Last updated September 18, 2024
Across centuries, Catholicism has marked its global presence, extending its roots to every continent while demonstrating the diversity and unity of a faith that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. As ostensibly the world's largest Christian denomination, the Catholic Church has left an indelible imprint on the cultural, social, and religious landscape of numerous nations. Analysis of recent data paints a striking picture of the global Catholic population distribution. Significant differences exist among nations based on an array of historical, societal, and political factors that influence religious alignment. Key findings:
Looking at the top ten nations worldwide in terms of their Catholic populations, one notices a prominent presence across both the Americas and Europe, with the Philippines being the only non-Western country on the list. At the forefront of our list stands Brazil with its colossal Catholic population; over 123.4 million people or roughly 60% of Brazil's overall population identify with the faith. This comes as a reflection of Brazil's deep roots in Catholicism which date back to its days as a Portuguese colony. In second place is Mexico, with an impressive 100.0 million Catholics. Much like Brazil, Catholicism in Mexico traces back to its period of European colonization, with evangelism being a major goal of Spanish colonizers. Third in this list, the island-nation of the Philippines, is home to approximately 85.5 million Catholics. Intriguingly, this makes the Philippines not only the third most Catholic-populated country but also the largest Catholic country in Asia. Next, the United States counts 69.3 million people within its borders identifying themselves as Catholics. The nation's diverse ethnic fabric and history of religious toleration have allowed Catholicism to flourish in its multicultural society. Italy, the epicenter of Catholicism and home to Vatican City, possesses a Catholic population of 50.5 million. Naturally, many of its residents identify as Catholic, making it the country in Europe with the fifth highest Catholics count. The list continues with countries across Europe and South America. France has 39.0 million, Colombia is home to 35.0 million, and Poland has 33.0 million Catholics. Completing the list are Spain and Argentina, with 30.7 million and 28.8 million Catholics respectively.
Most Catholic Countries in the World:
Ranked in World
#192
302.0K
Ranked in World
#99
45.0K
Ranked in World
#139
61.7K
Ranked in World
#135
10.6M
Ranked in World
#22
6.9K
Ranked in World
#172
28.8M
Ranked in World
#10
29.8K
Ranked in World
#153
Ranked in World
#40
Ranked in World
#42
2.6K
Ranked in World
#180
39.6K
Ranked in World
#145
71.2K
Ranked in World
#132
110.0K
Ranked in World
#121
10.0K
Ranked in World
#167
674.5K
Ranked in World
#84
Ranked in World
#31
133.6K
Ranked in World
#113
Ranked in World
#65
1.3K
Ranked in World
#183
Ranked in World
#27
536.3K
Ranked in World
#87
80.4K
Ranked in World
#129
123.4M
Ranked in World
