Grace Thompson
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. While the global Catholic population increased by 1.15% between 2022 and 2023, rising to 1.4 billion, the number of pastoral workers has decreased. In the US, the number of practicing Catholics increased from 2010 to 2020, despite a decline in the number of churches. The Catholic population grew by 6 million in the South and West, with Florida and Arizona witnessing the largest influxes. Conversely, the Northeast and Midwest, historically Catholic strongholds, experienced a decline in congregants. While Catholic religious participation rates are declining, with only 39% of Catholics attending Mass at least weekly, the Latino element has reached 37% of the Catholic population and is growing.
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What You'll Learn
Catholic population growth in Africa and Asia
The Catholic population in Africa and Asia is growing, and the regions are poised to become even more important global centers of Catholicism in the coming decades. This growth is driven by two factors: the conversion of sub-Saharan Africa in the first half of the 20th century and the unique population growth in Africa and parts of Asia.
In Africa, the number of Catholics has increased significantly over the past century. In 1900, there were 2 million Catholics in Africa, which grew to 140 million by 2000. In 2020, there were 236 million Catholics in Africa, making up 17-20% of the continent's population and 19% of the global Catholic population. By 2050, it is estimated that African Catholics will make up 32% of the Catholic Church. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya have the most significant Catholic populations on the continent.
The growth of Catholicism in Africa is attributed to the continent's unique demographic trends. While most regions globally are experiencing declining fertility rates, Africans, including Catholic Africans, continue to have children. As a result, Africa is expected to play an increasingly important role in the global economy and the life of the Catholic Church.
In Asia, the Catholic population is also growing, albeit at a slower rate than in Africa. The Catholic share of the population in the Asia-Pacific region grew from 1% in 1910 to 3% in 2010. In 2023, Southeast Asia was home to 76.7% of the region's Catholics, with the Philippines and India having the largest Catholic populations. Overall, Asia accounted for about 11% of the global Catholic population in 2023, with an estimated 144 million Catholics.
The growth of Catholicism in Asia is influenced by various factors, including immigration and conversion. In the United States, for example, more than half of all Catholic immigrants are from Asia-Pacific, and the region's economic development and increasing population are likely to contribute to the growth of Catholicism in the region.
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Decline in religious participation rates in the US
While the United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, there has been a decline in religious participation rates in the country. In 2025, only 39% of all Catholics attended Mass at least weekly, a decrease from 45% previously. This decline is not unique to Catholics, as religious service attendance has declined in most religious groups in the US over the past two decades.
The decline in religious participation rates in the US is part of a broader trend of the country becoming less Christian and less religiously observant. There has been a decrease in the share of adults who identify with Christianity, and the number of religious "nones" has grown across multiple demographic groups. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger Americans, who have weaker attachments to religion. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 35% say they have no religious preference, while 32% identify as Protestant/nondenominational Christian and 19% as Catholic.
The reasons for the decline in religious participation rates are multifaceted. One factor is the clergy sex abuse crisis, which has undermined trust in the Catholic Church leadership among its followers. Additionally, broader societal changes, such as increasing secularization and changing religious beliefs, have contributed to the decline.
However, it is important to note that the decline in religious participation rates may not necessarily indicate a decrease in religious attendance. Older adults report attending religious services at far higher rates than younger adults, and it is possible that today's young adults will participate more as they age. Additionally, some people who describe themselves as spiritual may hold supernatural beliefs but rarely participate in organized religious activities.
While the decline in religious participation rates in the US is evident, it is challenging to determine a clear, long-term trend line due to changes in survey methods and response rates. Nevertheless, the available data suggests that religious attendance in the US is undergoing significant changes, with potential implications for the future of religion in the country.
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Catholic views on abortion
The Catholic Church has long been one of the foremost opponents of legal abortion, teaching that human life is sacred "from conception to natural death" and that unborn children have a "right to life". The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
> "Since the first century, the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion is gravely contrary to the moral law."
The Church's stance on abortion is influenced by its interpretation of human embryology and the belief that abortion is immoral at every stage of pregnancy. The discovery of the human ovum in 1827 discredited Aristotle's theory that a human soul was infused into the body only after a certain period, with scientists increasingly recognizing that the union of sperm and egg at conception produces a new living being. Modern genetics has further demonstrated that this individual is, from the outset, distinctively human, with the inherent and active potential to mature into a human fetus, infant, child, and adult.
