Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare worldwide, and Africa is home to a large and growing number of Catholics. In 2005, there were approximately 135 million Catholics in Africa, and by 2023, this number had grown to 281 million, with Africa accounting for 20% of the world's Catholics. Africa has the largest number of infant pupils, Catholic primary schools, primary school pupils, and Catholic secondary schools of all the continents. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the country with the highest number of baptised Catholics in Africa, with almost 55 million, followed by Nigeria with 35 million.
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What You'll Learn
Catholic population growth in Africa
Africa has witnessed a significant growth in its Catholic population, with the region experiencing the largest increase in Catholics worldwide. As of 2025, it is estimated that one-sixth of the world's Catholics, approximately 230 million people, will reside in Africa. This marks a notable rise from the estimated 158 million Catholics in Africa during Pope Benedict XVI's visit in 2009.
The Catholic Church in Africa has a rich history, with archaeological and scholarly research indicating the presence of Christianity in the region even after the Muslim conquests. The 15th century saw another phase of Christianity in Africa with the arrival of the Portuguese, who established a strong presence in North Africa. Today, the Latin Church remains the largest throughout the continent, although Eastern Catholic Churches, such as the Coptic Catholic Church and the Ethiopian Catholic Church, have also emerged in eastern Africa.
Several African countries have extremely high rates of Mass attendance, with Nigeria leading the world. 94% of Catholics in Nigeria attend Mass at least once a week, according to the World Values Survey. Kenya follows closely behind, with 73% of its Catholic population attending Mass weekly. These high rates of Mass attendance are not limited to specific countries but are observed across the continent, with Pope Francis noting the extremely high rates during his visit to Africa.
Africa's Catholic population is not only increasing in numbers but also in influence within the Church. By 2001, over 40% of the College of Cardinals were from Third World nations, a deliberate effort by Pope John Paul II. As of January 2023, Europe still had 3.4 times as many voting cardinals as Africa, but the rapid growth in Africa's Catholic population suggests a potential shift in the coming years.
The Catholic Church in Africa faces unique challenges, such as the persecution of Christians by Islamist groups like Boko Haram and the issue of celibacy among priests. Despite these challenges, the Church operates a vast network of educational institutions in Africa, including kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools, contributing to the continent's high number of infant pupils and Catholic primary and secondary school students.
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Catholic education in Africa
Africa is the region of the world where Catholic and other faith-based schools have the largest footprint. In 2019, Catholic schools served an estimated 62.1 million children globally, of which 27 million were in Africa. This represents a significant increase from 1980, when only two out of ten students enrolled in a Catholic school were in Africa. Today, four out of ten students enrolled in Catholic schools are in Africa, and this percentage exceeds 50% when considering only primary school students.
The Catholic Church is the largest non-state provider of education in the world, and its role is especially important in Africa. In Africa, the Church operates more than 74,000 kindergartens, nearly 101,000 primary schools, and 50,000 secondary schools. One in nine students in a primary school in Africa is enrolled in a Catholic school, and students from the region account for more than half of all students in Catholic primary schools globally.
However, Catholic schools in Africa face several challenges. The pandemic has led to employment and income losses for many parents, making tuition fees unaffordable for some. Additionally, Catholic schools in Africa compete with low-cost charter schools, which are private schools that receive state funding. These schools offer more personalized attention and higher academic standards, attracting many parents who once opted for Catholic education. Furthermore, while Catholic schools in Africa have high numbers of students in pre-school and primary school, there is a challenge in increasing the student body population in secondary school. Only four out of ten students in Africa finish secondary school.
Another issue for the Catholic Church in Africa is the persecution of Christians by Islamist groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria. Additionally, the vow of celibacy for Catholic priests has been a challenge on the continent, with accusations of priests taking wives and concubines. The isolation of priests working in rural Africa and the low status of women are said to contribute to this issue.
Despite these challenges, Africa is expected to have one-sixth of the world's Catholics by 2025, with a projected number of 230 million. The continent also has the largest seminary in the world, located in Nigeria, and produces a large percentage of the world's priests.
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Catholic mass attendance in Africa
Africa is home to a large and growing number of Catholics. In 2005, the Catholic Church in Africa embraced approximately 135 million people. By 2025, one-sixth of the world's Catholics are expected to be Africans. This growth is reflected in the number of minor seminarians, with Africa leading the pack in gains, and in the number of Catholic schools and universities on the continent.
Despite challenges such as persecution by Islamist groups like Boko Haram and issues with poverty and political instability, Africa has an extremely high rate of Mass attendance. Countries with large Catholic populations in Africa have a much higher rate of Mass attendance than similar countries in other parts of the world. For example, in Nigeria, 94% of Catholics report attending Mass at least weekly, compared to less than 15% in Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Kenya and Lebanon also have high rates of Mass attendance, with 73% and 69% of Catholics attending Mass at least weekly, respectively.
