There are officially now more Roman Catholics in Africa than there are in Europe, according to the Vatican’s newly released report, which reveals “a rising number of Catholics on every continent, more priests, and fewer religious sisters and major seminarians.”
According to the Catholic Church Statistics 2026 dossier prepared by the Vatican’s Fides News Agency ahead of World Mission Sunday, the number of Catholics worldwide rose by 16.69 million to 1.422 billion.
Summarized by Premier Christian News:
Africa had 288 million Catholics as of June 2024, just ahead of Europe’s 287 million. Africa accounts for 20.3% of the world’s Catholics and Europe 20.2%. A year earlier, Europe was ahead, at 20.4% against about 20% for Africa. Europe’s share of the global total has been gradually declining.
The Americas remain home to the largest share, at 47.7%, followed by Asia on 11% and Oceania on 0.8%.
The Vatican News reports:
“For the first time in five years, there is an increase in the total number of priests in the world,” the Fides dossier says.
The total reached 407,421, up 425 from the previous year. Growth in Africa (+1,676), Asia (+1,065), and the Americas (+199) outweighed declines in Europe (-2,483) and Oceania (-32).
Diocesan priests numbered 279,238, an increase of 496, while religious priests fell by 71 to 128,183.
The average number of Catholics per priest nevertheless rose by 38 to 3,491. The dossier also recorded 5,525 Bishops, up by 95, and 52,102 permanent deacons, up by 669.
Women religious declined by 9,292 to 580,131. Africa was the only continent to register an increase in religious sisters, gaining 2,190, while Europe recorded the largest decline, of 6,473.
The Church also runs 75,448 kindergartens, 103,666 primary schools, and 51,810 secondary schools. Its healthcare and charitable network comprises 101,110 facilities, including 5,397 hospitals and 13,646 dispensaries.
