Joshua Bennett
The Catholic Church has three degrees of ordination: deacon, priest, and bishop. The ministry of deacon, which means servant in Greek, dates back to the early Church. There are an estimated 51,433 permanent deacons worldwide, according to the Vatican's report in March 2023. The United States is home to 39% of the world's permanent deacons, serving in dioceses that make up 6% of the global Catholic population. With the Philippines recently joining the ranks, the number of permanent deacons worldwide is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of permanent deacons worldwide | 51,433 (as of March 2023) |
| Percentage of permanent deacons serving in the US | 39% (or 39.5%) |
| Number of permanent deacons serving in the US | 19,000 (as of 2021) to 20,212 (as of 2023) |
| Number of permanent deacons worldwide in 2022 | 50,450 |
| Number of permanent deacons worldwide in 2021 | 49,176 |
| Number of permanent deacons worldwide in 2020 | 49,176-50,450 |
| Percentage of permanent deacons in active ministry with at least a college degree | 66% |
| Countries with the highest proportion of permanent deacons in Europe | Germany and France |
| Countries with the highest number of permanent deacons in the US | Chicago (804), Los Angeles (498), and Joliet in Illinois (497) |
| US Dioceses with the highest ratio of permanent deacons to Catholics | Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota; Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky; Diocese of Tulsa; Diocese of Bismarck; Diocese of Duluth |
| US Archdioceses with the highest number of permanent deacons | Galveston-Houston (367); Archdiocese of San Antonio (364); Archdiocese of New York (305); Archdiocese of Atlanta (299); Archdiocese of St. Louis (297) |
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What You'll Learn
In 2023, there were 51,433 permanent deacons worldwide
The presence of permanent deacons is not limited to the US, though. Europe, for instance, has a significant number, with around a fifth of its permanent deacons based in Germany and a similar proportion in France. The Philippines is also noteworthy, as it has the third-largest Catholic population globally and is now home to permanent deacons.
The role of permanent deacons is deeply rooted in the Catholic Church's history, dating back to the early Church. The Didascalia Apostolorum, an early text, describes deacons as "the eyes and ears, the mouth, heart and soul of the bishop." Their importance continues today, with the Church expressing gratitude for their extension of "Christ's mercy and healing to all those in need."
The number of permanent deacons worldwide is expected to continue rising, which will likely have a significant impact on Catholic parish life. This increase comes at a time when the number of ordained priests is declining, and permanent deacons are providing crucial support to parishes.
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39% of the world's permanent deacons serve in the US
The Catholic Church has three degrees of ordination: Deacon, Priest, and Bishop. The ministry of deacon, derived from the Greek word "diakonos" meaning "servant", dates back to the early Church. An early text, the Didascalia Apostolorum (“Teachings of the Apostles”), referred to deacons as “the eyes and ears, the mouth, heart and soul of the bishop."
According to a survey conducted for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, an estimated 20,212 of the world's permanent deacons (around 39%) serve in dioceses of the United States. This is despite the fact that the US is home to only 6% of the world's Catholic population. The number of permanent deacons worldwide was reported by the Vatican to be 51,433 in 2023, up from 50,150 the previous year.
The US dioceses with the highest ratios of permanent deacons to Catholics include the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota (487 Catholics per deacon), Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky (502), Diocese of Tulsa (575), Diocese of Bismarck (649), and Diocese of Duluth (664). Other dioceses with a large number of permanent deacons include Chicago (804), Los Angeles (498), and Joliet in Illinois (497).
The number of permanent deacons in the US has been steadily growing over the past 50 years, providing support to parishes during a period of decline in the number of ordained priests. However, the overall number of deacons in the US is dropping, with reports of deacon retirements, deaths, and low financial compensation for ministry.
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Germany and France each have around 1/5th of Europe's permanent deacons
There are approximately 51,433 permanent deacons in the world, according to a report by the Vatican in 2023. The United States is home to 39% of them, or about 20,212 deacons. The number of permanent deacons worldwide is expected to increase in the coming years, which will have an impact on Catholic parish life.
Germany and France each account for around 1/5th of Europe's permanent deacons. In 1968, the Archdiocese of Cologne in Germany ordained the first permanent deacons of the modern era. Within eight years, 90% of the dioceses had permanent deacons, totalling 1,984. Today, there are more than 3,300 permanent deacons in Germany, with 70 new deacons ordained in 2019.