#1
37.3K
Ranked in World
#147
Ranked in World
#62
Ranked in World
#28
10.0K
Ranked in World
#168
Ranked in World
#23
13.8M
Ranked in World
#18
395.9K
Ranked in World
#92
950.0K
Ranked in World
#80
Ranked in World
#61
Ranked in World
#25
12.0M
Ranked in World
#20
35.0M
Ranked in World
#7
1.6K
Ranked in World
#182
Ranked in World
#57
Ranked in World
#47
Ranked in World
#34
11.0K
Ranked in World
#166
Ranked in World
#77
28.7M
Ranked in World
#11
40.0K
Ranked in World
#143
Ranked in World
#186
41.6K
Ranked in World
#141
Ranked in World
#38
11.3M
Ranked in World
#21
77.5K
Ranked in World
#131
Ranked in World
#58
Ranked in World
#72
150.5K
Ranked in World
#111
4.0K
Ranked in World
#176
62.8K
Ranked in World
#134
584.4K
Ranked in World
#86
80.4K
Ranked in World
#128
12.4K
Ranked in World
#164
39.0M
Ranked in World
#6
694.6K
Ranked in World
#83
33.5K
Ranked in World
#151
84.2K
Ranked in World
#127
23.0M
Ranked in World
#14
Ranked in World
#59
44.7K
Ranked in World
#140
39.9K
Ranked in World
#144
Ranked in World
#30
246.2K
Ranked in World
#104
126.0K
Ranked in World
#116
91.8K
Ranked in World
#125
Ranked in World
#37
Ranked in World
#49
Ranked in World
#48
13.8K
Ranked in World
#162
15.5M
Ranked in World
#17
Ranked in World
#29
13.6K
Ranked in World
#163
133.0K
Ranked in World
#114
Ranked in World
#46
93.0K
Ranked in World
#124
50.5M
Ranked in World
#5
Ranked in World
#41
57.8K
Ranked in World
#136
382.3K
Ranked in World
#94
23.0K
Ranked in World
#156
91.1K
Ranked in World
#126
Ranked in World
#24
54.7K
Ranked in World
#137
142.5K
Ranked in World
#112
5.1K
Ranked in World
#174
37.3K
Ranked in World
#146
437.4K
Ranked in World
#90
Ranked in World
#73
946.0K
Ranked in World
#81
188.0K
Ranked in World
#107
40.4K
Ranked in World
#142
25.8K
Ranked in World
#155
Ranked in World
#63
369.6K
Ranked in World
#95
Ranked in World
#39
Ranked in World
#50
Ranked in World
#75
Ranked in World
#193
189.3K
Ranked in World
#106
361.4K
Ranked in World
#97
5.2K
Ranked in World
#173
3.1K
Ranked in World
#178
289.3K
Ranked in World
#102
100.0M
Ranked in World
#2
20.5K
Ranked in World
#160
29.9K
Ranked in World
#152
1.1K
Ranked in World
#184
21.3K
Ranked in World
#159
22.9K
Ranked in World
#157
Ranked in World
#44
450.5K
Ranked in World
#89
344.2K
Ranked in World
#98
8.3K
Ranked in World
#169
Ranked in World
#45
492.0K
Ranked in World
#88
Ranked in World
#60
11.7K
Ranked in World
#165
23.9M
Ranked in World
#12
2.3K
Ranked in World
#181
120.9K
Ranked in World
#117
110.0K
Ranked in World
#120
Ranked in World
#69
8.3K
Ranked in World
#170
80.0K
Ranked in World
#130
Ranked in World
#64
Ranked in World
#66
Ranked in World
#32
23.7M
Ranked in World
#13
85.5M
Ranked in World
#3
33.0M
Ranked in World
#8
Ranked in World
#26
50.0K
Ranked in World
#138
Ranked in World
#68
Ranked in World
#67
717.1K
Ranked in World
#82
Ranked in World
#43
3.4K
Ranked in World
#177
101.5K
Ranked in World
#122
8.0K
Ranked in World
#171
35.1K
Ranked in World
#149
29.4K
Ranked in World
#154
119.8K
Ranked in World
#118
660.4K
Ranked in World
#85
389.4K
