Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church is the world's oldest continuously functioning international institution and the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare globally. As of June 2024, the Catholic Church consists of 3,172 ecclesiastical jurisdictions, including archdioceses, dioceses, apostolic vicariates, apostolic exarchates, apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures, military ordinariates, and more. There are 1.1 billion Catholics worldwide, constituting 48.1% of 2.645 billion Christians. In this context, the discussion of the number of Catholic parishes in the world is pertinent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of parishes in the U.S. | 17,755 |
| Number of pastoral centers in the U.S. | 585 |
| Number of missions in the U.S. | 2,618 |
| Number of new parishes opened in the U.S. in 2014 | 58 |
| Average number of registered households in U.S. parishes | 1,168 |
| Percentage of U.S. parishes celebrating Mass in a language other than English | 29% |
| Number of U.S. parishes celebrating Mass in Spanish | 5,000 |
| Average number of people attending Mass on a typical weekend at a U.S. Catholic parish | 24% |
| Number of U.S. parishes serving a particular racial, ethnic, cultural, or linguistic community other than English | 6,269 |
| Number of Catholics in the United States | 71,128,395 |
| Number of Catholics worldwide | 1.1 billion |
| Number of lay ecclesial ministers in the United States as of 2013 | 38,000 |
| Number of ecclesiastical jurisdictions worldwide as of June 21, 2024 | 3,172 |
| Number of archdioceses worldwide as of June 21, 2024 | 652+ |
| Number of dioceses worldwide as of June 21, 2024 | 2,249 |
| Number of titular sees worldwide as of June 21, 2024 | 2,100 |
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What You'll Learn
There are 1.1 billion Catholics worldwide
There are approximately 1.1 billion Catholics worldwide. This makes Catholicism the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, which is a world religion that stems from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus. The Catholic Church is the oldest continuously functioning international institution in the world. It is also the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare globally.
The Catholic Church is made up of 3,172 ecclesiastical jurisdictions, including over 652 archdioceses and 2,249 dioceses. There are also apostolic vicariates, apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures, and military ordinariates, to name a few. In addition, there are 2,100 titular sees, such as bishoprics, archbishoprics, and metropolitanates.
The Catholic Church comprises the Latin Church, often referred to as the Roman or Western Church, and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. Each of these Eastern Catholic Churches is led by either a patriarch or a major archbishop in communion with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope).
The five countries with the largest number of Catholics are Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States, and Italy. However, the country with the largest percentage of Catholics in its population is Vatican City, with 100% of its population identifying as Catholic.
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The US has 71 million Catholics
The United States is home to 71 million Catholics, making it the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. This significant number of Catholics has had a notable impact on the cultural, social, and political landscape of the country.
Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the United States, after Protestantism. It is worth noting that if Protestantism is divided into separate denominations, Catholicism becomes the country's largest single church. Approximately 22% of the US population identifies as Catholic, and they are spread across the country, with a higher concentration in the Northeast and urban Midwest.
The regional distribution of Catholics as a percentage of the total US Catholic population is as follows: Northeast (24%), Midwest (19%), South (32%), and West (25%). The South and West have experienced a notable increase in their Catholic populations, with states like Florida and Arizona witnessing significant growth in the number of Catholics.
There are about 17,755 parishes in the United States, with 58 new parishes opening their doors in 2014. More than 5,000 parishes, or 29%, celebrate Mass in a language other than English, with 81% of those Masses being in Spanish. This reflects the diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds of Catholics in the country.
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 Catholic Church, as the world's oldest continuously functioning international institution, has a vast global presence and provides extensive educational and healthcare services.
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The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of education and health care
The Catholic Church has approximately 5,000 hospitals, 10,000 orphanages, 95,000 elementary schools, and 47,000 secondary schools. The Church's involvement in health care has ancient origins. Jesus Christ, whom the Church holds as its founder, instructed his followers to heal the sick. The early Christians were noted for tending to the sick and infirm, and Christian emphasis on practical charity gave rise to the development of systematic nursing and hospitals. The influential Benedictine rule holds that "the care of the sick is to be placed above and before every other duty, as if indeed Christ were being directly served by waiting on them".
The Catholic Church's health care services are provided in various forms, including clinics, homes for the elderly and those with special needs, and hospitals. In 2013, it was reported that the Catholic Church had around 18,000 clinics, 16,000 homes catering to the elderly and those with special needs, and 5,500 hospitals. In 2010, the Catholic Church's Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers stated that the Church managed 26% of the world's health care facilities, including hospitals, clinics, orphanages, pharmacies, and centers for those with leprosy.
