Africa recorded the highest increase in the number of Catholics worldwide, adding 7.58 million members as the global Catholic population grew by 16.69 million to 1.422 billion, according to the Vatican.
The figures were contained in the 2026 Catholic Church Statistics dossier prepared by the Vatican’s Fides news agency on Friday, ahead of the 100th World Mission Sunday, scheduled for October 18.
According to the report, Africa had 288.31 million Catholics as of June 30, 2024, narrowly ahead of Europe’s 287.24 million.
The Americas remained the region with the largest Catholic population, at 678.87 million, followed by Africa and Europe. Asia had 156.17 million Catholics, while Oceania recorded 11.56 million.
The report stated that Catholics accounted for 17.8 per cent of the world’s population, estimated at almost eight billion.
Beyond Africa, the Americas added 6.99 million Catholics, while Asia recorded an increase of 968,000. Europe gained 911,000, and Oceania added 239,000.
Africa Drives Global Increase in Priests
The Vatican dossier also recorded a slight increase in the worldwide number of priests, which rose by 425 to 407,421 in 2024.
“For the first time in five years, there is an increase in the total number of priests in the world,” the report stated.
Africa accounted for the largest increase, adding 1,676 priests, while Asia gained 1,065. The Americas recorded an increase of 199, but Europe lost 2,483 priests and Oceania recorded a decline of 32.
The number of diocesan priests rose by 496 to 279,238, while religious priests declined by 71 to 128,183.
Despite the overall increase in priests, the average number of Catholics per priest rose by 38 to 3,491.
Women Religious, Seminarians Record Declines
The report showed a decline in the worldwide number of women religious and major seminarians.
The number of women religious fell by 9,292 to 580,131. Africa was the only continent to record an increase, adding 2,190, while Europe experienced the largest decline, with 6,473 fewer women religious.
Major seminarians worldwide decreased by 2,891 to 103,604. Africa again recorded an increase, adding 786, while Asia experienced the largest drop, with 2,733 fewer major seminarians.
The number of minor seminarians also declined by 980 to 94,041.
Meanwhile, the number of lay missionaries increased by 18,473 to 463,079, while catechists rose by 22,370 to 2,889,336.
Catholic Church Expands Education and Healthcare Services
The dossier highlighted the Catholic Church’s global contributions to education, healthcare and charitable services.
According to the report, the Church operated 75,448 kindergartens, 103,666 primary schools and 51,810 secondary schools worldwide.
Its healthcare and charitable network comprised 101,110 facilities, including 5,397 hospitals and 13,646 dispensaries. Africa recorded the highest number of hospitals and dispensaries among the continents.
The statistics were drawn from the latest Church statistical yearbook. Population and Catholic population figures were as of June 30, 2024, while figures for other categories were as of December 31, 2024. Changes were measured against 2023.
The 100th World Mission Sunday will be celebrated on October 18 under the theme, “One in Christ, united in mission.”
