In view of the 99th World Mission Daywhich will be celebrated on Sunday 19 October 2025 on the theme “Missionaries of hope among the people”Agenzia Fides has released as usual its annual statistical dossier, edited by Elena Grazini And Luca Mainolditaken from the last one Statistical Yearbook of the Church. The data offers an updated snapshot of the Catholic presence in the world, of the pastoral structures and of the social, health and educational works of the Church.
The figures relating to the world population and baptized Catholics refer to June 30, 2023while those on other ecclesial aspects are updated to December 31, 2023.
The Catholic population in the world
As of June 30, 2023, the world population was 7 billion and 914 million peoplewith an increase of approx 75 million and 600 thousand units compared to the previous year. All continents are recording an increase, including Europe.
Catholics, in the same period, amounted to 1 billion and 405 millionwith an overall growth of 15 million and 881 thousand faithful compared to the previous year. The increase is recorded on all five continents, including Europewhich reverses the negative trend reported in the latest survey.
The largest increases are found in Africa (+8.3 million) And America (+5.6 million)followed by Asia (+954 thousand), Europe (+740 thousand) And Oceania (+210 thousand). The percentage of Catholics out of the total world population thus goes from 17.7% to 17.8%.
Bishops, priests and deacons
The total number of bishops in the world it is growing, going from 5,353 to 5,430 (+77). The diocesan episcopates increase by 84 units (today 4,258), while i religious bishops decrease by 7 (now 1,172).
However, the decline in prices continues priestswhich go from 407.730 to 406,996 (-734). The decline is particularly evident in Europe (-2,486), America (-800) And Oceania (-44). In contrast, Africa and Asia continue to grow respectively 1,451 And 1,145 unit. The diocesan priests descend to 278,742 (-429), while the religious ones are 128,254 (-305).
On the rise i permanent deaconswhich reach altitude 51,433 (+1,234), with increases especially in America (+1,257) and Oceania (+57). Slight declines in Asia (-1), Africa (-3) and Europe (-27).
Religious men and women and seminarians
The prices also drop religious non-priestswhich pass to 48,748 (-666). Increases are recorded only in Africa (+107), while decreases in all the other continents.
The negative trend continues for religiousToday 589,423 (-9,730). They increase only in Africa (+1,804) and Asia (+46), but decrease in Europe (-7,338), America (-4,066) and Oceania (-251).
The number of major seminarians (diocesan and religious) drops further: from 108,481 to 106,495 (-1.986). The only continent growing is Africa (+383). However, they decreased in America (-362), Asia (-1,331), Europe (-661) and Oceania (-15).
Even i minor seminarians decrease slightly: 95,021 (-140). Africa, after the increase of the previous year, now records a small decline (-90), while growth is seen in Asia (+123) and America (+27).
Schools, universities and care facilities
In the field of education, the Catholic Church manages in the world 74,550 nursery schools with 7.6 million children, 102,455 primary schools frequented by 36.2 million pupilsAnd 52,085 secondary schools with beyond 20.7 million students.
The Catholic high schools they matter 2.7 million studentswhile the Catholic universities they welcome it 4.4 million.
The Catholic health and welfare facilities amount to a total of 103,951: among these 5,377 hospitals, 13,895 dispensaries, 504 leper colonies, 15,566 homes for the elderly and disabled, 10,858 orphanages and nurseries, 10,827 marriage counseling centres, 3,147 educational or re-education centres And 35,184 other types of institutions.
The ecclesiastical circumscriptions
The ecclesiastical districts — dioceses, archdioceses, territorial abbeys, apostolic vicariates, prelatures and missions sui iuris — dependent on Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for the first evangelization and the new particular Churches) are in all 1,130an increase of 7 compared to the previous year.
Most are found in Africa (530) And Asia (483)while in America I’m 71 and in Oceania 46.
The Statistics 2025 they therefore confirm a picture of lights and shadows: the vitality of the Church in the countries of the South of the worldparticularly in Africa and Asia, is accompanied by crisis of vocations and the decline of the clergy in Europe and America. A faithful photograph of a universal Church which, despite the difficulties, continues to grow in numbers, presence and educational and social commitment in every part of the planet.
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