Ethan Walker
Catholicism is one of the most common religions in the world, with approximately 1.272 billion adherents as of 2025, constituting 48.1% of all Christians. While the numbers vary depending on the region, Latin America is the region with the most Catholics, with 39% of the population identifying as Catholic. The Philippines, in particular, is one of the most predominantly Catholic countries in the world. In Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the most devout Catholic countries, with over 28 million citizens practicing the religion. Brazil has the largest Catholic population globally, with approximately 123 million to 140 million people identifying as Catholic, although the share of self-identified Catholics in the country has decreased over time. Mexico, the United States, Italy, and France are also among the top ten countries with the highest number of Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in the world | 1.272 billion as of 2025 |
| Percentage of Catholics in the world | 48.1% of 2.645 billion Christians |
| Number of baptized Catholics in the world | 1.376 billion at the end of 2021 |
| Region with the most Catholics | Latin America |
| Regions with the lowest rates of Catholics | The Middle East and North Africa |
| Country with the largest percentage of Catholics | Vatican City (100%) |
| Country with the second largest percentage of Catholics | Timor-Leste (97%) |
| Country with the largest number of Catholics | Brazil (123 million to 140 million or more) |
| Country with the second largest number of Catholics | Mexico (98.8 million) |
| Country with the third largest number of Catholics | The Philippines |
| Country with the fourth largest number of Catholics | The United States (51 million) |
| Country with the fifth largest number of Catholics | Democratic Republic of the Congo (28 million) |
| Country with the sixth largest number of Catholics | Italy (50.4 million) |
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What You'll Learn
Latin America
In 2000, over 60% of the population in all Latin American countries defined themselves as Catholics, except for Uruguay. By 2023, only three countries could still claim that statistic: Mexico, Peru, and Colombia. Panama experienced the largest decrease in the share of Catholic believers between 2000 and 2023, plummeting from 82.8% to 33.4%.
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world, with approximately 54.2% of people identifying as Catholic, or roughly 126.8 million Catholics. However, the share of self-identified Catholics in Brazil dropped from approximately 74% in 2000 to about 65% in 2010.
Mexico has the second-largest Catholic population in the world, with approximately 98.8 million citizens identifying as Catholic, or about 72.1% of the population. The CIA World Factbook puts this number even higher at 89.89%. In 2010, 85% of Mexicans identified as Catholic, down from 89% in 2000.
Other countries in Latin America with large Catholic populations include Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Paraguay. Paraguay is the single most Catholic country in the world by the share of its population, with 91% of its population identifying as Catholic.
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Europe
Italy, for instance, is a predominantly Catholic country in Europe, with around 50.4 million Catholics, constituting 78% of its population. France is another European country with a substantial Catholic population, ranking seventh globally in absolute numbers. Although the exact figures for France are not readily available, it is safe to assume that Catholics form a significant portion of its population.
Spain, another European country, is also among the top ten countries with the highest Catholic population globally. While the specific numbers for Spain are unknown, it is reasonable to infer that it has a large Catholic community. Similarly, Portugal, though not mentioned in the top ten, has introduced Catholicism to Brazil and played a role in spreading the religion in South America.
Eastern Europe also has a notable Catholic presence, with Poland and Hungary being predominantly Catholic countries. In Poland, approximately 85% of the population identifies as Catholic, actively practicing their faith and contributing to the country's religious landscape. Hungary, on the other hand, has a more diverse religious landscape, with Catholicism being the most prevalent denomination, accounting for around 37% of the population.
In summary, while Europe has witnessed a relative decline in its Catholic population over the past century, it remains home to several countries with significant Catholic communities. Italy, France, Spain, and Poland stand out as notable examples, with active Catholic populations that contribute to the religious fabric of the continent.
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Philippines
The Philippines is one of the most predominantly Catholic countries in the world, with 78.8% of the population identifying as Catholic in 2020. This corresponds to about 85.6 million adherents. Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in the country, and it served as the country's state religion during the Spanish colonial period under the Spanish Constitution of 1876.
