Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity, with around half of all Christians identifying as Catholic. In 2025, the World Christian Database reported 1.272 billion Catholics worldwide, not including independent denominations that self-identify as Catholic, which number around 18 million. This means that Catholics make up about 16% of the global population. The number of Christians around the world has nearly quadrupled in the last 100 years, rising from 600 million in 1910 to over 2 billion in 2010.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics in Christianity | 50% |
| Number of Catholics in the world | 1.2 billion (2018); 1.39 billion (2022); 1.41 billion (2023); 1.27 billion (2025) |
| Percentage of Catholics in the world population | 16% |
| Number of Christians in the world | 2 billion (2010); 2.18 billion (2010); 2.3-2.6 billion (2020) |
| Percentage of Christians in the world population | 32% (2010); 33% (2010); 30-35% (2020) |
| Number of Catholics in the US | Third-largest population of Catholics in the world |
| Number of Catholics in Brazil | 120 million |
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination
The Catholic Church was called "Catholic" or "universal" in the second century, acknowledging the many different cultures it encompassed. It suffered intermittent persecution until Emperor Constantine the Great issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, legalising Christianity. The Church then had the luxury of reflecting on the meaning of its teachings for the first time.
Catholicism is geographically widespread, with dramatic shifts in the regional distribution of the Catholic population between 1910 and 2010. In 1910, Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics, and nearly nine-tenths lived in Europe (65%) or Latin America (24%). By 2010, only about a quarter of all Catholics (24%) were in Europe, with the largest share (39%) in Latin America and the Caribbean. There has been rapid growth in sub-Saharan Africa, which is now home to about 171 million Catholics (16%), up from an estimated 1 million (less than 1%) in 1910. There has also been rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific region, with 131 million Catholics (12%) now living there, up from 5% a century ago.
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination. The US has more Catholics than all but three other countries: Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. In the US, Catholics are spread out relatively evenly, with around three in ten (29%) living in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest.
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Catholics make up about 50% of Christians
Catholicism is the main branch of Christianity, and the Catholic Church is the largest of the Christian denominations. According to Vatican figures, there are an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics globally, with other sources citing figures of 1.39 billion in 2022 and 1.272 billion in 2025. This means that Catholics make up about 50% of Christians, with the World Christian Database reporting that in 1910, Catholics comprised about 48% of all Christians.
The Catholic Church has the luxury of being universal, with adherents from various cultures and countries. The geographic distribution of Catholics has changed substantially over the past century. In 1910, Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics, and nearly nine-tenths lived in Europe (65%) or Latin America (24%). By 2010, only about a quarter of all Catholics (24%) resided in Europe, with the largest share in Latin America and the Caribbean (39%).
The Americas have witnessed a slow increase in their share of the global Catholic population, rising from 5% in 1910 to 8% as of 2010. In contrast, the Middle East and North Africa, the ancient cradle of Christianity, are now home to less than 1% of Catholics, similar to a century ago. The Catholic population in the United States is spread relatively evenly across the country, with the South and Northeast having the highest concentrations.
The number of Christians worldwide has nearly quadrupled in the last century, rising from about 600 million in 1910 to more than 2 billion in 2010, representing nearly a third of the global population that year. While Europe and the Americas still host a majority of the world's Christians (63%), their share has decreased significantly compared to 1910 (93%). During this period, Christianity has experienced enormous growth in sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, where there were relatively few Christians at the century's start.
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Catholic population growth in sub-Saharan Africa
Catholicism is the main branch of Christianity, with about half of all Christians being Catholics. According to Vatican figures, there are an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics in the world, constituting roughly 16% of the world's population. The Catholic Church is the largest of all Christian denominations.
The Catholic population in sub-Saharan Africa has witnessed a significant expansion over the last century. In 1900, Catholics constituted 2% of Africa's population, increasing to 12% in 1970, and further rising to 17% in 2020. The continent's overall Christian population has also grown substantially, with a fourfold increase from 9% in 1900 to 38% in 1970. This growth in the Catholic population is closely linked to the conversion of sub-Saharan Africa in the first half of the 20th century, coupled with Africa's unique population growth in the 21st century.
The number of Catholics in sub-Saharan Africa surged from 1.9 million in 1900 to more than 130 million by the end of the 20th century, representing a remarkable growth rate of 6,708%. This growth has continued into the 21st century, with Africa's Catholic population reaching 236 million in 2020, constituting 19% of the global Catholic population. Demographers predict that this proportion will continue to increase, with estimates suggesting that African Catholics will make up 32% of the Catholic Church by 2050.
