Joshua Bennett
With an estimated 1.272 billion followers worldwide as of 2025, Catholicism is one of the most popular religions in the world. It is a branch of Christianity, which is the world's largest religion, with an estimated 2.3 to 2.6 billion adherents. Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination, followed by the Eastern Orthodox churches and Protestantism. The Catholic Church, also known as the Catholic Communion of Churches, includes the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, each led by either a patriarch or a major archbishop in communion with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). While Catholicism is widespread, it is most prevalent in Vatican City, with 100% of the population, and Timor-Leste, with 97%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics worldwide | 1.272 billion as of 2025, according to the World Christian Database |
| Percentage of Christians that are Catholic | 48.1% of 2.645 billion Christians |
| Number of baptized Catholics worldwide | 1.376 billion at the end of 2021, according to the 2023 Annuario Pontificio |
| Percentage of the population in Brazil that is Catholic | 57% over the age of 16, according to Datafolha in 2013 |
| Catholic Church's rank among Christian denominations | Largest |
| Catholic Church's rank among all religions | N/A |
| Catholic Church's status | World's oldest continuously functioning international institution |
| Catholic Church's role in education and healthcare | Largest non-government provider |
| Number of hospitals run by the Catholic Church | 5,000 |
| Number of orphanages run by the Catholic Church | 10,000 |
| Number of elementary schools run by the Catholic Church | 95,000 |
| Number of secondary schools run by the Catholic Church | 47,000 |
| Number of Eastern Catholic Churches | 23 |
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What You'll Learn
Christianity is the world's largest religion
Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Over the centuries, it spread around the world, often through missionaries and colonizers. Roughly equal numbers of Christians live in Europe (26%), Latin America and the Caribbean (24%), and sub-Saharan Africa (24%). Christians, along with Hindus, tend to live in countries where they are in the majority.
The Catholic Church is the world's oldest continuously functioning international institution. It is also the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare globally, with a vast international network of charities, hospitals, orphanages, elementary schools, and secondary schools. The Catholic Church comprises the Latin Church (or the Roman or Western Church) and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, each led by either a patriarch or a major archbishop in full communion with the Bishop of Rome (the pope).
Protestant denominations do not form a single structure comparable to the Catholic Church. However, several different comparable communions exist within Protestantism, such as the World Evangelical Alliance, the Anglican Communion, and the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The most accepted figure for the number of Protestants is 900 million, including Anglicans, Anabaptists, Baptists, and other groups that might prefer to be called simply "Christian."
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Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity
Christianity is the largest religious group in the world, with an estimated 2.3 to 2.6 billion adherents in 2020. Its largest denomination is Catholicism, with 1.272 billion followers worldwide as of 2025, constituting 48.1% of all Christians. The Catholic Church is comprised of the Latin Church (or the Roman or Western Church) and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, each led by either a patriarch or a major archbishop in full communion with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope).
Catholicism is followed in size by the Eastern Orthodox churches, and then Protestant churches, which include the Anglican Communion, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the Baptist World Alliance, the World Methodist Council, and the Lutheran World Federation. The Anglican Communion is the third-largest Christian communion in the world, with around 85 million members. The most accepted figure for the number of Protestants is 900 million, though this includes Anglicans, Anabaptists, Baptists, and other groups that may prefer to be called simply "Christian".
The second most widely practised religion in the world is Islam, with 1.8 billion followers. The largest branch of Islam is Sunni, which includes approximately 80% of Muslims, while the Shi'ah branch includes approximately 15%. The third most widely practised religion is Hinduism, with 1.1 billion followers, followed by Buddhism, with 488 million followers, and Sikhism, with 25 million followers.
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Catholics are the majority in Latin America and Europe
Catholicism is the world's largest religious denomination, with 1.3 billion followers globally. Catholics are the majority in Latin America and Europe, but the religion's influence is waning in both regions.
Latin America
In Latin America, Catholicism was introduced by Spanish conquistadors and spread through missionary activity, colonisation, and the conversion of native people. It has historically been the predominant religion in the region, but its influence is declining. While a 2014 Pew Research Center survey found that 69% of Latin Americans identified as Catholic, a 2024 survey by M&R Consultadores put that figure at 36.2%. A Latinobarómetro survey found that the number of Latin Americans identifying as Catholic dropped from 70% in 2010 to 57% in 2020, with a growing number of people identifying as evangelical or having no religion.
