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The recent statistics of the Catholic Church, as published in the latest Church Statistics Yearbook, reveal significant trends in the demographics of the faithful, pastoral structures, and involvement in health, assistance, and education. This analysis, updated as of December 31, 2022, provides an overview of key indicators of Church life on a global scale.

In 2022, the world population reached 7.83 billion people, an increase of 53 million from the previous year. This growth is evident on all continents, except Europe.

The number of Catholics also increased, reaching 1.389 billion, an increase of 13.7 million. However, this growth is not uniform: Europe saw a decrease of 474,000 Catholics, while Africa (+7.27 million) and the Americas (+5.91 million) continued to experience strong growth. In Asia and Oceania, the growth was more moderate, with increases of 889,000 and 123,000 Catholics, respectively.

The total number of bishops worldwide increased by 13, reaching 5,353. This rise is due to an increase in diocesan bishops (+19), while the number of religious bishops slightly decreased (-6).

The number of priests worldwide slightly decreased in 2022, from 407,730 to 407,588. This decline was primarily seen in Europe (-2,745) and the Americas (-164), while Africa (+1,676) and Asia (+1,160) continued to show growth. The number of diocesan priests decreased to 279,171, while religious priests slightly increased, reaching 128,559.

The number of permanent deacons worldwide continues to grow, reaching 50,159 (+974). This increase is notable in Europe (+267) and Asia (+15), while the Americas and Oceania recorded a decline.

In contrast, the number of non-priest religious members decreased, falling to 49,414 (-360), with notable declines in Africa, Europe, and Oceania. However, the Americas and Asia saw slight increases.

The number of religious sisters continued its downward trend, with a decrease of 9,730 in 2022. Significant declines were observed in Europe (-7,012) and the Americas (-1,358), while Africa (+1,358) and Asia (+74) continued to see slight increases.

Regarding seminarians, the total number of major seminarians also decreased, reaching 108,481, with declines mainly in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

In education, the Catholic Church operates a global network of 74,322 kindergartens, 102,189 primary schools, and 50,851 secondary schools, serving millions of students. Additionally, the Church is active in higher education, with 2.46 million students enrolled in Catholic institutions and nearly 4 million university students.

The Church’s involvement in the health and social services sector is equally impressive, with a total of 102,409 institutions, including 5,420 hospitals and 14,205 dispensaries worldwide. The Church also manages homes for the elderly, centers for the disabled, and social rehabilitation centers.

On the ecclesiastical organization level, 1,123 circumscriptions (dioceses, archdioceses, vicariates, etc.) fall under the Dicastery for Evangelization. Most of these circumscriptions are located in Africa (525) and Asia (481), while the Americas (71) and Oceania (46) have far fewer.

As the Jubilee approaches, a retrospective on the past 25 years shows that the global Catholic population has steadily increased, rising from 17.4% to 17.7% of the world population. However, this demographic growth contrasts with a significant decline in the number of religious men and women. The number of priests has remained relatively stable during this period, but non-priest religious members and religious sisters have seen continuous declines.

The 2022 data confirms some trends observed in recent decades. While the Catholic Church continues to grow in Africa and the Americas, Europe faces a decline in both faithful and priests. Nevertheless, the Church’s commitment to education, health, and social assistance remains a fundamental pillar of its mission worldwide.

These figures, both encouraging and concerning, provide insight into how the Church is adapting to contemporary challenges while continuing its mission of evangelization and service to society.

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
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