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Vatican Statistics

Young men attending the encounter with youth with Pope Francis at the Sir John Guise Stadium, Papua New Guinea, Sept. 9, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Worldwide Catholic Population Hits 1.4 billion

Mar 27, 2025

Two reports prepared by the Vatican’s Central Office for Church Statistics reveal a notable growth of the Catholic population worldwide during the two-year period 2022-2023.

Pope Francis arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Jan. 31, 2023. The streets of the pope’s five-mile drive from the N’Dolo Airport to the presidential residence were lined with thousands of locals who cheered and waved flags. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican Statistics: Africa Had Biggest Increase in Catholics, While Numbers Fell in Europe

Oct 24, 2023

Catholics in the world numbered 1,375,852,000 people at the end of 2021, with an overall increase of 16.2 million compared with the previous year. 

Catholics attend Mass in Ho, Ghana. James Dalrymple via Shutterstock.

Number of Catholics in Africa, Asia Continues to Rise, Newly Released Statistics Indicate

Oct 21, 2021

The Catholic Church grew by 15 million people worldwide in 2019.

St. Peter’s Basilica seen through a bubble on Dec. 3, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

World Mission Sunday: Number of Catholics Continues to Rise Worldwide

Oct 16, 2020

The number of Catholics worldwide increased by almost 16 million in a year to 1.33 billion, according to statistics highlighted by the Vatican ahead of the 2020 World Mission Sunday. 

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Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY) in South Sudan. Credit: CDTY

Like St. Joseph, “be Eucharistic”, Guide Families to Jesus: Bishop in South Sudan to Men in Corpus Christi Message

Archbishop Philip Subira Anyolo of Nairobi Archdiocese during the Caritas Micro-Finance 10th Anniversary Celebration. Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi

Starting as “seed of compassion”, Caritas Bank in Kenya “has blossomed into a formidable institute”: Catholic Archbishop

Fr. Dr. Gabriel Mapulanga with participants from our Gender Specific Strengthening of the Psychosocial and Economic Resilience of Refugee Children and Young People project, in Mantapala refugee settlement in Luapula. Credit: Caritas Zambia

World Refugee Day 2025: Caritas Zambia Advocates for Legal, Social Protection for Refugees, Displaced Persons

Credit: SACBC

Vatican Backs Upcoming International Symposium in South Africa, Urges Delegates to Advance Gospel Witnessing

The pope told the political leaders that “natural law, which is universally valid apart from and above other more debatable beliefs, constitutes the compass by which to take our bearings in legislating and acting." / Credit: Vatican Media

Artificial Intelligence Should Serve Human Beings, Not Replace Them: Pope Leo XIV to Political Leaders

null / Credit: Sasapin Kanka|Shutterstock

New Study Reveals the Rosary Rivals Modern Meditation for Mental Health Benefits 

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Credit: SACBC

Vatican Backs Upcoming International Symposium in South Africa, Urges Delegates to Advance Gospel Witnessing

null / Credit: LookerStudio/Shutterstock

Pope Leo XIV on Artificial Intelligence: "All of us are concerned for children and young people"

Archbishop Raphael p'Mony Wokorach of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu in Uganda. Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu

Ugandan Catholic Archbishop Faults Use of “tolerance” in Fostering Religious Freedom, Advocates for “respect”

Early photo of Robert Prevost from the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel. / Credit: Courtesy of the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel

Pope Leo XIV Celebrates 43rd Anniversary of His Priestly Ordination

In Goodwill Messages, SIGNIS Africa Lauded for “enriching” Understanding of Artistic Icons, Legacies, Potentials

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY) in South Sudan. Credit: CDTY

Like St. Joseph, “be Eucharistic”, Guide Families to Jesus: Bishop in South Sudan to Men in Corpus Christi Message

Archbishop José Manuel Imbamba of the Catholic Archdiocese of Saurimo in Angola. Credit: Radio Ecclesia

“They are destroying our communities”: Catholic Archbishop in Angola Calls for Criminalization of Diviners

Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Yola at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: ACI Africa

“Africa should not lose hope”: Catholic Bishop in Nigeria Encourages Resilience amid Extremism, Violence

June 11-14 SIGNIS Africa Conference and Regina Cultural and Art Exhibition at at Holy Ghost Cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu. Credit: Gregory Odiakosa

To Boost Understanding Religious Icons, Images “must resonate with cultural” Contexts: SIGNIS Africa President

Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops declare nine days of prayer following the June 13-14 attacks in the country’s Benue State that reportedly resulted in the death of some 200 people. Credit: CBCN

“Church stands with you”: Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops Declare Nine-Day Prayer for Benue Attack Victims

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