The Vatican Publishing House (LEV) has published the Pontifical Yearbook 2025 and the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2023, which was compiled by the Central Office of Church Statistics, a department of the Secretariat of State.

The data reported in the Pontifical Yearbook offers information regarding the life of the Catholic Church worldwide for 2024. During this period, one ecclesiastical province was created; three episcopal sees were elevated to Metropolitan Sees; seven new dioceses were established; one episcopal see was elevated to an archdiocese, and an Apostolic Administration was elevated to a diocese.

The Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae offers a snapshot of the main quantitative phenomena concerning the pastoral activity of the Catholic Church worldwide, including statistical insights for the biennium 2022–2023.

Global Catholic population

The global Catholic population increased by 1.15 per cent between 2022 and 2023, rising from approximately 1.39 billion to 1.406 billion, a percentage very similar to that of the previous biennium. The distribution of baptized Catholics varies in the various geographic areas, in accordance with the different demographics of each continent.

Africa includes 20 per cent of the Catholics of the entire planet and is characterized by a highly dynamic spread of the Catholic Church. The number of Catholics increased from 272 million in 2022 to 281 million in 2023, with a relative variation of +3.31 per cent. The Democratic Republic of Congo confirms its first-place position for the number of baptized Catholics, with almost 55 million, followed by Nigeria with 35 million; Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya also register significant figures.

With a growth of 0.9 per cent over the biennium, the Americas consolidate their position as the continents to which 47.8 per cent of the world's Catholics belong. Of these, 27.4 per cent reside in South America (where Brazil, with 182 million, represents 13 per cent of the world total and continues to be the country with the highest concentration of Catholics), 6.6 per cent in North America, and the remaining 13.8 per cent in Central America. When the number of Catholics is compared to the total population, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay stand out, with a Catholic incidence exceeding 90 per cent of the population.

The Asian continent records a growth of Catholics of 0.6 per cent over the biennium, and its weight in 2023 is around 11 per cent of the global Catholic population. In 2023, 76.7 per cent of Southeast Asian Catholics are concentrated in the Philippines, with 93 million, and in India, with 23 million.

Europe, while hosting 20.4 per cent of the world Catholic community, confirms itself as the least dynamic area, with an increase in the number of Catholics over the biennium of just 0.2 per cent . This variation, on the other hand, in the face of an almost stagnant demographic dynamic, translates into a slight improvement in territorial presence, which reaches nearly 39.6 per cent in 2023. Italy, Poland, and Spain boast a Catholic incidence exceeding 90 per cent of the resident population.

The Catholics of Oceania numbered just over 11 million in 2023, an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to 2022.

Growing number of bishops

The number of bishops in the Catholic Church has grown over the last biennium with an overall variation of 1.4 per cent, rising from 5,353 in 2022 to 5,430 in 2023. This growth trend is observed in all continents, with the exception of Oceania, where the number of bishops has not changed over the biennium.

The relative variation is somewhat more pronounced for Africa and Asia and below the world average for Europe and America. It can also be noted that the relative weight of each continent remains nearly unchanged during the period, proportional to the relative importance of the individual continental realities, with a greater concentration of bishops in America and Europe. In Africa, the share of bishops in the world total rises from 13.8 per cent in 2022 to 14.2 per cent in 2023.

The number of Catholics per bishop in 2023 varied significantly from continent to continent. While the global average is 259,000 Catholics per bishop, values of 365,000 and 334,000 are recorded for Africa and America, respectively. Particularly favorable is the situation in Oceania, where each bishop is responsible for 87,000 Catholics, which, from this point of view, indicates a slight excess of bishops compared to other continents.

Fewer priests

At the end of 2023, within the 3,041 ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the Catholic world, there were 406,996 priests, with a decrease of 734 compared to 2022, equivalent to -0.2 per cent. The analysis by geographical area highlights an increase in Africa (+2.7 per cent) and Asia (+1.6 per cent) and a decrease in Europe (-1.6 per cent), in Oceania (-1.0 per cent), and in America (-0.7 per cent).

In addition to the continents, a comparison of the distinction between diocesan and religious priests reveals that, in Asia and Africa, the overall increase in priests is attributable to the dynamics of both diocesan and religious priests.

In Africa, in particular, the overall increase in priests results from an increase of approximately 3.3 per cent in diocesan priests and 1.4 per cent in religious priests. On the American continents, the increase in diocesan clergy over the biennium stands out in Central and Latin America. In Europe, however, a reduction of 1.6 per cent is observed both overall and in its individual components (diocesan and religious); the same pattern, though with a smaller decline (-1.0 per cent), is observed in Oceania.

The distribution in 2023 by geographical area highlights that while 38.1 per cent  of the total priests are in Europe, 29.1 per cent belong to the American continents, while the other continental areas follow with 18.2 per cent in Asia, 13.5  per cent in Africa, and 1.1 per cent  in Oceania.

The structural analysis of priests can be supplemented with that of Catholics to highlight any imbalances between the demand and supply of pastoral service. In the case of a perfect balance between the presence and the need for pastoral activity, the percentage composition of priests should coincide, for each territorial area examined, with that of Catholics. In reality, a comparison between the percentage composition of priests and Catholics shows that in 2023, significant discrepancies were recorded.

In particular, the percentages of priests exceed those of Catholics in North America (10.3 per cent of priests compared to 6.6 per cent of Catholics), in Europe (38.1 per cent of priests and 20.4 per cent of Catholics), and in Oceania (1.1 per cent of priests and 0.8 per cent of Catholics). The most evident shortages of priests are found in South America (12.4 per cent of priests and 27.4 per cent of Catholics), in Africa (13.5 per cent of priests and 20.0 per cent of Catholics), and in the Central Continental region of the Americas (5.4 per cent of priests and 11.6 per cent of Catholics).

