Africa has overtaken Europe in the number of Catholics, emerging as the continent with the second-largest Catholic population globally, behind the Americas, according to newly released Vatican statistics.
The Catholic Church Statistics 2026 dossier, published by the Vatican’s Fides news agency on Friday, showed that Africa had 288.31 million Catholics as of June 30, 2024, compared with Europe’s 287.24 million.
The development highlights Africa’s growing significance in the global Catholic Church, as the continent recorded the largest increase in Catholic membership worldwide.
According to the report, the global Catholic population rose by 16.69 million to 1.422 billion, representing 17.8 per cent of the world’s population, estimated at nearly eight billion.
Africa accounted for 7.58 million of the additional Catholics, while the Americas recorded an increase of 6.99 million. Asia added 968,000 Catholics, Europe gained 911,000, and Oceania recorded an increase of 239,000.
Despite Africa’s growing numbers, the Americas remained the largest Catholic region, with 678.87 million members. Asia had 156.17 million, while Oceania recorded 11.56 million.
The report also revealed a modest recovery in the global number of Catholic priests, which increased by 425 to 407,421 in 2024, marking the first rise in five years.
Africa contributed the largest increase, adding 1,676 priests, followed by Asia with 1,065 and the Americas with 199. Europe, however, recorded a decline of 2,483 priests, while Oceania lost 32.
The number of diocesan priests rose by 496 to 279,238, while religious priests declined by 71 to 128,183.
Despite the overall increase, the average number of Catholics per priest rose by 38 to 3,491, indicating a growing number of faithful per priest worldwide.
The statistics further showed a decline in the number of women religious and major seminarians, although Africa remained the only continent to record increases in both categories.
Globally, the number of women religious fell by 9,292 to 580,131. Africa recorded an increase of 2,190, while Europe experienced the largest decline, losing 6,473.
Major seminarians also declined by 2,891 to 103,604 worldwide. Africa added 786, while Asia recorded the largest drop, with 2,733 fewer major seminarians. The number of minor seminarians fell by 980 to 94,041.
Meanwhile, the contribution of lay missionaries and catechists continued to expand. Lay missionaries increased by 18,473 to 463,079, while catechists rose by 22,370 to 2,889,336.
The report also highlighted the Catholic Church’s global presence in education, healthcare and charitable services.
According to the dossier, the Church operated 75,448 kindergartens, 103,666 primary schools and 51,810 secondary schools worldwide.
Its healthcare and charitable network comprised 101,110 facilities, including 5,397 hospitals and 13,646 dispensaries. Africa recorded the highest number of hospitals and dispensaries among the continents.
The statistics were drawn from the latest Church statistical yearbook, with Catholic population figures based on data from June 30, 2024, and figures covering priests, religious personnel, seminarians and other Church activities based on December 31, 2024. The changes were measured against 2023 figures.
The release came ahead of the 100th World Mission Sunday, scheduled for October 18, 2026, under the theme, “One in Christ, united in mission.”
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