The global Catholic population increased by just over one per cent between 2022 and 2023, rising from approximately 1.3 billion to 1.4 billion.

According to new figures from the Vatican's Central Office of Church Statistics, almost half the world's Catholics live in the Americas.

Brazil represents 13 per cent of the world's total with 182 million, making it the country with the highest Catholic population. In addition, 13.8 per cent live in Central America and 6.6 per cent in North America.

In Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay, more than 90 per cent of residents are Catholic. 

The figures show that 20 per cent of the world's Catholics reside in Africa - up from 272 million to 281 million in 2023. That's an increase of 3.3 per cent.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has the highest number of baptized Catholics (55 million), followed by Nigeria (35 million).

There was an increase of 0.6 per cent in the number of Catholics in Asia, with around 11 per cent in 2023. Some 76.7 per cent of Southeast Asian Catholics are concentrated in the Philippines with 93 million, and in India, with 23 million.

Europe, while hosting 20 per cent of the world Catholic community, had an increase of just 0.2 per cent. In Italy, Poland, and Spain more than 90 per cent of the resident population are Catholic.

There were just over 11 million Catholics in Oceania in 2023, an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to 2022.

The 2025 Pontifical Yearbook provides details about the number of Catholics, priests, and bishops throughout the world.