Catholics Around the World
1.4 billion Catholics. 195 countries. One Church.
Wherever you are, you are not alone. The Catholic Church is the largest Christian community on earth — and one of the most geographically diverse. From Brazil to the Philippines, from Nigeria to Poland, Catholics share the same Creed, the same sacraments, and the same faith handed down from the Apostles.
Source: Pew Research Center, 2024
By Region
Click any region to see country-by-country figures.
Further Reading
Research and data from Pew Research Center on global Catholicism and Christianity.
December 2011
Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population
The foundational Pew report on Catholic and Christian population data worldwide — the primary source for global Catholic figures.
February 2013
The Global Catholic Population
A focused look at where the world's 1.2 billion Catholics live, with country-by-country breakdowns across every region.
April 2015
Global Religious Futures: Christianity
Pew's projections for Christian population growth through 2050, with detailed analysis of Catholic trends in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
April 2017
The Changing Global Religious Landscape
How the world's religious makeup is shifting — including Catholic growth in the Global South and decline in Europe.
May 2018
Being Christian in Western Europe
What it means to identify as Catholic or Christian in Western Europe today — practice, belief, and identity across 15 countries.
November 2014
Religion in Latin America: Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region
A landmark study on religious identity across Latin America — the world's largest Catholic region — and the forces reshaping it.
One Body, Many Nations
The Catholic Church is not a Western institution. It is a universal Church — the word 'Catholic' itself means universal. From the favelas of Brazil to the highlands of Papua New Guinea, from the ancient churches of Lebanon to the cathedrals of Poland, one billion four hundred million people share your faith, your sacraments, and your hope.