---
title: Global Catholic population rises to 1.42 billion while religious orders and seminarians decline
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/global-catholic-population-rises-to-142-billion-while-religious-orders-and-seminarians-decline
published: 2026-10-19T21:49:41+00:00
language: en
section: World Church
source: https://www.religiondigital.org/vaticano/estadisticas-iglesia-catolicos-2026-agencia-fides_1_1469944.html
organizations: Agencia Fides, Iglesia católica
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Global Catholic population rises to 1.42 billion while religious orders and seminarians decline

The global number of Catholics increased to 1.422 billion by the end of June 2024, marking a rise of 16.69 million from the previous year. This growth occurred across all five continents, with Africa recording the largest numerical increase. The total number of priests also rose slightly for the first time in five years, reaching 407,421. In contrast, the number of religious women and major seminarians continued to decrease globally, while the contribution of lay missionaries and catechists expanded significantly.

Africa led the increase in baptized Catholics with 7.58 million new members, followed by the Americas with 6.992 million. Asia added 968,000, Europe 911,000, and Oceania 239,000. The Americas remain the continent with the highest total number of Catholics at 678.869 million, representing 64 percent of its population. Africa now has 288.312 million Catholics, slightly surpassing Europe's 287.240 million. Asia has 156.166 million, and Oceania has 11.557 million. The percentage of Catholics in the population is 19.9 percent in Africa, 39.7 percent in Europe, 3.3 percent in Asia, and 25.9 percent in Oceania.

The total number of priests increased by 425 to reach 407,421. This positive balance resulted from growth in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, which offset declines in Europe and Oceania. Diocesan priests numbered 279,238, an increase of 496, while religious priests fell to 128,183, a decrease of 71. The average number of Catholics per priest rose to 3,491, an increase of 38. The number of bishops increased by 95 to 5,525, and permanent deacons rose by 669 to 52,102.

The number of religious women decreased by 9,292 to 580,131. Africa was the only continent where this number increased, rising by 2,190. Declines were recorded in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. Non-priest religious men numbered 48,511, down by 237. Major seminarians decreased by 2,891 to 103,604, with Africa being the only continent to see an increase. Minor seminarians fell by 980 to 94,041.

Lay missionaries increased by 18,473 to 463,079, with the largest growth in the Americas. Catechists rose by 22,370 to 2,889,336, with significant increases in the Americas and Asia. The number of ecclesiastical circumscriptions rose by six to 3,047. Mission stations total 111,602, of which 4,187 have a resident priest and 107,415 do not. The number of stations with a resident priest increased by 987, while those without decreased by 12,162.

The Church's educational network includes 75,448 preschools with 7.48 million students, 103,666 primary schools with 36.31 million students, and 51,810 secondary schools with 20.34 million students. These figures are part of a broader statistical report prepared for the centennial World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on October 18, 2026, under the theme of unity in mission.

## This story in other languages

- [Português (Brasil)](https://www.faithfulnews.com/pt-br/igreja-catolica-registra-crescimento-de-fieis-e-sacerdotes-mas-queda-de-religiosas-e-seminaristas)