, South Korea continues to be a bastion of vocations and the Catholic faith, as recognised by the Vatican.
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South Korea has one of the world's lowest birth rates, but a high number of baptisms
South Korea has the lowest birth rate in the world, which continues to drop, beating its own record year after year. In 2023, the birth rate fell by 8% to 0.72, which is the number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. For a population to remain stable, this number should be 2.1. If this trend continues, Korea's population is projected to halve by 2100.
Despite this, the Catholic population in South Korea has been steadily growing over the past two decades. In 1999, there were 3.9 million Catholics in South Korea, accounting for 8.3% of the nation's population. By 2018, this number had increased by 48.6% to 5.8 million, and Catholics made up 11.1% of South Korea's population. The latest data from 2022 shows that there were 5,949,862 baptized Catholics in South Korea, a slight increase of 0.2% from the previous year. This equates to 11.3% of the nation's population.
The growth of the Catholic population in South Korea is particularly notable among older age groups. Between 2003 and 2018, the number of Catholics in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s increased by 76.9%, 93%, 117%, and 251.6%, respectively. During the same period, Catholics younger than nine years old and in their teens made up 32.4% and 33.2% of the total Catholic population, respectively.
While the year-to-year growth rate in the Catholic population has gradually slowed to below 1%, the number of baptisms in South Korea rose in 2022. There were 41,384 baptisms in 2022, an increase of 13.3% compared to the previous year. The rate of increase for adult baptism was 9.3%, while the rate of increase for death baptisms was 16%. Infant baptism, on the other hand, saw an average decrease of 7.2% from 2015 to 2019 but increased by 22.1% in 2022 compared to 2021.
The growth of the Catholic population in South Korea stands in contrast to the country's overall population decline. Several factors have contributed to South Korea's low birth rate, including cultural norms, family breakdown, increasing urbanization, rural depopulation, unaffordable housing, the high cost of education, and unemployment. Despite financial incentives and other efforts to boost birth rates, these factors continue to impact reproductive decisions in South Korea.
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Frequently asked questions
There are nearly 6 million Catholics in South Korea, with sources providing a more specific figure of 5,949,862 in 2022.
11.3% of South Korea is Catholic.
There are 1,784 parishes in South Korea, with one source stating there are 1,842 parishes.
There are 5,703 Catholic priests in South Korea, with one source stating there are almost 5,000 priests.
