Ethan Walker
Catholicism is a significant presence in the Americas, with the United States, Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines having the largest Catholic populations globally. In the US, the percentage of Catholics has decreased since the 1960s, from 25% to 22% in 2021, and 18.7% in 2020. The US Catholic population is diverse, with rising Hispanic representation, and it is the largest religious body in 36 states, particularly in the South and West. In Latin America, countries like Italy have high Catholic identification, but lower church attendance, while Uruguay has a larger percentage of atheists than Catholics. The spread of Catholicism in the Americas is influenced by historical immigration patterns and the decline of mainline Protestantism.
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What You'll Learn
In 2024, 20% of US adults identified as Catholic
The Catholic population in the US is diverse, with 54% being White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 2% Black. The remaining 4% identify with another race. Notably, the share of White Catholics has decreased by 10% since 2007, while the proportion of Hispanic Catholics has increased by 7%. This shift has significant implications for the overall profile of Catholic Americans, as Catholics from different racial and ethnic backgrounds exhibit distinct social and political characteristics.
Catholics in the US tend to be older than the general population. Approximately 58% of Catholic adults are aged 50 or older, compared to 47% of all US adults in the same age range. However, this trend varies among different ethnic groups within the Catholic community. For example, 70% of White Catholics are aged 50 or older, while only 40% of Hispanic Catholics and 53% of Asian Catholics fall into this age category.
In terms of geographic distribution, Catholics are spread relatively evenly across the US. Approximately 29% reside in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest. The racial and ethnic composition of Catholics varies across these regions. For instance, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White, while 15% are Hispanic.
Political affiliation among US Catholics also differs according to race and ethnicity. Around 61% of White Catholic registered voters identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, compared to 36% who favor the Democratic Party. In contrast, 56% of Hispanic Catholics tend to support the Democratic Party, while 39% prefer the Republican Party.
While the Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, 59% of US Catholics believe that abortion should be legal, reflecting the complexity of religious and personal beliefs on this issue.
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In 2020, the US had the fourth-largest Catholic population
In 2020, the United States had the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. The percentage of Catholics in the US has been generally stable since 2014, with about 20% of US adults describing themselves as Catholics. This equates to roughly 53 million Catholic adults nationwide.
The US Catholic population has a diverse racial and ethnic makeup, with 54% of the Catholic population being White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 2% Black. The share of US Catholics who are Hispanic is rising, with 37% of American Catholics being Latino in 2019. More than four-in-ten US Catholics are immigrants (29%) or the children of immigrants (14%). For example, 78% of Asian Catholics were born outside the US, and 58% of Hispanic Catholics were born outside the country. By contrast, 83% of White Catholics are from families that have been in the US for multiple generations.
Catholicism has had a significant cultural, social, and political impact on the United States. The religion was brought to the country through immigration, particularly from Europe and Latin America. The Catholic Church in the US is part of the worldwide Latin Church and is in communion with the Pope of Rome. It is known for its inclusivity and cross-cultural cooperation, welcoming newcomers and fostering a sense of belonging.
While the number of practicing Catholics in the US has increased from 2010 to 2020, the total number of churches has declined. This has resulted in larger congregations in certain states, with some churches accommodating over 30,000 families and only one or two priests. Despite these changes, Catholicism remains a prominent religious group in the US, with a significant presence and influence in various regions of the country.
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In 2021, 21% of US adults described themselves as Catholic
In 2021, 21% of US adults, or roughly 53 million people, described themselves as Catholic. This percentage has remained relatively stable since 2014, but it is lower than in 2007 when 24% of US adults identified as Catholic. The United States is home to the fourth-largest Roman Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Catholics are spread out relatively evenly across the US, with roughly three-in-ten (29%) living in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest. The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by region. For example, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, while nationally, the Catholic population is 54% White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 2% Black. The share of US Catholics who are Hispanic is rising, with a 7% increase since 2007. This shift has implications for the overall profile of Catholic Americans as Catholics from different racial and ethnic backgrounds have distinctive social and political traits.
