This growth highlights the continued expansion of the Church in most parts of the world despite a notable decline in Europe.

Africa led the global increase, with its Catholic population rising by over 7.3 million to surpass 272.4 million, making up 19.7% of the continent's population. This marks a 0.32% rise from 2021, the largest growth in Catholic representation across all regions.

In the Americas, the Catholic population grew by over 5.9 million, reaching 666.2 million. Asia also saw an increase, albeit more modest, of about 889,000 Catholics, pushing the total to over 154.24 million. Oceania's Catholic population rose by 123,000, totalling nearly 11.11 million.

Catholics now represent 17.7% of the global population, an increase of 0.03% from 2021.

These gains contrast with Europe, where the Catholic population fell by nearly 474,000 in 2022, continuing a long-term trend of decline. Europe's Catholic population now stands at 285.6 million, making up 39.5% of the continent's total population, a drop of 0.08%.

Europe's decline in Catholics coincides with a decrease in the continent's overall population, which lost about 517,000 people in 2022.

Clergy numbers fall

The report also highlights changes within the Catholic clergy.

The number of Catholic priests worldwide dropped for the fifth consecutive year, with a net loss of 142 priests in 2022.

Europe saw the largest decline, losing 2,745 priests, while the Americas and Oceania also experienced smaller reductions. However, Africa and Asia bucked the trend, gaining 1,676 and 1,160 priests, respectively.

The number of women religious also fell globally, with a decline of 9,730 in 2022, largely driven by losses in Europe and the Americas.

Meanwhile, permanent deacons increased by 974 globally, with notable rises in Europe and the Americas.

According to Fides news agency, the number of major seminarians worldwide declined from 109,895 in 2021 to 108,481 in 2022. This continued a downward trend since a peak of 120,616 in 2011. The decline was most significant in the Americas and Europe, while Africa saw an increase of 726 seminarians.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

Agenzia Fides

Catholic Culture

CathNews New Zealand

Also significant for New Zealand is the number of seminarians in Asia is declining.

Partial vocations relief in the form of female deacons is "on the table" at the Synod, however according to Sister Mary Teresa Barron, president of the International Union of Superiors General, the discussion comes amid a broader discussion marked by "differences of opinions" and cultural complexities.

Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo agrees, emphasising the challenges in achieving consensus within the synod, saying that understanding the terminology and ideas is "highly dependent on the cultural background.

"We are talking about the same thing, but sometimes the understanding is completely different," said Kikuchi.

Global Catholic population expands

Compiled by Fides News Agency, the report, which provides data as of December 31 2021, presents a complex picture highlighting both growth and decline within the Church.

The world's total population reached 7,785,769,000, an increase of 118,633,000 compared to the previous year.

The global Catholic population grew to 1,375,852,000, an overall increase of 16,240,000, with noticeable growth in Africa, America, Asia and Oceania offset by a decline in Europe.

However, the number of permanent (male) deacons increased by 541, totalling 49,176.

Decline in Bishops and Priests

• The total number of bishops worldwide decreased by 23, reaching 5,340
• The number of priests globally decreased by 2,347, declining to 407,872. Europe and America witnessed significant declines while Africa, Asia, and Oceania saw modest increases
• Diocesan priests declined by 911, totalling 279,610, while religious priests decreased by 1,436, amounting to 128,262

Shifts in religious demographics

• Religious non-priests decreased by 795, totalling 49,774, with Europe and America experiencing reductions
• The number of women religious declined by 10,588, totalling 608,958, due primarily to decreases in Europe and America
• Major seminarians, both diocesan and religious, decreased by 1,960 globally, amounting to 109,895 with growth observed only in Africa
• Minor seminarians increased by 316 to 95,714. Decreases totalling -1737 were registered in America, Asia, Europe and Oceania while an increase was registered in Africa (+2,053)

Catholic Church's educational and charitable roles

• In the field of education, the Catholic Church operates 74,368 kindergartens, 100,939 primary schools and 49,868 secondary schools
• The Church serves 2,483,406 high school pupils and 3,925,325 university students
• The Church's health, charity and assistance institutions globally include 5,405 hospitals, 14,205 dispensaries, 567 leper hospitals, 15,276 homes for the elderly, chronically ill and handicapped, 9,703 orphanages, 10,567 nursery schools, 10,604 marriage counselling centres, 3,287 social rehabilitation centres and 35,529 other types of institutions

Sources

• Agenzia Fides
• La Croix International
• Crux
• National Catholic Register
• CathNews New Zealand