Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism is the religious affiliation of a significant portion of the US population, with around 53 million Catholic adults nationwide as of 2024, according to the US Census Bureau. This equates to about 20% of the adult population, a percentage that has been stable since 2014 but is lower than the 24% recorded in 2007. The Catholic population in the US is diverse, with varying racial and ethnic backgrounds, and its distribution across the country is relatively even, with slightly higher concentrations in the South and Northeast regions. The decline in Catholicism, evident in decreasing baptism and marriage rates, is not unique to the US and is reflected in the broader trend of declining Christianity worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of U.S. population that is Catholic | 20% to 22% (71 million members) |
| Percentage of U.S. adults who describe themselves as Catholic | 20% to 21% |
| Percentage change since 2007 | Generally stable, but slightly lower |
| Percentage change since 1960 | Down from about 25% |
| Racial makeup | 54% White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 2% Black, 2% other |
| Geographical distribution | 29% South, 26% Northeast, 25% West, 20% Midwest |
| Political affiliation | 60% Democratic |
| Religious participation rates | Declining |
| Latino population share | 36% to 37% and growing |
| Mass attendance | Down from 24% in 2010 to 18.6% in 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
20% of US adults identify as Catholic
As of 2025, 20% of US adults identify as Catholic. This percentage has been stable since 2014, though it is lower than in 2007 when 24% of US adults identified as Catholic. The absolute number of Catholics has increased from 45 million to 72 million since 1960, when 25% of Americans were Catholic.
The Catholic population in the US is diverse, with a racial makeup of 54% White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 2% Black, and 2% identifying with another race. The share of US Catholics who are Hispanic is rising, with the Latino element reaching 37% of the Catholic population as of 2025. This shift is altering the geographic center of US Catholicism from the Northeast and urban Midwest to the South and the West. For example, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, while in the South, 44% are White and 45% are Hispanic. The West has the largest population of Hispanic and Asian Catholics, with 58% and 10% respectively.
Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in the US, with 71 million members. However, religious participation rates among Catholics are declining, with Mass attendance dropping from 24% in 2010 to 18.6% in 2023. This decline is part of a broader trend of increasing religious unaffiliation in the US, with the share of the population identifying as atheist, agnostic, or 'nothing in particular' rising from 17% in 2009 to 26% in 2019.
While the US has the world's largest Christian population, Catholicism is not uniformly distributed across the country. It is often depicted as the dominant form of Christianity in American TV and film, but in reality, Catholics only make up majorities in small areas. For example, in Appalachia, one person shared that they had never met a Catholic until they went to college. The Northeast has the highest percentage of Catholics on paper, but church attendance is extremely low, and most people are only nominally culturally Catholic. The South, on the other hand, sees much higher rates of weekly attendance across all denominations.
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Mass attendance is down 75% since 2010
While the percentage of the US population that identifies as Catholic has been relatively stable since 2014, at around 20%, religious participation rates are declining. This is evident in the significant drop in Mass attendance, which has decreased by about 75% since 2010. In 2010, Mass attendance was at 24%, but by 2023, it had dropped to 18.6%. This decline in religious attendance is not unique to Catholicism, as other denominations like Eastern Orthodox have also seen a decrease, albeit not as steep.
Several factors have likely contributed to the decline in Mass attendance among US Catholics. One factor is the dilution of liturgy and abandonment of traditional practices following Vatican II's changes. These changes were intended to make the liturgy more approachable and attract more converts, but they may have inadvertently led to a decline in religious observance. Additionally, the sex abuse crisis within the Catholic Church, which came to light around 2000, likely played a significant role in driving people away from the Church and religious participation.
The geographic distribution of Catholics in the US is also evolving. While the Northeast has traditionally been considered the most Catholic region, church attendance there is extremely low, with many people being nominally cultural Catholics at best. The South, on the other hand, has seen a much higher rate of weekly attendance across all denominations, and the growth of the Hispanic community in this region is gradually shifting the geographic center of US Catholicism southward.
The racial and ethnic makeup of US Catholics is also changing. The share of White Catholics has decreased over time, while the percentage of Hispanics has been steadily increasing. In 2008, Hispanics accounted for 32% of American Catholics, a significant increase from 20% in 1990. This shift in demographics has important implications for the Church and its efforts to engage and retain a diverse congregation.
The decline in Mass attendance and religious participation among US Catholics underscores the need for the Church to address the concerns of its congregation and adapt to the changing religious landscape. While the dilution of liturgy may have been intended to broaden appeal, it has potentially led to a sense of disconnect and irreverence among the faithful. By examining the underlying causes of this decline, the Catholic Church can work towards reversing this trend and reconnecting with its congregation.