The permanent diaconate in Germany is characterised by the dichotomy between "deacon with/in a civilian profession" and "deacon working solely for the Church". The age structure of deacons in Germany is also noteworthy, with almost 44% of deacons aged 65 or older, which is the retirement age. Despite the current high number of deacons, a decrease is expected in the future.
France, similar to Germany, has around 20% of Europe's permanent deacons. The French Bishops decided to restore the diaconate in 1966, and the first ordination took place in 1970. In 2020, there were 2,750 permanent deacons in France, with 64% in professional life and 36% retired, resulting in an average age of 67 years. The French diaconate is not primarily focused on parish work but is oriented towards the secular world, with an emphasis on charity, word, and liturgy.
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The Philippines is getting permanent deacons
The Philippines is set to welcome permanent deacons into its Catholic Church, marking a significant development for the country with the world's third-largest Catholic population. This move comes as the Catholic Church in the Philippines seeks to address the needs of its faithful, particularly in remote areas where access to priests is limited.
In January 2025, Filipino bishops gathered to discuss the guidelines for the formation of permanent deacons, tailored to the unique needs of the local Church. The bishops emphasised the importance of permanent deacons in enhancing evangelisation and social action among lay Catholics. This decision aligns with the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the Latin Church in 1967, a ministry that traces its roots back to the early Church.
The permanent diaconate in the Philippines will be shaped by the Ratio formationis, a set of guidelines that outline the training and functions of deacons within the local context. Fr. Christian Buenafe emphasised the potential for permanent deacons to bridge the gap between the Church and the Filipino Catholic community, particularly in peripheral areas. With many clergy members retired or sick, permanent deacons can ease the demands on Church workers and respond to the community's needs.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is designing a unique formation program for its permanent diaconate. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, CBCP president, highlighted that candidates for the permanent diaconate, who can be married, will not be required to reside in a seminary, allowing them to stay with their families. This approach recognises the diaconate's role in ministering to the disadvantaged and the poorest of the poor, as outlined in the scriptures.
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66% of permanent deacons in active ministry have a college degree
The Vatican reported that there were 51,433 permanent deacons worldwide in 2023, up from 50,450 in 2022 and 49,176 in 2021. The United States is home to 39% of the world's permanent deacons, with an estimated 20,212 serving in dioceses across the country. However, there is a shortage of new deacons being ordained in the US, resulting in a net loss of permanent deacons due to retirements and deaths.
In terms of educational attainment, 66% of permanent deacons in active ministry hold at least a college degree, with 32% possessing a graduate degree. Of those with graduate degrees, 15% are in a field related to the diaconate. The high proportion of college-educated deacons may be due in part to the requirements for entering the ministry. For example, most dioceses and eparchies have a minimum age requirement for acceptance into the permanent diaconate, with the average being 32 years old. Additionally, an overwhelming majority of active permanent deacons (96%) are at least 50 years old, with 38% aged 70 or older. This older demographic may have had more opportunities to obtain higher education earlier in their lives.
The uneven distribution of permanent deacons worldwide reflects the varying needs of different parts of the Catholic world. For example, in Europe, Germany and France each host around a fifth of the continent's permanent deacons. Within the United States, the Archdiocese of Chicago leads numerically with 848 permanent deacons, followed by the Archdiocese of Atlanta with 385, and the Archdiocese of New York with 369.
The permanent diaconate has its roots in the early Church, with the Greek word "diakonos" meaning "servant". Its restoration in the Latin Church in 1967, approved by the Second Vatican Council, has led to a growing number of permanent deacons worldwide. However, the increasing age and retirement of deacons, coupled with insufficient new ordinations, may impact the number of active permanent deacons in the coming years.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, there are 51,433 permanent deacons worldwide, up from 50,150 in 2022 and 49,176 in 2021.
There are an estimated 20,212 Catholic permanent deacons in the United States, which accounts for 39% of the world's permanent deacons. However, some sources cite a figure of 19,000 deacons, which is a number that has been dropping in recent years.
The Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota has the highest ratio of permanent deacons to Catholics, with 487 Catholics per permanent deacon. This is followed by the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky with 502, and the Diocese of Tulsa with 575.
Germany and France have the highest number of Catholic permanent deacons in Europe, with around a fifth of permanent deacons based in each country.
