The Church’s statistics for 2023 have been published. The proportion of Catholics in the world’s population increased slightly and now stands at 17.8 percent.
At the end of June 2023, the global population reached 7,914,582,000, an increase of 75.6 million compared with the previous year. Growth occurred on all continents, including Europe. At the same time, the number of Catholics rose to 1,405,454,000 — 15.9 million more than a year earlier. Growth was recorded across all five continents – also in Europe, where the previous downward trend has now reversed.
The largest increase occurred in Africa, with more than eight million additional Catholics, and in the Americas, with nearly six million. Numbers also grew in Asia, Europe, and Oceania. The percentage of Catholics in the world population rose slightly to 17.8 percent.
The total number of bishops worldwide was 5,430, an increase of 77 compared with the previous year. The number of diocesan bishops grew, while the number of religious bishops declined slightly.
The total number of priests continues to decrease. At the end of 2023 there were 406,996 priests, 734 fewer than the previous year. The decline was most pronounced in Europe and the Americas, while the number of priests increased in Africa and Asia. There were 278,742 diocesan priests and 128,254 religious priests.
The number of permanent deacons continued to grow, reaching 51,433. Growth occurred especially in the Americas and Oceania, while in Asia, Africa, and Europe the figures remained nearly unchanged.
The number of religious brothers who are not priests declined slightly to 48,748. Their numbers decreased on most continents but increased in Africa. The number of religious sisters also continues to decline worldwide: they numbered 589,423, nearly ten thousand fewer than the previous year. Growth was recorded only in Africa and Asia.
The number of seminarians continued to fall. There were 106,495 major seminarians and 95,021 minor seminarians. Growth occurred only in Africa, while numbers declined on all other continents.
The Church maintains a vast global educational network: 74,550 kindergartens, 102,455 primary schools, and 52,085 secondary schools. Nearly 2.7 million students attend colleges, and about 4.5 million study at Catholic universities.
The Church also operates 103,951 health care, charitable, and social institutions worldwide, including hospitals, dispensaries, leprosariums, homes for the elderly, orphanages, family counseling centers, and institutions for social education and rehabilitation.
KATT / fides.org