Europe
Catholicism has a long history in Europe, with the Church headquartered in Rome's Vatican City. Europe was once home to most of the world's Catholics, but today, only about a quarter of all Catholics reside in Europe. In 1910, 65% of Catholics lived on the continent, but by 2010, that number had dropped to 24%. Today, Catholics are the largest religious group in many of Europe's most populous countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain. In Western Europe, Catholics are more accepting of Muslims than in other parts of the continent. For example, 69% of Spanish Catholics and 57% of Swiss Catholics say they would accept a Muslim into their family, compared to 21% of Hungarians and 15% of Latvians.
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The Catholic Church is the oldest continuously functioning international institution
Christianity is the world's largest religion, with over two billion followers. It is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and is approximately 2,000 years old. Its largest groups are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox churches, and the Protestant churches, with sacred texts found in the Bible. The Catholic Church is the oldest continuously functioning international institution, also serving as the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare globally.
The Catholic Church is a communion of churches, including the Latin Church (or the Roman or Western Church) and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, each led by either a patriarch or major archbishop in full communion with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). The Catholic Charismatic renewal is the largest Charismatic movement of a single institution, with the Catholic Church overseeing it.
The Catholic Church has a vast international network of charities, including hospitals, orphanages, elementary schools, and secondary schools. Its diplomatic status as the Holy See facilitates access to these charities. In Latin American countries, Latinobarometro is often cited as a source of statistics on Catholic demographics. Similarly, in German-speaking regions, official membership statistics are available due to the collection of church tax.
As of 2025, there are approximately 1.272 billion Catholics worldwide, constituting 48.1% of the world's 2.645 billion Christians. The Catholic Church's global reach and extensive network of institutions and charities contribute to its status as the oldest continuously functioning international institution.
While Catholicism is a significant religious group, it is worth noting that the world's religious landscape is diverse, with various faiths and beliefs represented, including Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Sikhism.
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Catholicism is the second-largest religion after Christianity
The Catholic Church, often referred to as the People of God or the Body of Christ by members, is the world's oldest continuously functioning international institution. It is also the largest non-governmental provider of education and healthcare globally. The Catholic Communion of Churches includes the Latin Church (or the Roman or Western Church) and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, each led by either a patriarch or major archbishop in communion with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope).
As of 2025, there are approximately 1.272 billion Catholics worldwide, constituting 48.1% of 2.645 billion Christians. The country with the largest percentage of Catholic members is Vatican City, with 100%, followed by Timor-Leste at 97%. While the majority of Christians used to live in Europe or North America, most now reside in the Southern Hemisphere.
Protestant denominations, such as the World Evangelical Alliance and the Anglican Communion, do not form a single structure comparable to the Catholic Church. However, they encompass a wide range of communions, with an estimated 900 million followers, including Anglicans, Anabaptists, and Baptists.
Following Christianity and Catholicism, Islam is the second most widely practised religion, with approximately 1.8 billion followers worldwide. Most Muslims belong to one of two major branches: Sunnis, comprising about 80% of Muslims, and Shi'ah, including about 15%. Hinduism is the third most prevalent religion, with around 1.1 billion adherents, primarily in India, Nepal, and Indonesia.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Christianity is the largest religious group in the world, with an estimated 2.3 to 2.6 billion adherents in 2020. The Catholic Church, with 1.272 billion members worldwide as of 2025, is the largest communion of churches within Christianity.
The world's primary religions fall into two categories: Abrahamic religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam; and Indian religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The largest religious groups in the world are Christianity (2 billion followers), Islam (1.8 billion followers), and Hinduism (1.1 billion followers).
The largest Christian denominations are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox churches, and the Protestant churches. The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian denomination, with 85 million members worldwide.
The country with the highest percentage of Catholics is Vatican City, with 100% of its population identifying as Catholic. Timor-Leste has the second-highest percentage, with 97% of its population being Catholic.
