After a decline, the number of Catholics in Europe has risen again

The number of Catholics worldwide rose to 1.405 billion by June 30, 2023, an increase of nearly 16 million over the previous year. Overall, Catholics make up 17.8 percent of the world's population. This was reported by the Fides agency.

The number also rose in Europe (+740,000), where the number of Catholics had declined in 2022 compared to 2021. Africa and America recorded the most significant increases in the first half of 2023.

The number of bishops rose to 5,430, but the number of priests declined again worldwide, especially in Europe. However, growth continues in Africa and Asia. The number of religious brothers and sisters is also declining, while the number of permanent deacons has increased. The number of seminarians is also declining, although Africa has seen a slight increase.

At the same time, the Church operates an extensive network of educational and social institutions: more than 100,000 health and charitable institutions and over 220,000 educational institutions attended by more than 60 million pupils and students.

(max)