The high rate of Mass attendance in Africa is attributed to several factors. Father Iorapuu, a Nigerian priest, suggests that the church offers services in areas where the government has failed, such as education, healthcare, and social amenities. He also attributes the high attendance to the access people have to priests, which gives them hope and a belief that things will change for the better. Additionally, the conservatism of Pope John Paul II is believed to have attracted Catholics in developing nations in Africa.
Africa is becoming a center of gravity for global Catholicism, with the continent rapidly producing a large percentage of the world's priests. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Kenya have some of the highest numbers of priestly ordinations in the world. Africa has also overtaken Europe as the largest source of priestly ordinations, with 1,600 diocesan priests ordained in 2019 compared to 1,306 in Europe.
While Africa has a high rate of Mass attendance, there are also unique challenges for the Catholic Church on the continent. One such challenge is the issue of celibacy, with Africa cited as a region where the violation of celibacy is particularly rampant due to cultural expectations and the isolation of priests working in rural areas.
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Catholic cardinals in Africa
The Catholic Church in Africa has seen a significant increase in followers, with Africa leading the highest gain in the total number of minor seminarians globally. The Catholic Church operates numerous educational institutions in Africa, including kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, and universities.
As of 26 June 2020, there were 29 cardinals from Africa, out of a total of 222 cardinals worldwide. This number has remained consistent as of 2025, with 29 cardinals from Africa making up about 13% of the College of Cardinals. These cardinals represent a diverse range of countries, including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
The College of Cardinals in Africa includes prominent figures such as Cardinal Peter Turkson, formerly the Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, who was once the continent's youngest cardinal at 64 years old. Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga of the Central African Republic is currently the youngest African elector at 58 years old. Other notable cardinals include Cardinal Dogbo from Ivory Coast, Cardinal Okpaleke from Nigeria, Cardinal Rugambwa from Tanzania, and Cardinal Ameyu from South Sudan.
The presence of African cardinals in the College of Cardinals has influenced the global Catholic Church's focus. With a significant African representation, there is increasing attention to African perspectives in theological discussions and leadership roles within the Church. This shift reflects the growing importance of Africa within the Catholic Church, which is expected to continue in the future.
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Catholic bishops in Africa
The Catholic Church in Africa has seen significant growth in recent years, with the continent accounting for the largest increase in Catholics globally while numbers declined in Europe. As of 2021, there were approximately 1.37 billion Catholics worldwide, with Africa expected to account for one-sixth (or 230 million) of the world's Catholics by 2025. Africa also has the largest number of infant pupils, Catholic primary schools, primary school pupils, and Catholic secondary schools compared to other continents.
The Catholic Church in Africa has a rich history, with archaeological and scholarly research indicating that Christianity existed in the region even after the Muslim conquests. The Church in North Africa, particularly in Egypt and Ethiopia, aligned more with Eastern Christianity, while the region now known as the Maghreb practiced Western Christianity. Notably, three early popes—Pope Victor I, Pope Miltiades, and Pope Gelasius I—were North African.
The arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century marked another significant phase for Christianity in Africa. During this time, the Christian Portuguese and Spanish captured several ports in North Africa, and the bishopric of Marrakesh persisted until the late 16th century. Despite some setbacks, such as the destruction of a Franciscan monastery in 1637, pockets of Franciscan presence remained in North Africa until the 18th century.
Today, the Catholic Church in Africa faces various challenges, including persecution by Islamist groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria. Additionally, the issue of celibacy among priests has been a challenge, with Africa cited as a region where violations of celibacy vows are prevalent.
The Church in Africa is organized under various dioceses, each led by a bishop. Here is a list of some of the Catholic bishops in Africa:
- Bishop Joseph Shipandeni Shikongo, O.M.I., Vicar Apostolic of Rundu
- Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells, Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa
- Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru, Bishop Emeritus of Meru
- Archbishop Santiago De Wit Guzmán, Apostolic Nuncio to the Central African Republic
- Bishop Joachim Kouraleyo Tarounga, Bishop of Moundou
- Bishop Jean-Christophe Amade Aloma, M. Afr., Bishop of Kalemie-Kirungu
- Bishop Gabriel Jules Joseph Piroird, Ist. del Prado, Bishop Emeritus of Constantine (-Hippone)
- Archbishop Luciano Russo, Apostolic Nuncio to Algeria
- Bishop Anastácio Kahango, O.F.M. Cap., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Luanda
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, there are approximately 281 million Catholics in Africa, making up 20% of the global Catholic population.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has the highest number of baptised Catholics in Africa, with almost 55 million.
Approximately 55% of the population in the Democratic Republic of Congo is Catholic, making it one of the most Catholic countries in Africa.
Nigeria has the highest rate of Mass attendance in Africa, with 94% of Catholics reporting that they attend Mass at least once a week.
As of 2023, there are 406,996 priests globally, of which 13.5% are in Africa. The number of bishops in Africa rose from 13.8% in 2022 to 14.2% in 2023.