The Spanish introduced Catholicism to the Philippines in 1599. Native rulers agreed to submit to the rule of the Castilian king and convert to Christianity, allowing missionaries to spread the faith. The Spanish government was highly dependent on the influx of silver from Mexico and Peru, which supported the government in Manila and continued the Christianization of the archipelago. The geographical isolation of the Filipino population into numerous small villages, as well as the wide variety of languages and dialects, posed significant challenges to the missionaries' efforts. Additionally, frequent privateering from Japanese pirates and slave-raiding by Muslims hindered Spanish attempts to Christianize the archipelago.
Today, the Catholic Church in the Philippines is organized into 72 dioceses in 16 Ecclesiastical Provinces, 7 Apostolic Vicariates, and a Military Ordinariate. The Church has a significant influence on Philippine society and politics, and it maintains cordial relations with the State despite differing opinions on specific issues. The clergy remains a source of moral influence, especially during elections, and political candidates often court the support of religious leaders.
While Catholicism is one of the most popular religions in the Philippines, there is a diverse range of religious beliefs in the country. According to a Reddit post, there are also Protestant and Muslim Filipinos, as well as members of other denominations such as Sabadistas (SDAs), INC, Baptists, Mormons, and others.
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Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most devout Catholic countries in Africa. With over 28 million citizens practising Catholicism, it has the largest Catholic population in Africa and the seventh-largest in the world. Catholicism has a major presence in the country, with an estimated 47.3% of the population being Catholic, according to the 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom. There are six archdioceses and 41 dioceses, the largest being the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, led by Fridolin Ambongo Besungu. The Catholic Church in the DRC is part of the worldwide Catholic Communion of Churches, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
The history of Catholicism in the DRC is rooted in the colonial era. During this period, the Belgian colonial state authorised and subsidised predominantly Belgian Catholic missions to establish schools and hospitals throughout the colony. The church's primary goal was evangelisation, and they measured their success by the number of converts baptised. While the church and state had different emphases, their goals were complementary, leading the population to perceive them as sharing a purpose.
The Catholic Church in the DRC has played a significant role in the country's history, particularly during the post-independence era. Joseph Malula, a prominent religious figure, famously stated, "For our people, the Church was the State, and the State was the Church." However, following independence in 1960, the church faced a reversal of its role, becoming a critic of the state. This shift led to tensions and attacks on Catholic clerics by angry Congolese citizens.
The church has also been influential in the education sector in the DRC. During the 20th century, its schools educated over 60% of the nation's primary school students and more than 40% of secondary students. The church continues to provide educational services, along with medical care, contributing to its valued position in Congolese society.
While the majority of the population in the DRC identifies as Christian (75%), Islam has also been present in the country since the 18th century, with Sunni Muslims constituting approximately 1% of the population. Additionally, the Kimbanguist Church, a Congolese religion that emerged in the early 1920s, has gained a significant following.
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Brazil
The Catholic Church in Brazil is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome, and the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, composed of over 400 primary and auxiliary bishops and archbishops. There are 44 ecclesiastical provinces, with 275 dioceses, eparchies, ordinariates, and territorial prelatures in the country. The Catholic Church plays a significant role in the daily lives of millions of Brazilian families and is deeply woven into the country's culture and politics.
However, in recent years, the number of followers has been declining, particularly in impoverished urban areas, with many turning to Pentecostal Evangelical churches or embracing non-religiosity. This decline is attributed to various factors, including the centralized and slow-moving structure of the Catholic Church, which struggles to keep up with the country's rapid demographic changes. The shortage of priests and the physical distance from believers hinder the Church's ability to engage with the expanding population in the peripheries of major urban centers.
Additionally, the rise of influential evangelical religious figures, such as gospel singers and religious influencers, has contributed to the growth of evangelical communities in Brazil. As a result, the number of evangelicals has risen from 9% to 26.9% over the past three decades, while the Catholic population has decreased from 82.9% in the early 1990s to 56.7% in the 2022 census.
Despite the decline, Brazil remains the country with the largest Catholic community in the world, and Catholicism continues to be the largest denomination within the predominantly Christian country.
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Frequently asked questions
Vatican City has the highest percentage of Catholic residents, with 100% of its population identifying as Catholic.
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world, with approximately 105.3 million adherents.
Latin America has the highest percentage of Catholics, with 39% of the population identifying as Catholic.
Mexico has the second-largest Catholic population in the world, with approximately 91.2 million citizens identifying as Catholic.