Ranked in World
#93
433.2K
Ranked in World
#91
70.9K
Ranked in World
#133
174.5K
Ranked in World
#109
166.0K
Ranked in World
#110
Ranked in World
#52
Ranked in World
#70
100.0K
Ranked in World
#123
Ranked in World
#191
Ranked in World
#56
Ranked in World
#33
Ranked in World
#55
30.7M
Ranked in World
#9
Ranked in World
#76
300.0K
Ranked in World
#100
119.0K
Ranked in World
#119
180.0K
Ranked in World
#108
Ranked in World
#53
369.0K
Ranked in World
#96
297.6K
Ranked in World
#101
1.0K
Ranked in World
#185
12.2M
Ranked in World
#19
196.3K
Ranked in World
#105
Ranked in World
#78
Ranked in World
#71
15.9K
Ranked in World
#161
286.0K
Ranked in World
#103
22.0K
Ranked in World
#158
35.0K
Ranked in World
#150
Ranked in World
#188
Ranked in World
#190
16.5M
Ranked in World
#16
Ranked in World
#51
128.2K
Ranked in World
#115
Ranked in World
#35
69.3M
Ranked in World
#4
Ranked in World
#74
2.7K
Ranked in World
#179
36.5K
Ranked in World
#148
Ranked in World
#187
22.4M
Ranked in World
#15
Ranked in World
#36
Ranked in World
#189
4.1K
Ranked in World
#175
Ranked in World
#54
982.8K
Ranked in World
#79
Region ↕ | Number Of Catholics↕ |
---|---|
100 | |
302.0K | |
45.0K | |
61.7K | |
10.6M | |
6.9K | |
28.8M | |
29.8K | |
5.3M | |
5.1M | |
2.6K | |
39.6K | |
71.2K | |
110.0K | |
10.0K | |
674.5K | |
6.5M | |
133.6K | |
2.0M | |
1.3K | |
8.0M | |
536.3K | |
80.4K | |
123.4M | |
37.3K | |
2.4M | |
7.4M | |
10.0K | |
9.8M | |
13.8M | |
395.9K | |
950.0K | |
2.5M | |
9.0M | |
12.0M | |
35.0M | |
1.6K | |
2.9M | |
3.7M | |
5.8M | |
11.0K | |
1.1M | |
28.7M | |
40.0K | |
953 | |
41.6K | |
5.5M | |
11.3M | |
77.5K | |
2.7M | |
1.4M | |
150.5K | |
4.0K | |
62.8K | |
584.4K | |
80.4K | |
12.4K | |
39.0M | |
694.6K | |
33.5K | |
84.2K | |
23.0M | |
2.7M | |
44.7K | |
39.9K | |
7.0M | |
246.2K | |
126.0K | |
91.8K | |
5.5M | |
3.7M | |
3.7M | |
13.8K | |
15.5M | |
7.4M | |
13.6K | |
133.0K | |
3.7M | |
93.0K | |
50.5M | |
5.1M | |
57.8K | |
382.3K | |
23.0K | |
91.1K | |
9.6M | |
54.7K | |
142.5K | |
5.1K | |
37.3K | |
437.4K | |
1.4M | |
946.0K | |
188.0K | |
40.4K | |
25.8K | |
2.3M | |
369.6K | |
5.3M | |
3.4M | |
1.3M | |
80 | |
189.3K | |
361.4K | |
5.2K | |
3.1K | |
289.3K | |
100.0M | |
20.5K | |
29.9K | |
1.1K | |
21.3K | |
22.9K | |
4.6M | |
450.5K | |
344.2K | |
8.3K | |
3.9M | |
492.0K | |
2.7M | |
11.7K | |
23.9M | |
2.3K | |
120.9K | |
110.0K | |
1.7M | |
8.3K | |
80.0K | |
2.2M | |
1.9M | |
6.0M | |
23.7M | |
85.5M | |
33.0M | |
8.9M | |
50.0K | |
1.7M | |
1.8M | |
717.1K | |
4.8M | |
3.4K | |
101.5K | |
8.0K | |
35.1K | |
29.4K | |
119.8K | |
660.4K | |
389.4K | |
433.2K | |
70.9K | |
174.5K | |
166.0K | |
3.3M | |
1.5M | |
100.0K | |
100 | |
2.9M | |
5.8M | |
3.0M | |
30.7M | |
1.2M | |
300.0K | |
119.0K | |
180.0K | |
3.1M | |
369.0K | |
297.6K | |
1.0K | |
12.2M | |
196.3K | |
1.0M | |
1.5M | |
15.9K | |
286.0K | |
22.0K | |
35.0K | |
500 | |
100 | |
16.5M | |
3.4M | |
128.2K | |
5.7M | |
69.3M | |
1.3M | |
2.7K | |
36.5K | |
![]() | 799 |
22.4M | |
5.7M | |
![]() | 163 |
4.1K | |
3.0M | |
982.8K |