However, Catholic views on abortion vary, with regular Mass attenders being the most opposed. Among Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week, about two-thirds (68%) say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, and only about half support exceptions for cases of rape (43%) or threats to the life or health of the mother (49%). Most Mass attenders also believe that life begins at conception. In contrast, most Catholics who do not attend Mass weekly (65%) say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, including three-quarters who support legal abortion in cases of rape or threats to the woman's life.
Political affiliation also influences Catholic views on abortion. A majority of Catholic Republicans say abortion should be illegal in most or all cases (60%) and believe that "life begins at conception" (59%). On the other hand, most Catholic Democrats say abortion should be legal in most or all cases (73%), and only three-tenths believe that life begins at conception.
While the Catholic Church officially condemns abortion as immoral and makes public statements and takes actions in opposition to its legality, many Catholics, particularly in Western countries, hold views on abortion that differ from the official position of the Church.
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Catholic population distribution in the US
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. This makes it the second-largest religious grouping in the country, after Protestantism, and the largest single church if Protestantism is divided into separate denominations. The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
The Catholic population in the US has experienced some changes over time. Since 1960, the percentage of Catholics in the country has decreased slightly from about 25% to 22%. However, in absolute numbers, the Catholic population has grown from 45 million to 72 million. Additionally, there has been a shift in the ethnic makeup of the Catholic population, with an increasing proportion of Latinos. As of 2025, the Latino element reached 37% of the Catholic population, and it continues to grow.
Geographically, the Catholic population in the US is distributed throughout the country, with higher concentrations in certain regions. The Northeast has the highest percentage of Catholics, with 24% of the region's population identifying as Catholic. The Midwest follows closely behind at 19%, while the South and West each account for 32% and 25% of the Catholic population, respectively. Rhode Island is the state with the highest proportion of Catholics, with 42% of the state's population identifying as Catholic. Massachusetts and New Jersey are also among the states with high Catholic populations, at 34% and 34%, respectively.
The social and educational characteristics of the Catholic population in the US vary as well. About 35% of US Catholics have a bachelor's degree, while 27% have attended college without obtaining a degree, and 38% have a high school education or less. There are also political differences within the Catholic population, with 53% of Catholic registered voters identifying with or leaning towards the Republican Party, while 43% affiliate with the Democratic Party.
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Catholic Church's future
The Catholic Church is one of the largest religious groups in the world, with approximately 1.4 billion followers as of 2023. While the global Catholic population is growing, the number of pastoral workers is declining. This trend is particularly noticeable in the United States, where the percentage of Americans who identify as Catholic has decreased from 24% in 2007 to 19% in 2025. Religious participation rates among US Catholics are also declining, with only 39% attending Mass at least weekly. The clergy sex abuse crisis has also undermined trust in the Catholic Church among its followers.
Despite these challenges, the Catholic Church in the United States remains a significant force, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018, making it the country's second-largest religious grouping after Protestantism. The US has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, and Catholicism has had a profound cultural, social, and political impact on the country. Additionally, the Traditionalist Catholic movement is growing in the US, with over 600 locations offering the Traditional Latin Mass.
The future of the Catholic Church globally is influenced by several factors. In Africa, the Catholic Church is experiencing dynamic growth, with the Democratic Republic of Congo having the highest number of baptized Catholics in the world. However, there is a mismatch in the allocation of Catholic priests worldwide, with more than 50% of priests living and ministering in the global North, while two-thirds of Catholics reside elsewhere. This disparity is particularly notable in Africa, where the number of Catholics per priest is significantly higher than the global average.
To address this challenge, the Catholic Church in the global North is increasingly relying on priests and religious workers from the global South. This support is crucial for the functioning of parishes, Catholic schools, and social ministries. Additionally, the growth of the Church in Africa and Asia has been achieved with a lower priest-to-people ratio, highlighting the importance of the ministry of lay people, including the role of women as missionary disciples.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church faces challenges in some regions, such as declining religious participation rates in the US, it continues to grow globally, particularly in Africa. The allocation of priests and the evolving role of lay people will be key factors in shaping the future of the Catholic Church worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, there were approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, making it one of the largest religious groups in the world.
As of 2025, 19% of Americans self-identify as Catholic, though this number is decreasing. In 2018, 23% of the US population identified as Catholic, making it the second-largest religious grouping in the country after Protestantism.
Attendance rates vary depending on the location and demographic group. In the US, only 29% of self-identifying Catholics attend Mass weekly. In contrast, four in ten Hispanic Catholics are over 50, and only 14% are 65 or older, which may contribute to higher attendance rates in this demographic group.
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