Larger cohort of permanent deacons

Permanent deacons constitute the group of clergy that is growing most vigorously. In 2023, their number reached 51,433 compared to the 50,150 recorded in 2022, with an increase of 2.6 per cent.

Territorial disparities remain pronounced: significant growth rates are observed in Oceania (+10.8 per cent) and the Americas (+3.8 per cent, while slight declines are recorded in Africa and Europe. No significant changes in the global distribution of deacons are noted during the biennium considered, except for a decrease in the relative number of deacons in Europe and an increase in that of America, mainly due to substantial growth in North America. This category of pastoral worker is particularly present in the Americas (especially in North America, which accounts for 39 per cent of all deacons worldwide) and also in Europe (31 per cent).

To highlight the supportive role of these workers in pastoral action alongside priests, one can consider the ratio of the number of permanent deacons, area by area, to the number of priests present. It is found that the worldwide distribution of deacons per one hundred priests is 13 in 2023, ranging from a minimum of just 0.5 in Asia to a maximum of 29 in the Americas. In Europe, the ratio is around 10, while in Africa; only one permanent deacon serves alongside every one hundred priests.

The magnitude of this index, although appreciable, is still quite modest for permanent deacons to have a significant impact on balancing the demand and supply of service to Catholics in the territory. However, in evolutionary terms, it is noted that permanent deacons tend to have a greater presence in those areas where candidates for the priesthood are lower in number.

Slower rate of decline in the number of consecrated religious

The reduction of both professed religious brothers who are not priests and professed religious sisters, which has occurred over time, continued in 2023 is albeit at a less intense pace.

In particular, it should be noted that regarding professed religious brothers who are not priests, while an increase was recorded in Africa between 2022 and 2023; all other continents experienced a decline. It is worth emphasizing that the decline in South America has slowed compared to the average annual decrease of the previous period and that a state of stability is observed even in Central America. The relative weight of professed religious brothers, who are not priests in the various areas, when considered over time, confirms the decline in Europe, which continues to decrease in 2023.

The decline in the number of professed religious sisters also continued in 2023. At the global level, their number decreased from 599,228 in 2022 to 589,423 in 2023, with a relative variation of -1.6 per cent. Regarding their geographical distribution in 2023, nearly 32 per cent reside in Europe, followed by Asia with 30 per cent, the Americas with 23 per cent (evenly distributed across the two hemispheres), Africa with 14 per cent, and Oceania with 1 per cent.

The decline in the number of professed religious sisters worldwide is largely attributable to a considerable increase in deaths, resulting from a high proportion of elderly religious sisters, while the number of those abandoning religious life has become less significant over the biennium.

Africa recorded a significant increase of 2.2 per cent between 2022 and 2023, followed by Southeast Asia with +0.1 per cent. North America, on the other hand, saw a decline of -3.6 per cent. South America followed closely, with -3 per cent, while the decline recorded in the Central Continental region of the Americas and the Central Antilles was more moderate. Europe holds the negative record, with a variation of -3.8 per cent.

These movements naturally influence changes in the continental proportions of the total number of professed religious sisters. A reduction in the presence of religious sisters in Europe and North America is observed in the 2022-2023 period, to the benefit of Asia and Africa. Specifically, while in 2022 the total number of professed religious sisters in Europe and the Americas accounted for 55.8 per cent of the world total, in 2023 this percentage dropped to 54.8 per cent. The most significant changes in the period were observed in Southeast Asia (from 28.7 per cent to 29.2 per cent) and in Africa (from 13.9 per cent to 14.5 per cent).

Professed religious sisters remain a substantial reality, despite the globally observed decline and that in some continental regions. The total number of religious sisters is 45 per cent higher than the priestly population. Even though their statistical role in service provision has generally declined over the years, their contribution to the life of the Christian community remains essential, sometimes even substituting for that of priests.

Continued reduction in numbers of seminarians

The temporal trend observed worldwide in the number of major seminarians indicates an uninterrupted decline that has been recorded since 2012.

In terms of total numbers, candidates for the priesthood decreased globally from 108,481 in 2022 to 106,495 in 2023, with a variation of -1.8 per cent. The decline observed in the global total affects all continents except Africa, where seminarians increased by 1.1 per cent (from 34,541 to 34,924). In Europe, Asia, and the Americas, but especially in the first continent, the decreases are significant (-4.9 per cent in Europe, -4.2 per cent in Asia, and -1.3 per cent in the Americas). In Oceania, the trend is negative but of minor magnitude.

The percentage distribution of major seminarians by continent shows modest changes over the biennium. Africa and Asia contributed 61.0 per cent of the world total in 2022, a percentage that rose to 61.4 per cent in 2023. Apart from a slight negative adjustment in Oceania, the Americas and Europe together saw their share decrease. In 2022, American and European seminarians totaled 41,199, representing almost 38 per cent of the world total, while one year later, they dropped to 37.7 per cent.

To highlight the positive and negative surpluses of vocations at the territorial level, it is useful to compare the percentage distribution of seminarians with the corresponding distribution of Catholics. It follows that in 2023, significant disparities were recorded.

The percentages of seminarians exceed those of Catholics in Africa (32.8 per cent of seminarians compared to 20 per cent of Catholics) and in Asia (28.6 per cent of seminarians and 11 per cent of Catholics). These continents thus tend to fully meet the need to autonomously sustain their local apostolate.

In Europe and America, however, the percentages of seminarians are lower than those of Catholics (12.0 per cent of seminarians and 20.4 per cent of Catholics in Europe and 25.7 per cent of seminarians and 47.8 per cent of Catholics in the Americas). In these two continents, therefore, it is more difficult to adequately respond to the needs of the Catholic population, particularly in terms of generational turnover in the priesthood.