Worldwide Catholic Population Up, Vocations Down

Falling number of priests

The number of priests worldwide continues to decline. According to data from Fides, in 2023 it decreased by 734 compared to the previous year, leaving a total of 406,996 priests.

The most significant decrease was again recorded in Europe, with 2,486 fewer priests, followed by the Americas, where the number fell by 800, and Oceania, with 44 fewer. However, the number of priests increased in Africa, with 1,451 more, and in Asia, which added 1,145 new priests.

The number of diocesan priests decreased by 429, leaving a total of 278,742. Religious order priests also registered a decline — reversing the previous year's trend — and now total 128,254, 305 fewer than in the last survey.

Meanwhile, the number of permanent deacons continues to increase, reaching a total of 51,433. Growth is mainly concentrated in the Americas (+1,257) and Oceania (+57), while slight declines are recorded in Asia (-1), Africa (-3), and Europe (-27).

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The number of men in religious orders who are not priests also decreased, with 736 fewer than the previous year, standing at 48,748. The decreases are in Europe (-308), the Americas (-293), Asia (-196), and Oceania (-46), although Africa shows a slight increase (+107).

Likewise, the number of women in religious orders continued its years-long decline. Currently, there are 589,423, which means 9,805 fewer than in the previous report. They have increased in Africa (+1,804) and Asia (+46), but continue to decline in Europe (–7,338), the Americas (–4,066), and Oceania (–251).

Declining number of seminarians

The number of major seminarians, both diocesan and religious, also decreased, totaling 106,495 (the previous year was 108,481). Africa alone recorded an increase of 383.

Minor seminarians, both diocesan and religious, also decreased, reaching 95,021, a decrease of 140. Furthermore, Africa went from an increase in the 2022 survey to a slight decrease of 90.

Education and charitable works

Fides also reported that the Catholic Church operates a total of 74,550 kindergartens worldwide with 7,639,051 students; 102,455 primary schools with 36,199,844 students; 52,085 secondary schools with 20,724,361 students; 2,688,625 students in higher education institutions; and 4,468,875 students in Catholic universities.

In addition, in the field of health care and charitable works, there are 103,951 institutions affiliated with the Catholic Church, including 5,377 hospitals and 13,895 dispensaries; 504 leper colonies;. There are 15,566 homes for the elderly, chronically ill, or disabled; 10,858 daycare centers; 10,827 marriage counseling centers; 3,147 education or social reintegration centers and 5,184 other types of institutions.

Data on the total world population and the number of baptized Catholics are updated as of June 30, 2023, while other data are updated as of December 31, 2023.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Almudena Martínez-Bordiú is Rome correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN.