VATICAN CITY — The global Catholic population increased by 16.69 million to 1.422 billion, while the number of priests rose slightly for the first time in five years, according to the Vatican’s latest Church statistics.
The 2026 statistical dossier, prepared by the Vatican’s Fides News Agency ahead of World Mission Sunday on October 18, also recorded declining numbers of women religious and major seminarians, highlighting contrasting trends in the Church’s global workforce.
According to the Vatican News, the report draws on the latest Church statistical yearbook, with Catholic population figures covering June 30, 2024, and other data reflecting figures as of December 31, 2024. Changes are measured against 2023.
Africa Leads Catholic Population Growth
Catholics accounted for 17.8 percent of the world’s nearly eight billion people, with their numbers increasing across all continents.
Africa recorded the largest increase, adding 7.58 million Catholics, followed by the Americas with 6.99 million. Asia gained 968,000, Europe 911,000, and Oceania 239,000.
The Americas remained home to the largest Catholic population, with 678.87 million. Africa followed with 288.31 million, slightly ahead of Europe’s 287.24 million. Asia recorded 156.17 million Catholics, while Oceania had 11.56 million.
Priest Numbers Edge Up as Seminarians Decline
The number of priests worldwide reached 407,421, an increase of 425 from the previous year.
According to Fides, the increase marks the first rise in the global priest population in five years.
Africa recorded the largest regional increase, with 1,676 additional priests, followed by Asia with 1,065 and the Americas with 199. These gains offset declines in Europe, which lost 2,483 priests, and Oceania, which recorded a decrease of 32.
The number of diocesan priests increased by 496 to 279,238, while religious priests declined by 71 to 128,183.
Despite the overall increase, the average number of Catholics per priest rose by 38 to 3,491, indicating that the Catholic population continues to grow faster than the number of priests available to serve it.
The report also recorded 5,525 bishops, an increase of 95, and 52,102 permanent deacons, up by 669.
Women religious, however, declined by 9,292 to 580,131 worldwide. Africa was the only continent to register growth, adding 2,190, while Europe recorded the largest decrease, with 6,473 fewer women religious.
The number of major seminarians fell by 2,891 to 103,604. Africa was again the only continent to record an increase, gaining 786, while Asia experienced the sharpest decline, with 2,733 fewer major seminarians.
Minor seminarians also decreased, falling by 980 to 94,041.
Lay Missionaries and Catechists Increase
While some traditional religious vocations declined, the number of lay missionaries and catechists increased.
Lay missionaries rose by 18,473 to 463,079, while catechists increased by 22,370 to 2,889,336.
The Americas recorded the largest growth in lay missionaries, while the Americas and Asia led increases in catechist numbers.
The figures point to the growing role of lay members in supporting the Church’s missionary and pastoral work amid changes in the number of ordained priests and religious vocations.
Church Expands Education and Healthcare Services
Beyond its religious mission, the Catholic Church continues to operate an extensive global network of educational, healthcare and charitable institutions.
The report listed 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 accounted for the largest number of hospitals and dispensaries in the report’s continental breakdown, underscoring the Church’s role in providing healthcare services across the continent.
The statistics were released ahead of the 100th World Mission Sunday, celebrated on October 18 under the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission.”
The annual observance highlights the Church’s missionary work and its call for Catholics worldwide to support evangelization and service to communities.