Amid an ever-increasing number of Catholics across five continents, the number of priests and religious sisters is decreasing worldwide. This is according to data from a report prepared by the Missionary Press Agency on the occasion of World Mission Day 2025.
The number of Catholics is increasing across five continents, including Europe, but priests and sisters are declining globally. These are some of the findings from the statistical report prepared and released by Agenzia Fides, the Pontifical Mission Societies, on the occasion of World Mission Day, celebrated on Sunday, October 19, 2025, on the theme “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples.” The data is taken from the latest “Statistical Yearbook of the Church,” published in 2025, and embraces the entire Catholic Church worldwide, including community members, pastoral structures, and activities in the fields of healthcare, welfare, and education.
Within a global population of 7.9 billion, the number of Catholics stands at 1.4 billion, an overall increase of 15,881,000 compared to the previous year. This increase in the number of faithful reverses the trend recorded in the previous survey, which showed a decline in the number of Catholics in Europe. The growth in Catholics is evident in Africa (+8.3 million) and America (+5.6 million), followed by Asia (+954,000), Europe (+740,000), and Oceania (+210,000).
While the number of baptized persons is increasing, the total number of priests worldwide is decreasing: 407,000 overall, a figure that includes a drastic decline in Europe (-2,500), followed by America (-800), and Oceania (-44). A significant increase in priests was noted in Africa (+1,451) and Asia (+1,145), the two continents that continue to be the privileged reservoir of priestly vocations for the Church’s mission. Religious men and women also saw a decrease: the former reached a total of 48,000, losing over 600; while religious women numbered 589,000, with a significant decline of 9,700. This decline is also attributable primarily to Europe, where statistics show 7,300 fewer Sisters, and to America (-4,000). Africa held steady with an increase of 1,800 Sisters.