Vatican Releases Statistical Yearbook: Number of Catholics on the Rise

4/27/2010
Zenit News Agency (www.zenit.org)

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VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org) - The Vatican announced Tuesday that its publishing house has released a new edition of the Statistical Yearbook of the Church, comprising information from 2000 to 2008, including that the number of Catholics in the world is now 1.16 billion.

Over these nine years, the Catholic presence in the world has grown from 1.045 billion in 2000 to 1.166 billion in 2008, an increase of 11.54%. Considering the statistics in detail, numbers in Africa grew by 33%, in Europe they remained generally stable (an increase of 1.17%), while in Asia they increased by 15.61%, in Oceania by 11.39% and in America by 10.93%. As a percentage of the total population, European Catholics represented 26.8% in 2000 and 24.31% in 2008. In America and Oceania they have remained stable, and increased slightly in Asia.

The number of bishops in the world went up from 4,541 in 2000 to 5,002 in 2008, an increase of 10.15%.

The number of priests also increased slightly over this nine-year period, passing from 405,178 in 2000 to 409,166 in 2008, an overall rise of 0.98%. In Africa and Asia their numbers increased (respectively, by 33.1% and 23.8%); in the Americas they remained stable, while they fell by 7% in Europe and 4% in Oceania.

The number of diocesan priests increased by 3.1%, going from 265,781 in 2000 to 274,007 in 2008. By contrast, the number of regular priests showed a constant decline, down by 3.04% to 135,159 in 2008. Of the continents, only Europe showed a clear reduction in priests: in 2000 they represented 51% of the world total, in 2008 just 47%. On the other hand, Asia and Africa together represented 17.5% of the world total in 2000 and 21.9% in 2008. The Americas slightly increased its percentage to around 30% of the total.

Non-ordained religious numbered 55,057 in the year 2000 and 54,641 in 2008. Comparing this data by continent, Europe showed a strong decline (down by 16.57%), as did Oceania (22.06%); the Americas remained stable, while Asia and Africa grew (by 32% and 10.47%, respectively).

Female religious are almost double the number of priests, and 14 times that of non-ordained male religious, but their numbers are falling, from 800,000 in 2000 to 740,000 in 2008. As for their geographical distribution, 41% reside in Europe, 27.47% in America, 21.77% in Asia and 1.28% in Oceania. The number of female religious has increased in the most dynamic continents: Africa (up by 21%) and Asia (up by 16%).

The Statistical Yearbook of the Church also includes information on the number of philosophy and theology students in diocesan and religious seminaries. In global terms, their numbers increased from 110,583 in 2000 to more than 117,024 in 2008. In Africa and Asia their numbers went up, whereas Europe saw a reduction.

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1 - 10 of 12 Comments

Johannim
2 years ago
Catholic Christianity is growing by quantum leaps particularly in Sub Saharan Africa & Asia , particularly mainland China. It is wrong and more that a little arrogant for some bloggers to babble that they would rather have a smaller church (numerically) but with more (in my words) DEVOUT Catholics. How arrogant, can't Catholics be satisfied with the statistics presented without looking for bloody controversy or messing their nappies. Just grow up, follow the 2000 yr old teaching of your faith the (magesterium) and vigorously welcome new brothers & sisters in the Faith. Point of interest, the fastest growing segment of the church in 2010 is the movement towards Orthodoxy & Tradition. You see it in the phenominal grow of traditional orders (monasteries and converts) secular priesthood and particularly amung new young converts. Another not so " best kept secret" is thousands if not tens of thousands of muslims are converting to Christ & his Catholic Church but for their safety & protection it is kept quiet. This is occurring not only with former European muslims but in Arab & muslim dominated North Africa,yup folks there are even underground churches in Saudi Arabia.
Deacon John M. Bresnahan
3 years ago
You listed statistics for non-ordained religious--how about ordained deacons. More and more are devoting full time service to the Church. It is one of the most important positive developments in Church numbers over the past few years.
Michael
3 years ago
The growth in United States were mainly the influx of cross border for Mexico ( Catholic), the growth in Europe were mostly immigrant for Eastern block and India and African they were mostly original Catholic, the only real growth are in Asia and Africa, the Oceanic growth are none other than the Singaporean, Malaysian and Filipino influx, I hope Vatican did not double count like the Canadian did, I am immegrante from Asia and hope they do not double count me as twince, beacuse I am a cradle Catholic, with the massive increase in world population the increase would be a drop in the drum in comparison to the Moslem, in the face of the crisis most good news would be increase, I prayed that this true, but it need proper head count to know who is who, the best is to count the Baptism received in a year minus the dead and not how many Catholic in a certian area.
Helen Hawkins
3 years ago
I sincerely doubt that it is liberals and progressives that are coming home to the Cathollic Church. The Catholic liberals and progressives are the ones that have been Catholic and want to "change" "their" Church to fit their image.

I find the numbers encouraging.
Cephas
3 years ago
I'm not sure I understand how you can say that "numbers alone do not impress me at all." If you are a Catholic and know that it is the Church that Jesus himself founded, how could you not want everyone to be a Catholic? Though if you mean that those who are not really Catholic and are dissenters to the point of heresy, yes, I agree they could leave and not be missed. Everyone else however, is welcome!
Rita
3 years ago
Very encouraging numbers here, which I believe might grow even more in North America if the Latin Mass were better restored to its rightful glory and position. The ordinary mass has its devout supporters also and that is appreciated, but many of us newbies can barely tell the difference from protestant beliefs and actions.

I would venture to say that Church growth even fell after the Latin Mass became so thoroughly shelved and became "extraordinary". Where has all the beauty gone, in a craven world. What an "extraordinary" loss.
Manhattan
3 years ago
I agree with K.C. and Carmen. Numbers alone do not impress me at all.
JeanCatherine
3 years ago
Me to brothers and sisters. Pray for priests and religious always.
carmen delgado
3 years ago
i would better see a smaller church that would follow the true doctrine of the church than a large church with so many liberals and progressives that are giving our church such a bad name and not to say endangering souls.
alex
3 years ago
It is evident that GOD always oversees HIS true Church despite the attacks from within and outside the Church. I always pray everyday to GOD to protect and guide HIS Holy Church, the Holy Father to the bishops, priests, religious, and the missionary of the Church throughout the world. That GOD may also touch the hearts of those Catholics who are not practicing their faith to consider studying the doctrine of the Church to include the writings of the Early Church Fathers, Catechism of the Catholic Church, the lives of the saints, holy men and women of the Church and others. May the Almighty GOD bless the Church for more people to consider religious vocations for them to serve the billions people of GOD.

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