The Vatican’s Catholic Church statistics have revealed that Africa has overtaken Europe in the number of Catholics. The figures were released on Friday, October 16, 2026, by the Vatican’s Fides news agency.
This happened after Africa added 7.58 million members between 2023 and 2024, the highest increase among the world’s continents. African now has 288.31 million members, compared to Europe’s 287.24 million members.
According to the report, the statistics were compiled from the Church’s latest statistical yearbook, with population and Catholic membership figures covering the period up to June 30, 2024.
Worldwide, the global Catholic population increased by approximately 16.69 million, according to the Vatican report, reaching 1.422 billion as of June 2024, compared to about 1.405 billion in the previous year. Catholics accounted for approximately 17.8% of the world’s population, according to the report.
Although Africa recorded the highest growth, the Americas, which had a 6.99 million increase, remained home to the largest Catholic population, with approximately 678.87 million members. The figures highlight Africa’s growing significance within the global Catholic Church, as the continent continues to record substantial increases in its Catholic population.
Asia added about 968,000 Catholics, while Europe recorded an increase of approximately 911,000. Oceania registered an additional 239,000 members. Despite its relatively modest increase, Europe’s Catholic population remained substantial, with 287.24 million members, placing it just behind Africa.
The report also showed that Catholics represented approximately 19.9%% of Africa’s population, compared with 39.7% in Europe. The Americas had the highest Catholic population in absolute terms, with Catholics accounting for approximately 64% of the continent’s population.
Beyond membership figures, the report recorded a slight increase in the global number of Catholic priests for the first time in five years. The number of priests worldwide rose by 425 to 407,421 in 2024.
The increase was driven primarily by Africa, which recorded 1,676 additional priests, and Asia, which added 1,065. The Americas recorded an increase of 199 priests. Europe, however, experienced a decline of 2,483 priests, while Oceania recorded a decrease of 32. The figures suggest contrasting trends in the availability of clergy across the continents, with Africa and Asia recording increases while Europe experienced a notable reduction.
Despite the growth in Catholic membership and the modest increase in priests, the report highlighted continuing challenges in religious vocations worldwide. The number of major seminarians, comprising diocesan and religious candidates preparing for the priesthood, fell from 106,495 in 2023 to 103,604 in 2024.
Africa was the only continent to record an increase in major seminarians, adding 786 to reach 35,710. The number declined in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania, with Asia recording the largest reduction.
The global number of women religious also fell by 9,292 to 580,131. Africa was the only continent to record an increase in this category, adding 2,190 women religious. These figures indicate that while the Catholic Church continues to expand its membership in Africa, the broader global picture of religious vocations remains mixed.
The latest statistics underscore Africa’s increasingly prominent position in the Catholic Church, both in membership and in the development of its clergy. With more Catholics than Europe and the highest annual increase in membership, the continent is becoming an increasingly important centre of Catholic life and missionary activity.
The figures also reveal a changing geographical distribution of the Church’s membership, as Africa’s share of the global Catholic population grows while Europe’s relative share declines.