Por primera vez en cinco años aumentan los sacerdotes en el mundo

The number of Catholics worldwide is 1,422,144,000, an increase of 16.6 million compared to the previous year, according to the Fides news agency. These figures are from the latest statistics released by the Holy See, dated June 30, 2023. The increase in the Catholic population is occurring on all five continents, including Europe, where the increase recorded last year has been confirmed.

The agency notes a trend from previous years: the increase in Catholics is greatest in Africa (rising by 7.58 million), although the growth rate is lower than in the previous statistics; and in the Americas (6.99 million). These are followed by Asia (968,000), Europe (911,000), and Oceania (239,000).

Despite this increase, the percentage of Catholics within the world population remains unchanged compared to the previous year, at 17.81%. As of June 30, 2024, the world population was 7.995 billion people, an increase of 80.99 million compared to the previous year.

More priests

Furthermore, the figures compiled by Fides highlight that, for the first time in five years, the total number of priests worldwide has increased. They have risen from 406,996 in the previous report to 407,421 this year, an increase of 425 priests.

This section shows differences by continent. Europe again registers a decrease (2,483), as does Oceania (32). In contrast, as last year, significant increases are observed in Africa (1,676) and Asia (1,065). The Americas reverse the trend of the previous year and again register a positive balance (199).

On the other hand, the number of inhabitants per priest has increased this year, continuing a trend that has been developing for some time, with a total of 186 people reaching a ratio of 16,104 (compared to 15,918 the previous year). The distribution by continent shows increases in Oceania (290), the Americas (102), and Europe (77), while it has decreased in Asia (182) and Africa (148). The number of Catholics per priest has also increased: 3,491 (38 more than the previous year).

The number of bishops worldwide has also increased in the last year, with 95 more than the previous year, bringing the total to 5,525. There is more of an increase in diocesan bishops (107) than in religious bishops (12 fewer).

Seminarians

While the number of priests has increased, the number of seminarians, both diocesan and religious, has decreased. Worldwide, there are 103,604 seminarians (down from 106,495 the previous year). There has been a significant increase in Africa (786), but fewer in the Americas (227), Asia (2,733), Europe (701), and Oceania (16). Diocesan seminarians have decreased to 63,856 (a drop of 207), while religious seminarians have fallen to 39,748 (a decrease of 2,684).

Religious men (not priests) and nuns

On the other hand, non-priest religious have decreased by 237 compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 48,511. They are decreasing in Europe, America and Oceania, while increasing in Africa and Asia (where they had decreased last year).

The most recent statistics confirm the global downward trend in the number of nuns, a phenomenon that has been occurring for some time: there are 580,131 (9,292 fewer). Their numbers have increased in Africa (2,190), but have decreased in all other continents.

Ecclesiastical circumscriptions

The figures show that there are 6 more ecclesiastical circumscriptions in the world than last year. This includes dioceses, archdioceses, metropolitan sees, territorial prelatures, military ordinariates, apostolic vicariates, and similar entities. There are a total of 3,047.

Education and health

In the field of education, the Church administers 75,448 preschools worldwide, attended by 7,480,373 students. As for primary schools, there are 103,666 centers, with a total of 36.3 million students (the previous year there were 102,455 centers and 36.2 million students).

Meanwhile, secondary schools number 51,810, with 20.3 million students (in the previous report there were 52,085, and 20.7 million students).

The Church also maintains 101,110 charitable and welfare healthcare institutions. This includes, for example, 5,397 hospitals and 13,646 clinics, mostly in Africa and the Americas; 468 leper colonies; 16,263 residences for the elderly and infirm; and 8,138 orphanages.

These figures, released by Fides on the occasion of the 99th World Mission Day, which is celebrated on Sunday, October 18, come from the latest “Statistical Yearbook of the Church”, updated to December 31, 2024.