Africa has overtaken Europe as the continent with the largest Catholic population, recording 288.31 million adherents compared with Europe’s 287.24 million, according to the Vatican’s latest statistics.
The figures were contained in the 2026 Catholic Church Statistics dossier compiled by the Vatican’s Fides news agency and released on Friday ahead of the 100th World Mission Sunday, scheduled for October 18.
The report showed that Africa recorded the highest growth in Catholic membership worldwide, adding 7.58 million people as the global Catholic population increased by 16.69 million to reach 1.422 billion.
The Americas retained their position as the region with the largest Catholic population, with 678.87 million members. Asia followed with 156.17 million, while Oceania recorded 11.56 million.
Catholics accounted for 17.8 per cent of the world’s population, estimated at nearly eight billion, according to the dossier.
Beyond Africa, the Americas recorded an increase of 6.99 million Catholics, while Asia added 968,000. Europe and Oceania recorded increases of 911,000 and 239,000, respectively.
The report also highlighted a modest rise in the worldwide number of priests, which increased by 425 to 407,421 in 2024.
“For the first time in five years, there is an increase in the total number of priests in the world,” the report stated.
Africa led the increase, adding 1,676 priests, followed by Asia with 1,065.
The Americas recorded an additional 199 priests, while Europe experienced a decline of 2,483 and Oceania lost 32.
The number of diocesan priests rose by 496 to 279,238, while religious priests decreased by 71 to 128,183.
Despite the overall increase in priests, the average number of Catholics per priest climbed by 38 to 3,491.
The dossier further revealed a worldwide decline in the number of women religious and major seminarians.
The number of women religious fell by 9,292 to 580,131. Africa was the only continent to record growth in this category, adding 2,190, while Europe registered the steepest decline, with 6,473 fewer women religious.
Similarly, the global number of major seminarians dropped by 2,891 to 103,604.
Africa recorded an increase of 786, making it the only continent to experience growth, while Asia suffered the largest decline, losing 2,733.
Minor seminarians also decreased by 980 to 94,041 worldwide.
In contrast, the number of lay missionaries increased by 18,473 to 463,079, while catechists rose by 22,370 to 2,889,336.
The report also outlined the Catholic Church’s contributions to education, healthcare and charitable services across the world.
According to the statistics, the Church operated 75,448 kindergartens, 103,666 primary schools and 51,810 secondary schools globally.
Its healthcare and charitable network comprised 101,110 facilities, including 5,397 hospitals and 13,646 dispensaries.
Africa had the highest number of hospitals and dispensaries among the continents.
The statistics were sourced from the latest Church statistical yearbook.
Figures for the total population and Catholic membership were recorded as of June 30, 2024, while data covering other categories reflected the position as of December 31, 2024.
The changes were measured against figures from 2023.
The 100th World Mission Sunday will be celebrated on October 18 under the theme, “One in Christ, united in mission.”