The Catholic Church's provision of education and health care is not limited to a specific region but is a global effort. The Church has a presence in various countries and regions, with particular churches known as dioceses or eparchies, each overseen by a bishop. As of 2021, the Catholic Church had 3,171 dioceses globally, and these dioceses are further divided into parishes, each with one or more priests, deacons, or lay ecclesial ministers. These parishes are responsible for the day-to-day celebration of the sacraments and pastoral care of the laity.
The Catholic Church's commitment to education and health care is deeply rooted in its teachings and history. Religious institutes for women, such as the Sisters of Mercy and the Little Sisters of the Poor, have played a significant role in providing and expanding access to health and education services worldwide. The Church's efforts have left a profound influence on Western philosophy, culture, art, literature, music, law, and science.
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There are 17,755 parishes in the US
As of December 31, 2020, there were 17,755 Catholic parishes in the United States, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University. This number represents a decline of 1,299 parishes from the year 2000, when there were 19,054 parishes in the country. Despite this decrease, the Catholic Church in the US remains a robust and vibrant community, with parishes serving as important centers of worship, community engagement, and social service provision.
The distribution of these parishes varies across the country. Some dioceses have a higher concentration of parishes, reflecting the geographic variations in Catholic populations. For example, the Archdiocese of New York, which covers a large area including Manhattan, the Bronx, and several other counties, has 289 parishes as of 2020. On the other hand, smaller dioceses, such as the Diocese of Gallup in New Mexico, may have fewer than 50 parishes to serve a more dispersed Catholic population.
The number of parishes in a diocese is determined by a variety of factors, including the size and distribution of the Catholic population, the availability of clergy and other pastoral resources, and the financial stability of the diocese. In some cases, a single parish may serve a very large geographic area, especially in rural or remote regions, where Catholic populations are sparser.
These 17,755 parishes play a critical role in the spiritual and social life of Catholic communities across the nation. They are places where sacraments are administered, where people gather for worship and prayer, and where a wide range of pastoral and social services are offered. Parishes often serve as hubs for community-building activities, religious education, and outreach initiatives aimed at helping those in need.
While the number of parishes has decreased slightly over the years, this is not indicative of a decline in Catholic faith or practice in the US. In fact, many parishes have grown stronger and more vibrant as they adapt to the changing needs and demographics of their communities. Mergers and consolidations of parishes are sometimes necessary to ensure the efficient use of resources and to better serve the spiritual needs of the local population.
These parishes are staffed by dedicated clergy, religious, and lay ministers who work tirelessly to carry out the Church's mission of spreading the Gospel and serving those in need. They are supported by the contributions and volunteer efforts of millions of American Catholics who call these parishes their spiritual homes.
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There are 2,249 dioceses worldwide
As of 21 June 2024, there were 2,249 dioceses within the Catholic Church. This figure is part of a broader structural picture that encompasses 3,172 ecclesiastical jurisdictions, including 652 archdioceses, apostolic vicariates, apostolic exarchates, apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures, military ordinariates, personal ordinariates, personal prelatures, territorial prelatures, territorial abbacies, and missions sui juris around the world. In addition, there are 2,100 titular sees, such as bishoprics, archbishoprics, and metropolitanates.
The Catholic Church is comprised of the Latin Church, or the Roman or Western Church, as well as 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, each led by a patriarch or major archbishop in communion with the Bishop of Rome. These Eastern Catholic Churches are recognised as "true Churches" rather than rites within the Catholic Church. The Eastern Catholic Churches include the Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Italy and the Ordinariate for Byzantine-rite Catholics in Austria.
The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare globally. It operates 5,000 hospitals, 10,000 orphanages, 95,000 elementary schools, and 47,000 secondary schools. The Church also has a vast international network of charities, facilitated by the diplomatic status of the Holy See.
The Catholic population worldwide is estimated to be around 1.1 billion people, with the country where the Church constitutes the largest percentage of the population being Vatican City, at 100%.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 21 June 2024, there are over 652 archdioceses and 2,249 dioceses worldwide. However, I could not find the exact number of parishes.
There are 17,755 parishes in the US, with 58 new parishes opened in 2014.
According to the 2023 Annuario Pontificio, there were about 1.376 billion baptised Catholics in the world at the end of 2021. Other sources place the figure at 1.1 billion or 1.272 billion as of 2025.