Catholics tend to be older than the general American population, with nearly six-in-ten Catholic adults (58%) aged 50 and older, compared to 47% of all US adults. However, Hispanic and Asian Catholics tend to be younger than White Catholics, with only 14% of Hispanic Catholics and 20% of Asian Catholics aged 65 and older, compared to 39% of White Catholics. More than one-third of US Catholics (35%) have a bachelor's degree, and larger shares say they pray on a daily basis (51%) and consider religion very important in their lives (44%) compared to the general population.
The Catholic Church in the US is part of the worldwide Latin Church and is in communion with the Pope of Rome. It represents a highly diverse organization in terms of ethnicity and cultural background, and its members have distinctive social and political traits. About half of Catholic registered voters (53%) identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, while 43% affiliate with the Democratic Party. However, partisan affiliation varies by race and ethnicity, with 61% of White Catholic registered voters identifying with the GOP compared to 56% of Hispanic Catholics who favor the Democratic Party.
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In 2018, 39% of American Catholics attended church weekly
Several factors may have contributed to this decline. One argument points to the 1968 papal encyclical Humanae Vitae, which upheld the Catholic ban on contraception, as the catalyst for the sharp drop in weekly Mass attendance between 1968 and 1975. Additionally, the clergy sex abuse crisis has undermined the trust of many Catholics in their church leadership, with nearly two-thirds expressing diminished faith.
It's worth noting that Catholics tend to be older than the general American population. Among Catholic adults, 58% are ages 50 and older, compared to 47% of all U.S. adults. However, this varies by ethnicity, with Hispanic and Asian Catholics tending to be younger than White Catholics.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population in the U.S. is diverse. As of 2025, the Catholic population is 54% White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 2% Black, with an additional 2% identifying with another race. This diversity reflects the historical growth of the Catholic Church in America through immigration, particularly from countries like Ireland, Germany, Eastern Europe, Italy, Quebec, and, more recently, Mexico.
While the percentage of American Catholics who attend church weekly has decreased, it's important to consider other aspects of religious observance. For example, 51% of U.S. Catholics report praying daily, and 44% consider religion to be very important in their lives. Additionally, Catholics are more likely than other religious groups to attend confession, with 2% going regularly and 75% going at least once a year.
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In 2022, Catholicism was the largest religious body in 36 US states
As of 2022, Catholicism was the largest religious body in 36 US states. While the number of Catholics has decreased in the Midwest and Northeast, it is growing fastest in the South and West. This is reflected in the average number of adherents per congregation, which is 3,000 for Catholics—an unusually high number compared to other groups. Large Catholic congregations are especially common in the West, with 4,700 Catholics per congregation.
The United States has the fourth-largest Roman Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. In 2020, a Gallup poll showed that 25% of Americans identified as Roman Catholic, and in 2021, a Pew Research study found that 21% of US adults described themselves as Catholic. The share of US Catholics who are Hispanic is rising, with the Catholic population being 54% White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 2% Black as of 2025.
Catholicism has had a significant cultural, social, and political impact on the United States. One of the Thirteen Colonies of British America, the Province of Maryland, was founded with an explicitly English Catholic identity in the 17th century. It was named after the Catholic Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I of England, who was a ''Catholic sympathizer." Maryland provided a refuge for Catholics who were "harassed in England by the Protestant majority."
The Catholic Church in the US is highly diverse, representing a broad range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. More than four-in-ten US Catholics are immigrants (29%) or the children of immigrants (14%). This diversity presents a unique laboratory for cross-cultural cooperation and communication within the nation's borders.
In terms of religious practice, only 2% of American Catholics go to confession regularly, while three-quarters go once a year or less often. As of 2018, 39% of American Catholics attended church weekly, compared to 45% of American Protestants. About 30% of US Catholics pray daily and consider religion very important in their lives.
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Frequently asked questions
Between 18.7% and 23% of the US population is Catholic. This is roughly 53 million people.
The percentage of Catholics in the US has decreased over time. In 1960, 25% of Americans were Catholic. In 2007, this figure was 24%. In 2021, 21% of US adults described themselves as Catholic.
The US has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. In Uruguay, around 38% of the population is Catholic. In Quebec, many people identify as Catholic, but few actually attend church.
