Joshua Bennett
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with a significant presence across the country. While the percentage of Americans who identify as Catholic has declined in recent decades, the absolute number of self-identified Catholics has grown. The level of religious participation and activity among Catholics varies, with a notable decline in religious attendance and trust in church leadership. However, a majority of Catholics still consider religion important in their lives. This paragraph introduces the topic of the percentage of active Catholics and provides an overview of the religious landscape and trends within the Catholic population in the United States.
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What You'll Learn
Percentage of Catholics attending Mass weekly
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with more followers than any single Protestant denomination. In 2014, there were 50.9 million adult Catholics in the US, forming about 20.8% of the population. By 2021, the number of self-identified Catholics had grown to 73.2 million, of whom 20% were foreign-born. However, the percentage of Americans who are Catholic has been declining, falling from 25% in the 1960s to 22% in 2019.
Despite the large number of Catholics in the US, religious participation rates are declining. In 2025, only 39% of all Catholics attended Mass at least weekly. This is a decrease from 2004, when a poll by The Barna Group found that 41% of "young" Catholics were still practising their faith. The same poll also found that 60% of American Catholics were non-Hispanic whites, 31% were Hispanic, 4% were Black, and 5% belonged to other ethnicities, mostly Asian Americans.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies across the country. In the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, while in the Northeast, 72% are White and 20% are Hispanic. In the South, the percentage of White and Hispanic Catholics is almost equal, at 44% and 45% respectively. In the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics, at 58% and 27% respectively.
Despite the decline in religious participation, most Catholics still consider religion important in their lives. In 2025, 86% of all Catholics said that religion was important to them, and 51% said they prayed daily. However, the clergy sex abuse crisis has undermined many Catholics' trust in the church leadership.
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Catholics' trust in church leadership
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination. However, the percentage of Americans who are Catholic has been declining over the years, falling from about 25% in the 1960s to 22% in recent years. This decline is particularly pronounced among the youth, with about 41% of young people raised Catholic leaving the faith. Despite this, the number of self-identified Catholics grew by 48.5 million to 73.2 million as of 2021, with 20% being foreign-born.
The Catholic Church in the United States is facing a crisis of trust due to the clergy sex abuse scandal, which has undermined two-thirds of Catholics' trust in the church leadership. This has likely contributed to the decline in religious participation rates, with only 39% of Catholics attending Mass at least weekly. However, it is important to note that 86% of Catholics still consider religion important in their lives, and many remain engaged through prayer and other forms of religious practice.
The Catholic Church has a well-defined hierarchical structure, with the Pope as the earthly representative of Christ and the head of the church. He is based in Vatican City and has the authority to speak on matters of faith and morals. Serving under the Pope are cardinals, bishops, priests, and deacons, who make up the church's hierarchy. Bishops hold the most authority within this structure, providing pastoral governance for dioceses and acting as successors to the Apostles.
To support and strengthen the confidence and competence of church leaders, organizations like the Catholic Leadership Institute provide world-class leadership formation and consulting services. They aim to help leaders articulate a vision for their local churches and create vibrant faith communities. With nearly 40% of bishops expected to retire in the next five years, such initiatives are crucial in shaping the future of the Church.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church in the United States faces challenges in maintaining the trust of its followers, many Catholics remain engaged in their faith. The Church's leadership structure, with the Pope at its head, plays a pivotal role in guiding and nurturing the spiritual well-being of its congregation. Initiatives focused on transforming the future of the Church through innovative models and dynamic insights are vital in fostering spiritual maturity and ensuring the Church remains relevant and responsive to the needs of its members.
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Catholic population growth
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with the country hosting about 7% of the world's Catholics. The number of self-identified Catholics in the US has grown from 54.1 million in 1970 to 73.2 million in 2021, with 14.9 million or 20% being foreign-born. However, the percentage of Americans who are Catholic has decreased over time, falling from about 25% in 1960 to 22% in 2019. A 2014 Pew Forum report showed that there were 50.9 million adult Catholics in the US, forming about 20.8% of the population, down from 23.9% in 2007.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population in the US varies by region. In the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, while in the Northeast, 72% are White and 20% are Hispanic. The South has a more diverse Catholic population, with 44% White and 45% Hispanic Catholics. The West has the highest proportion of Hispanic Catholics, at 58%, compared to 27% White Catholics. The West also has a larger population of Asian Catholics, at 10%.