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The Catholic population is aging
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with 20% of US adults identifying as Catholic. This equates to roughly 72 million people, though this figure has been stable since 2014, and is lower than the 24% recorded in 2007. The percentage of Americans who are Catholic has been falling since 1960, when it stood at around 25%.
The Catholic population in the US is aging, with a higher percentage of older people than younger. Indeed, nearly six in ten Catholic adults (58%) are aged 50 or older, compared to 47% of all US adults. However, this varies by ethnicity, with Hispanic and Asian Catholics tending to be younger than White Catholics. Four in ten Hispanic Catholics and 53% of Asian Catholics are aged 50 or older, compared to 70% of White Catholics. Just 14% of Hispanic Catholics and 20% of Asian Catholics are aged 65 or older, while 39% of White Catholics are in this age bracket.
The median age of Christians in the US has risen to 54, from 49 in 2014 and 46 in 2007. This is a trend seen across most Christian subgroups. The median age of religiously unaffiliated Americans is 38, while the median age of adults who identify with other religions is 41. Muslims and Hindus are much younger than Christian groups, with around three-quarters of US Muslims and Hindus under 50, and a third of Muslims under 30.
The percentage of US Catholics who are Hispanic is increasing, with 36% of Catholics identifying as Hispanic, compared to 54% who are White. In 2008, 32% of Catholics were Hispanic, up from 20% in 1990. The growth in the Latino population has contributed to a shift in the geographic center of US Catholicism from the Northeast and urban Midwest to the South and the West.
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36% of US Catholics are Hispanic
The percentage of the US population that identifies as Catholic has been decreasing since 1960. In 2021, 21% of US adults described themselves as Catholic, which is a slight decrease from 20% in 2014. The number of US Catholics has increased from 45 million to 72 million, but this growth is attributed to the country's increasing population.
Despite the overall decline in the percentage of Catholics in the US, the share of US Catholics who are Hispanic is rising. In 2025, 36% of US Catholics were Hispanic, up from 29% in 2007. This shift is reflected in the changing geographic centre of US Catholicism, moving from the Northeast and urban Midwest to the South and the West, where the Hispanic community is growing.
Hispanic Catholics are a distinctive part of American Catholic religious life. They are more likely than White Catholics to engage in various devotional practices, such as regularly wearing or carrying religious items, practising devotions to the Virgin Mary or a favourite saint, praying the rosary, and lighting candles or incense for spiritual reasons. Additionally, Hispanic Catholics are far more likely to attend a Mass conducted in Spanish.
The cultural and religious practices of Hispanic Catholics differ from those of White Catholics in several ways. Hispanic Catholics consider caring for immigrants, taking care of the environment, celebrating feast days tied to their national or ethnic heritage, going on pilgrimages, and opposing the death penalty as essential elements of their Catholic identity. These perspectives differ from those of White Catholics, who may have different cultural traditions and values.
While the percentage of Hispanic Catholics in the US is increasing, the share of US Hispanics who are Catholic is declining. This decline is attributed to the growing number of Hispanics born and raised in the United States, where they are influenced by the nation's pluralistic and secularised culture. Additionally, some leaders in the Catholic Church have acknowledged the need for better pastoral outreach to connect with the younger generation of Hispanics and address their unique needs and perspectives.
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Catholicism is most prevalent in the South
Catholicism is the largest religious body in 36 U.S. states, with the religion being practiced by 20% of U.S. adults, or 21% according to another source. The percentage of Americans who are Catholic has been generally stable since 2014, though it has decreased since 2007 when 24% of Americans identified as Catholic.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by region. In the South, 44% of Catholics are White and 45% are Hispanic. The West also has a relatively large population of Hispanic and Asian Catholics. The Northeast and Midwest continue to have a predominantly White Catholic population, though the number of parishes has declined in these regions since 1970.
Historically, the South had a significant Catholic population before the Civil War. However, immigration during and after the war shifted the demographic toward Protestantism. States like Maryland and Louisiana have a history of being Catholic, and the French influence in Louisiana can be seen in the names of some of its settlements, such as St. Louis and Sault Ste. Marie.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2024, 20% of US adults describe themselves as Catholic. This is roughly 53 million people.
The percentage of Americans who are Catholic has been declining since the 1960s. In 1963, 90% of US adults identified as Christian, with the majority being either Evangelicals, Mainline Protestants, or Catholics. By 2019, the percentage of Americans who were Catholic had fallen to 22%.
Catholics are spread out relatively evenly across the US. Roughly 29% live in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest.
The Catholic population in the US is predominantly White (54%) and Hispanic (36%). About 4% of Catholics are Asian, and 2% are Black.