Several factors have contributed to the growth of Catholicism in sub-Saharan Africa. Firstly, the French colonization of several African countries during the colonial era played a role in the expansion of the Catholic Church in the region. Additionally, the high birth rates in sub-Saharan African countries with significant Catholic populations have further accelerated this growth. Between 1970 and 2020, African countries with Catholic populations of over 30% experienced average population growth of 300%. This rapid population growth in highly Catholic areas has resulted in predictions that Africa will continue to become more Catholic in the coming decades.
The increasing prominence of Catholicism in sub-Saharan Africa has had a profound impact on the global Catholic Church. As the majority of Catholics now reside in the developing world, the possibility of an African pope has gained traction, with Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana being considered a strong candidate in the 2013 papal conclave. The expansion of Catholicism in sub-Saharan Africa has also influenced the religious landscape of the region, with Christianity becoming the single largest religious affiliation on the continent.
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Catholic population growth in the Asia-Pacific region
Catholicism has played a crucial role in defining identity in Asia, and the region is key to the future of global Catholicism. The Catholic share of the population in the Asia-Pacific region grew from 1% in 1910 to 3% in 2010. While Asia constitutes 11% of the global Catholic population, demographic shifts and missionary efforts continue to influence its growth. The Philippines (93 million) and India (23 million) remain the region’s Catholic strongholds, accounting for the majority of Southeast Asian Catholics.
Despite this progress, Asia lags behind Africa and the Americas in terms of Catholic population growth. In contrast, Africa’s Catholic population rose by 3.31%, reaching 281 million, while the Americas, home to 47.8% of the world’s Catholics, also experienced modest growth. However, the increasing importance of the Asia-Pacific region will give more weight to the voices of Asian Catholics, who are already accessing high responsibilities within the Catholic hierarchy.
The shortage of priests and seminarians in Asia presents a major challenge to the Catholic Church in the region. While the number of bishops in Asia grew significantly, the number of priests rose only by 1.6%, a slower rate compared to Africa (+2.7%). The rise in permanent deacons and the continued role of religious sisters provide some support, but the decline in priestly vocations necessitates renewed efforts in vocation promotion and pastoral formation.
Southeast Asia, with its cultural, ethnic, and religious plurality, represents the future growth region of Catholicism. Pope Francis has visited Asia six times in the past eleven years, and his latest trip covered four nations in the Southeast Asian region. The pope is especially interested in minority Catholic communities, which is the case in most parts of Asia. For instance, while only 3% of the whole Indonesian population is Catholic, the island of Flores and parts of Papua are overwhelmingly Catholic.
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Protestants are the second-largest Christian group
Protestantism is the second-largest Christian group after Catholicism. Catholicism is the main branch of Christianity, with the Catholic Church being the largest among churches. According to Vatican figures, there are an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide, constituting about 50% of all Christians. The Catholic Church reported 1.39 billion baptized Catholics in 2022 and 1.4 billion in 2023. In 2025, the World Christian Database reported 1.272 billion Catholics, excluding independent denominations that self-identify as Catholic.
Protestantism, on the other hand, has approximately one billion followers, accounting for 37% of all Christians. The number of Protestants varies between 600 million and 1.1 billion, or between 24% and 40% of all Christians. The wide range in these estimates is due to the lack of consensus among scholars on which denominations constitute Protestantism. For instance, while most sources include Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists, and non-denominational Christianity as part of Protestantism, some Protestants may prefer to be identified simply as Christians.
Among the various Protestant denominations, Anglicanism has around 110 million adherents, making it the third-largest Protestant denomination. The World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran World Federation are each estimated to have more than 70 million members. The World Evangelical Alliance, an international transdenominational evangelical Protestant organization, represents 600 million Christians.
The Protestant denomination of Christianity emerged in Northern Europe as a religious movement in response to the Roman Catholic doctrines surrounding divorce in marriage. The fragmentation in Protestantism has been significant, with tens of thousands of denominations. Despite this fragmentation, Protestantism has grown and spread globally, influencing the religious, social, and political aspects of many regions.
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Frequently asked questions
Approximately 50% of Christians worldwide are Catholics.
There were 1.39 billion baptised Catholics in 2022, and 1.4 billion in 2023.
The Catholic population has remained remarkably stable as a proportion of the global population, at around 16%. However, the geographic distribution of Catholics has changed. In 1910, two-thirds of Catholics lived in Europe, but by 2010, only about a quarter did. The largest share in 2010 was in Latin America and the Caribbean (39%).
Catholicism is the most followed religion in the world. It is most popular in Latin America and the Caribbean, which is home to 76% of Catholic immigrants in the US.
