Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with an estimated 23% of Americans identifying as Catholic. The United States is home to about 7% of all Catholics in the world, with an estimated 72 million Catholics out of a national population of 306 million residents. In 2023, 6.6% of North America's population identified as Catholic, and the Americas as a whole saw a growth of 3.8% in Catholics from 2022 to 2023. The number of practicing Catholics in the US increased from 2010 to 2020, with the Southern and Western regions experiencing the most growth.
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What You'll Learn
The number of Catholics in North America
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination. In 2008, a survey of 35,556 American residents found that 23.9% of Americans identify themselves as Catholic (approximately 72 million people). More recent estimates generally range from 20% to 28%. According to Albert J. Menedez, research director of Americans for Religious Liberty, many Americans continue to identify as Catholic but do not register at local parishes.
The United States has a complex history with Catholicism. In 1776, after the American Revolutionary War, the United States incorporated territories with a pre-existing Catholic history under their previous governance by New France and New Spain, the two premier European Catholic powers active in North America. Maryland was the first state to accommodate Catholics, having been founded as a 'non-denominational' colony. However, anti-Catholicism was the policy for the English who first settled the New England colonies.
The number of Catholics surged in the 1840s as German, Irish, and other European Catholics arrived in large numbers. After 1890, Italians and Poles formed the largest numbers of new Catholic immigrants. In 1898, following the Spanish-American War, the United States took control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and Cuba for a time, all of which had several centuries of Spanish Catholic colonial history.
In recent years, the Catholic population has grown in the southern and western United States, with Florida's Catholic population rising by 5.6 percentage points from 2010 to 2020. In contrast, the Northeast and Midwest, historically Catholic strongholds, have seen a decline in their Catholic populations. Despite losing 1,200 churches, America has gained 2.9 million Catholics since 2010.
In terms of demographics, 60% of adult Catholics in the US are non-Hispanic whites, 33% are Hispanic, and 7% are other minorities, including Asians. In the Northeast, 72% of Catholics are White and 20% are Hispanic, while in the South, 44% are White and 45% are Hispanic. The West has more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics (58% vs. 27%) and a relatively larger population of Asian Catholics (10%).
According to Vatican News, North America accounts for 6.6% of the world's Catholics and 10.3% of its priests. The Americas as a whole have seen significant growth, with the number of Catholics increasing from 272 million in 2022 to 281 million in 2023.
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The percentage of North Americans that are Catholic
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination. The percentage of Catholics in North America has grown from 16% in 2010 to 26% in 2023. In 2023, 6.6% of North America's population identified as Catholic, while 10.3% of priests in the region were Catholic. This discrepancy between the percentage of priests and the percentage of Catholics is also seen in Europe and Oceania.
The United States is home to about 7% of all Catholics in the world. Estimates of the overall American Catholic population from recent years generally range from 20% to 28%. According to a 2008 survey of 35,556 American residents, 23.9% of Americans identify as Catholic, with 12% being white, 8% Latino, and 2% other (Black, Asian, etc.). In recent years, more parishes have opened than closed, and the number of practicing Catholics increased nationwide from 2010 to 2020, despite the number of churches shrinking.
Catholicism is growing in more than half of the United States, with the South and West regions experiencing a 6 million increase in the Catholic population from 2010 to 2020. States along the southern border, such as Florida, have seen some of the largest influxes of Catholics. On the other hand, the Northeast and Midwest, historically Catholic strongholds, have seen a decline of 3 million Catholics in the same period.
The growth of Catholicism in the United States has been influenced by immigration patterns. Three-quarters (76%) of Catholic immigrants in the U.S. are from Latin America and the Caribbean, while about 10% each come from Asia-Pacific and Europe. The Spanish and French, during the colonial period, named many settlements after Catholic saints or symbolism, which has been retained in places like California, Texas, New Mexico, and Florida. The number of Catholics also surged in the 1840s with the arrival of German, Irish, and other European Catholics, followed by Italians and Poles after 1890.
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Catholic attendance rates in North America
The percentage of Catholics attending Mass has been declining in North America. In 1965, 71% of Catholics attended Mass regularly, but by 2000, this figure had dropped to 25%. Currently, the percentage of Catholics attending Mass weekly or more in the United States is 17%, although other sources cite a higher figure of 39%. This variation may be due to the use of self-reported data, which could inflate the numbers.
There are geographic variations in Catholic attendance rates within the United States. Historically Catholic regions in the Northeast and Midwest have witnessed a decline in the number of congregants, with 3 million fewer Catholics in these regions compared to 2010. In contrast, the Catholic population in the South and West has grown by 6 million during the same period. Florida, in particular, has seen a significant increase, with 1 in 5 Floridians now identifying as Catholic.
The growth in the number of Catholics in certain regions may be attributed to immigration, as baptisms, mass attendance, and conversions are down. However, the overall number of Catholics in the United States has increased since 1970, with 75 million Catholics in 2023 compared to 54.1 million in 1970. This makes the United States the country with the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
In terms of global comparisons, North America has a lower proportion of Catholics compared to other continents, with 6.6% of Catholics residing in this region. South America and Europe have higher percentages, with 27.4% and 20.4% of Catholics, respectively. Africa also has a significant Catholic population, with 20% of the world's Catholics, and is characterized by a highly dynamic spread of the Catholic Church.
