The number of Catholics worldwide has risen by 16.69 million to 1.422 billion, according to new figures published by the Vatican's Fides News Agency.
The number of priests has also increased slightly, but the Church has recorded further declines in the number of women religious and seminarians.
The figures have been published ahead of the 100th World Mission Sunday on 18 October, which this year has the theme “One in Christ, united in mission.”
The data comes from the latest Church statistical yearbook, with population and Catholic figures recorded as of 30 June 2024 and other figures dating from 31 December 2024. Changes are measured against 2023.
Catholics accounted for 17.8% of the world's population, which stood at almost eight billion.
Numbers increased across every continent, with Africa recording the largest rise, adding 7.58 million Catholics. The Americas saw an increase of 6.99 million, followed by Asia with 968,000, Europe with 911,000 and Oceania with 239,000.
The Americas remained home to the largest Catholic population, with 678.87 million. Africa had 288.31 million Catholics, slightly more than Europe's 287.24 million. Asia recorded 156.17 million, while Oceania had 11.56 million.
The number of priests worldwide rose for the first time in five years, according to the report.
“For the first time in five years, there is an increase in the total number of priests in the world,” the Fides dossier says.
There were 407,421 priests worldwide, an increase of 425 on the previous year. Growth in Africa, Asia and the Americas was offset by declines in Europe and Oceania.
The number of diocesan priests rose by 496 to 279,238, while religious priests fell by 71 to 128,183.
Despite the overall increase in priests, the average number of Catholics per priest rose by 38 to 3,491.
The report also recorded 5,525 bishops, an increase of 95, and 52,102 permanent deacons, up by 669.
However, the number of women religious fell by 9,292 to 580,131. Africa was the only continent to record an increase, with 2,190 more religious sisters, while Europe saw the largest decline, falling by 6,473.
The number of major seminarians, those studying for the priesthood at an advanced stage of formation, fell by 2,891 to 103,604. Africa was the only continent to record growth, with 786 additional seminarians, while Asia saw the largest decline, down by 2,733.
The number of minor seminarians also fell, by 980 to 94,041.
Elsewhere, the Church recorded growth in lay missionary work and catechesis. The number of lay missionaries increased by 18,473 to 463,079, while catechists rose by 22,370 to 2,889,336.
The Americas recorded the largest increase in lay missionaries, while the number of catechists grew most in the Americas and Asia.
The Church also operates a worldwide network of educational, healthcare and charitable services. Its institutions include 75,448 kindergartens, 103,666 primary schools and 51,810 secondary schools.
Its healthcare and charitable network comprises 101,110 facilities, including 5,397 hospitals and 13,646 dispensaries.
Africa has the largest number of hospitals and dispensaries among the continents covered by the report.