The Catholic population in the US is aging, with a higher percentage of elderly individuals than young people. Retention rates among the youth are low, with about 41% of those raised Catholic leaving the faith, compared to 32% overall. Conversions to Catholicism are rare, with 89% of current Catholics being raised in the religion.
On a global scale, the number of Catholics has more than tripled over the past century. While the geographic distribution of Catholics has changed, their share of the world's population has remained stable. Latin America has the largest Catholic population, although the percentage of Catholics in the region decreased from 90% in 1910 to 72% in 2010. Europe has also become less heavily Catholic, with the Catholic population dropping from 44% to 35% during the same period. In contrast, the Catholic population in sub-Saharan Africa grew significantly, increasing from 1% in 1910 to 21% in 2010. The Asia-Pacific region has also experienced rapid growth, with the number of Catholics rising from 5% to 12% over the past century.
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Catholic retention rates among the young
Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination. However, the percentage of Americans who are Catholic has been declining. In 2021, the percentage of US adults who were Catholic was 21%, down from about 25% in the 1960s.
The Catholic population in the US is aging, with a higher percentage of elderly people than young people. Retention rates are worse among the youth, with about 41% of young people raised Catholic leaving the faith, compared to 32% overall. Nearly 80% of cradle Catholics are no longer practicing by the age of 23. Young people who leave the Catholic Church often become Protestant, join other faith communities, or leave religion altogether.
There are several reasons for the decline in Catholic retention rates among the young. One factor is the clergy sex abuse crisis, which has undermined trust in the church leadership. Another reason is the perception that the church is not adequately addressing issues that are important to young people, such as economic inequality and social justice. In addition, the Catholic Church's stance on certain political issues, such as abortion and women's rights, may not resonate with younger generations.
Furthermore, the modern secular culture and social expectations may also play a role in the declining retention rates. Young people who convert to Catholicism may struggle to find a sense of community and support within the church, especially if they are the only Catholics in their social circles. They may also face pressure to conform to the religious beliefs of their peers or family members.
Despite the overall decline in retention rates, it is important to note that there are still young people who actively practice and identify as Catholics. These individuals may have nuanced attitudes toward church teachings and may be involved in evangelizing programs or student groups aimed at promoting Catholicism among their peers.
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Catholic population by ethnicity
In the United States, Catholics are one of the largest religious groups, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination. The US has more Catholics than any country other than Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
According to a 2004 poll by The Barna Group, the ethnic breakdown of US Catholics was as follows:
- 60% non-Hispanic white (including Americans of historically Catholic ethnicities such as Irish, Italian, German, Polish, or French)
- 31% Hispanic of any nationality (mostly Mexican, but also Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Salvadoran, Colombian, Guatemalan, and Honduran)
- 4% Black (including African, Haitian, Black Latino, and Caribbean)
- 5% other ethnicities (mostly Filipino, Vietnamese, and other Asian Americans, multiracial Americans, and American Indians)
Among non-Hispanic whites, about 16 million Catholics identify as being of Irish descent, with about 13 million as German, 12 million as Italian, 7 million as Polish, and 5 million as French. Many individuals identify with more than one ethnicity.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies across the US. For example, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, while in the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics (58% vs. 27%). The West also has a larger population of Asian Catholics (10%) than other regions.
The percentage of Catholics among different ethnicities has changed over time. In 2014, 19% of non-Hispanic whites were Catholic (down from 22% in 2007), while 55% of Hispanics were (down from 58% in 2007). In 2015, Hispanics made up 38% of Catholics, while Blacks and Asians were at 3% each.
While there has been a decline in religious participation rates among US Catholics, many still consider religion important in their lives. According to a 2021 Pew Research study, 21% of US adults described themselves as Catholic. In that same year, 39% of all Catholics attended Mass at least weekly, and 86% considered religion important in their lives.
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Frequently asked questions
39% of Catholics in the US attend Mass at least weekly.
86% of US Catholics consider religion important in their lives.
Latinos comprise 37% of US Catholics.
Non-Hispanic whites make up 60% of US Catholics.
As of 2014, 20.8% of US adults identified as Catholic.