While Catholic attendance rates in North America may be lower than in other regions, the impact of Catholicism in the United States cannot be understated. Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the country, and it has had a profound cultural, social, and political influence.
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Catholic immigration to North America
The United States has a long history of Catholic immigration, which has played a significant role in shaping the religious and cultural landscape of the nation. The roots of Catholic immigration to North America can be traced back to colonial times, with the arrival of Irish-Catholic immigrants such as Charles Carroll, who settled in America in 1706. Carroll's grandson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence.
In the 19th century, a significant wave of Catholic immigration occurred, particularly from Ireland, following the devastating Potato Blight of 1845. Between 1820 and 1930, it is estimated that approximately 4.5 million Irish people arrived in America, fleeing starvation and difficult living conditions. During this period, German, Italian, and other European Catholics also immigrated in large numbers, contributing to a surge in the Catholic population.
The late 19th century saw a backlash against Catholic immigrants, particularly from Ireland. They were often portrayed in a negative light by political figures and the media, and faced discrimination and hostility in their new homeland. Signs reading "No Irish Need Apply" were displayed in shop windows and newspaper classifieds, and politicians stoked fears about the loyalty of Catholics to the Pope rather than their adoptive country. Despite this opposition, the Catholic immigrant population persevered and gradually established themselves in American society.
In the 20th century, Catholic immigration continued to shape the religious landscape of North America. The 1990s saw a shift in the geographic distribution of Catholics, with congregations closing in the Northeast and new churches opening in the Southwest and Southeast, reflecting the movement of Catholic immigrants to these regions. Additionally, the growth of the Catholic population in states like Texas was recognised with the appointment of the first Roman Catholic cardinal in the state in 2006.
More recently, Catholic immigration from Latin America has been a significant factor in the resilience of the Catholic Church in the United States, offsetting the decline in religious affiliation among the US-born population. Nearly half of US foreign-born individuals are Catholic, with many immigrants from Latin America contributing to the growth of the Catholic Church in the US. This trend has had political implications, with attention focused on Catholics, including Latinos and non-Hispanic whites, during presidential election years.
In summary, Catholic immigration to North America has been a dynamic and ongoing process, shaping the religious, cultural, and political landscape of the United States. From the early colonial times to the present day, Catholic immigrants have faced challenges, contributed to the nation's development, and found a sense of community and connection through their faith.
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The number of Catholic churches in North America
The Catholic Church in North America is prevalent in various countries, including the United States, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador. While the exact number of Catholic churches in North America is unknown, several sources indicate that the number of Catholic churches in the United States has declined in recent years. According to an NBC News analysis, the number of Catholic churches in the US decreased by 1,200 between 2010 and 2020, despite a concurrent increase of 2.9 million Catholics in the country. This discrepancy has resulted in larger congregations, with some churches accommodating over 30,000 families and an average of 7,000 regular worshippers in Florida and more than 10,000 in Nevada.
The decline in the number of Catholic churches in the US has been attributed to several factors, including the financial repercussions of clergy sexual abuse scandals and the cover-up attempts by Catholic leadership. Despite this decline, the Catholic Church remains the country's second-largest religious grouping after Protestantism, with approximately 20% to 28% of Americans identifying as Catholic. This percentage has fluctuated over the years, with a 2021 Pew Research study reporting 21% of US adults identifying as Catholic, while a 2020 Gallup poll indicated a higher percentage at 25%.
The distribution of baptized Catholics varies across different geographic areas, with Africa having the highest number of Catholics globally at 20%, followed by South America at 27.4%, and North America at 6.6%. However, the Americas as a whole, including North, Central, and South America, account for 47.8% of the world's Catholics, highlighting the significant presence of Catholicism in the Western Hemisphere.
While the number of Catholic churches in the United States has decreased, the number of parishes has increased in five regions: the South Atlantic, East South Central, West South Central, Pacific, and Mountain regions. This expansion reflects the shifting geographic landscape of American Catholicism, with the South and West experiencing growth in their Catholic populations. The Northeast and Midwest, historically Catholic strongholds, have witnessed a decline in both the share and number of congregants.
In summary, while the exact count of Catholic churches in North America remains unknown, the available data suggests a dynamic religious landscape. The United States, as part of North America, has experienced a reduction in the number of Catholic churches alongside a growth in the Catholic population, resulting in larger congregations. The distribution of Catholics varies globally, with North America representing 6.6% of the world's Catholic population, while the Americas as a whole play a significant role in the global Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
6.6% of North America is Catholic.
22% of 330 million Americans identify as Catholic, which is approximately 72 million people.
Although Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, it is hard to know how many practising Catholics there are. This is because many Americans identify as Catholic but do not register at local parishes or attend church.
Mexico has the second-largest Catholic population in the world. In 2010, 85% of Mexicans identified as Catholic, which is around 109 million people. In 2025, 6.6% of North America was Catholic, so the number of Catholics in North America including Mexico is likely to be over 109 million.
