Grace Thompson
Catholicism is the world's largest international institution, with around 1.4 billion followers, according to 2025 data. This equates to approximately 17% of the global population. While the number of Catholics has increased, the religion's share of the global population has remained remarkably stable over the past century, with geographic distribution changing substantially. In 1910, Europe was home to two-thirds of all Catholics, but by 2010, only a quarter remained in the continent, with the largest share (39%) in Latin America and the Caribbean. Africa and Asia have witnessed the most significant growth in recent years, with Africa currently representing 20% of the world's Catholic population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics in the world population | 16% (2010), 17.7% (2024), 17.67% (2023) |
| Number of Catholics worldwide | 1.05 billion (2000), 1.36 billion (2020), 1.4 billion (2023) |
| Percentage of Christians who are Catholics | 48% (1910), 50% (2010) |
| Region with the highest proportion of Catholics | Americas (47.8% of global total) |
| Region with the highest number of Catholics | Africa (47.8% of global total) |
| Region with the highest growth in the number of Catholics | Africa (3.31% increase from 2022 to 2023) |
| Number of Catholic bishops worldwide | 5,353 (2022), 5,430 (2023) |
| Number of Catholic priests worldwide | 407,872 (2023), 406,996 (2023) |
| Number of Catholic immigrants in the US | 22.2 million (2010) |
| Percentage of US immigrants who are Catholic | 52% |
| Number of Catholic kindergartens worldwide | 74,368 |
| Number of Catholic primary schools worldwide | 100,939 |
| Number of Catholic secondary schools worldwide | 49,868 |
| Number of Catholic hospitals worldwide | 5,405 |
| Number of Catholic orphanages worldwide | 9,703 |
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What You'll Learn
Global Catholic population: 1.4 billion (16% of world population)
Catholicism is one of the world's largest religions, with 1.4 billion followers worldwide, or 16% of the global population. This represents a remarkable stability in the share of the global population that is Catholic, despite the world's overall population growing rapidly over the last century. In 1910, Catholics made up 17% of the world's population, and a century later, in 2010, they still made up 16%.
However, the geographic distribution of Catholics has changed significantly during this period. In 1910, Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics, with nearly nine-tenths living in Europe (65%) or Latin America (24%). By 2010, only about a quarter of Catholics (24%) lived in Europe, with the largest share now in Latin America and the Caribbean (39%). The share of Catholics in Africa and Asia has also grown substantially, with Africa now home to about 171 million Catholics (16%), and Asia to about 131 million (12%). The United States is home to about 7% of the world's Catholics and is the country with the fourth-largest Catholic population, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
While the number of Catholics worldwide has grown, the distribution of priests has not kept pace, particularly in Europe and the Americas. More than 50% of priests live and minister in the global North, while more than two-thirds of Catholics live elsewhere. This has created a serious mismatch in the allocation of priests around the world.
Despite the overall growth in the number of Catholics, there are variations within different countries and regions. In several countries with large Catholic populations, such as Brazil and Mexico, the share of the population identifying as Catholic has declined over the last decade. Additionally, in Western Europe and parts of the U.S., parishes are closing, and formal religious affiliation and commitment are declining. However, the Catholic Church is growing among non-Hispanics in the U.S. due to the decline of mainline Protestantism.
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Catholic population in the US: 23-25%
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church in communion with the pope. With 23 percent of the United States' population as of 2018, the Catholic Church is the country's second-largest religious grouping after Protestantism. The United States is home to about 7% of all Catholics in the world. As of 2010, an estimated 23% of US adults and 24% of the total US population (including adults and children) are Catholic. This amounts to about 72 million Catholics in the US.
The Catholic population in the US has undergone some striking demographic shifts despite hovering around a quarter of the population for several decades. For example, the Catholic population has lost more members than it has gained from religious switching. In fact, one in ten adults in the United States is a former Catholic.
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. The Catholic population in the United States has grown by about 2 million people in 10 years. With nearly 62 million people, it continues to constitute the largest religious body in 36 US states, according to the latest religion-focused survey of America’s religious congregations.
Over the past century, the number of Catholics worldwide has more than tripled. But the world’s overall population also rose rapidly from 1910 to 2010. As a result, Catholics have made up a remarkably stable share of all people on Earth, though their geographic distribution has changed substantially. In 1910, Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics, and nearly nine-tenths lived either in Europe (65%) or Latin America (24%). By 2010, only about a quarter of all Catholics (24%) were in Europe. The largest share (39%) was in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In the US, the regional distribution of Catholics is as follows: Northeast, 24%; Midwest, 19%; South, 32%; and West, 25%. While the wealthiest and most educated Americans tend to belong to some Protestant American groupings, more Catholics live in households with a yearly income of $100,000 or more than any other individual religious group. More Catholics hold college degrees (over 19 million) than members of any other faith community in the United States.
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Catholic population in California: 40% Latin
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with the country having the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world. In California, Catholics make up 23% of the state's population as of 2018, making it the second-largest religious grouping after Protestantism. While specific data on the ethnic breakdown of California's Catholic population is unavailable, nationwide data shows that 36% of US Catholics are Hispanic or Latin, while 54% are White, 4% are Asian, and 2% are Black. The share of US Catholics who are Hispanic or Latin is rising, with 55% of Hispanics identifying as Catholic in 2014, compared to 38% in 2015. In 2019, Latinos comprised 37% of American Catholics, and it is predicted that by 2050, only 40% of third-generation Latinos will remain Catholic.
The Catholic population in the US has undergone significant demographic shifts. While the overall percentage of Catholics in the US has remained relatively stable at around 23% to 25%, the ethnic makeup of this population has changed. The percentage of White Catholics has dropped by 10 points since 2007, while the share of Hispanic Catholics has increased by 7 points. This shift is particularly notable in certain regions, such as the South and the West. In the South, 44% of Catholics are White and 45% are Hispanic, while in the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics (58%) than White Catholics (27%). The West also has a larger population of Asian Catholics (10%) compared to other regions.
The multicultural and diverse nature of the Catholic Church in the United States is influenced by immigration patterns. Modern Catholic immigrants come to the US from the Philippines, Poland, and Latin America, especially Mexico and Central America. This diversity is reflected in the conduct of Catholicism, with most dioceses offering Mass in multiple languages. An increasing number of parishes offer Masses in Latin, the official language of the Catholic Church.
While the Catholic population in the US has grown in numbers, with an increase from 45 million to 72 million, the percentage of Americans who are Catholic has declined slightly over time. In 1910, Catholics comprised 17% of the world's population, while a century later, they make up about 16%. This change is also reflected in the regional distribution of Catholics worldwide. In 1910, Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics, with 65% living in Europe and 24% in Latin America. By 2010, only about a quarter of Catholics (24%) remained in Europe, while the largest share (39%) was in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Catholic population trends: Rapid growth in Asia and Africa
Over the past century, the number of Catholics worldwide has more than tripled, from 291 million in 1910 to nearly 1.4 billion as of 2023. During this period, the world's overall population has also grown rapidly. As a result, Catholics have consistently comprised about half of all Christians worldwide and 16-17.7% of the total global population. However, the geographic distribution of Catholics has changed significantly.
In 1910, Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics, and nearly nine-in-ten lived in Europe (65%) or Latin America (24%). By 2010, the distribution shifted, with only about a quarter of Catholics (24%) in Europe, 39% in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 8% in North America. The share of Catholics in Africa and Asia has also increased substantially.
Africa
The Catholic population in Africa has grown rapidly, with the continent now home to about 171 million Catholics (16%) in Sub-Saharan Africa, up from an estimated 1 million (less than 1%) in 1910. The Democratic Republic of Congo leads the region with almost 55 million Catholics, followed by Nigeria with 35 million, and significant numbers in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. Africa's share of the global Catholic population has increased from 1.9 million in 1900 to an estimated 236 million today, with a dynamic spread of the Catholic Church across the continent.
Asia
Asia has also experienced notable Catholic population growth, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes the Philippines with 93 million Catholics and India with 23 million. Across Asia, Catholicism remains a minority faith, but due to the continent's vast population, it is now home to one in ten Catholics worldwide. The number of Catholics in Asia grew from 14 million (5%) a century ago to 131 million (12%) as of 2010. Southeast Asia, in particular, has seen a concentration of Catholics, with 76.7% of the region's Catholics in the Philippines and India.
While the absolute number of Catholics has increased in Asia, the growth rate as a percentage of the regional population has been lower. In the Asia-Pacific region, the Catholic share of the population grew from 1% to 3% between 1910 and 2010. The number of female religious practitioners in Asia has increased by 12.78% as of 2006, and the region has witnessed a rise in priestly vocations of 17.71%.
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Catholic population in Italy: 80% identify as Catholic
Italy has a significant Catholic population, with nearly 80% of Italians identifying as Catholics. This percentage has remained relatively stable over the years, with a 2018 Eurobarometer survey showing that 78.9% of Italy's population was Catholic, and a 2021 Eurobarometer estimating the number to be 79.2%. The high percentage of Catholics in Italy is partly due to the country's deep historical connection to the Catholic Church, with Rome being the headquarters of the Church and the residence of the Pope.
However, it is important to note that while many Italians identify as Catholics, only a small percentage actively practice the religion. According to reports, fewer than 20% of Italians attend church services at least once a week. For many, being Catholic is more of a cultural affiliation and a connection to tradition than a strict adherence to doctrine or religious practice. This is evident in the fact that while 60% of Italians opt for a church wedding, only about 20% of the population attends Mass regularly.
The religious landscape of Italy is becoming increasingly diverse due to immigration. The immigrant population in Italy comprises a significant number of Christians, including Orthodox Christians, Protestants, and Catholics. Additionally, there are growing numbers of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, and Mormons. This influx of diverse religious groups has contributed to the rise of religious pluralism in Italy, with the country now hosting a wide array of faiths and beliefs.
Despite the high percentage of Catholics in Italy, the country also has a notable presence of individuals who identify as non-religious. According to the 2018 Eurobarometer survey, 11.7% of Italy's population was non-religious, including atheists and agnostics. This number slightly decreased to 11.6% in the 2021 Eurobarometer estimate. The presence of non-religious individuals and the increasing diversity of faiths in Italy reflect the complex and evolving religious landscape of the country.
While Italy has a strong Catholic majority, the active participation in the Church and its rituals varies greatly among the population. The Catholic identity in Italy is deeply intertwined with cultural traditions and a sense of community, which continues to hold significance for many Italians, even if they do not strictly follow the religious teachings or attend church regularly.
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Frequently asked questions
Approximately 16% to 17.7% of the world's population is Catholic.
The Catholic population of the world is estimated to be 1.36 billion to 1.4 billion.
The Catholic population has more than tripled over the past century, growing more in the last 100 years than in the previous 1,900 years.
Most Catholics live outside of Europe and the global North. The Americas have the highest proportion of Catholics, accounting for 47.8% of the global total, with Brazil having the largest number of Catholics in the world. Africa is the second-largest continent for Catholic population, with 20% of the world's Catholics living there.
