The Aporia · Catholics in Africa outnumber those in Europe, Vatican says

Catholics in Africa outnumber those in Europe, Vatican says

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The Straits Times. (2026, October 16). Catholics in Africa outnumber those in Europe, Vatican says. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/catholics-in-africa-outnumber-those-in-europe-vatican-says

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Quick Summary

The Vatican announced on October 16 that there are now more Catholics in Africa than in Europe, according to recent statistics compiled by its news agency Fides. As of June 2024, the global Catholic population stood at 1.422 billion, representing 17.8% of the world's population, with a slight increase from the previous year. Specifically, 20.3% of Catholics reside in Africa and 20.2% in Europe, while the Americas hold 47.7%, Asia has 11%, and Oceania accounts for 0.8%.

Written by AI on 2026-10-16, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

As of the end of June 2024, there are now 1.422 billion Catholics globally, with 20.3% living in Africa and 20.2% in Europe, according to statistics released by the Vatican's news agency Fides. This marks a shift from last year when about 20% of Catholics lived in both regions. The number of Catholics represents 17.8% of the global population, an increase of 0.1% year on year. Additionally, Fides reported that there are 5,525 bishops and 407,421 priests, with the latter increasing for the first time in five years by a count of 425 new priests.

Written for “Catholics In Africa Surpass Europe” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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The Straits Times · 4330 article(s) · 5 correction(s) detected

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The Straits Times

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Topics

Catholic Church Catholics Fides VATICAN CITY Vatican

Subjects

Catholics NORP · 5× Fides ORG · 2× Catholic Church ORG · 1× REUTERS ORG · 1× VATICAN CITY GPE · 1× Vatican ORG · 1×

Narrative

In last year's statistics, relating to the end of June 2023, there were 1.405 billion Catholics globally, with about 20% of them living in Africa and 20.4% living in Europe.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-16

2026-10-16 · The Straits Times

Catholics in Africa outnumber those in Europe, Vatican says · assertive framing

Claims (6 extracted, 0 hedged)

Catholics in Africa outnumber those in Europe, Vatican says VATICAN CITY, Oct 16 - asserted

Vatican → outnumber → Europe

There are now more Catholics in Africa than in Europe, the Vatican said on Friday, releasing the latest Catholic Church statistics compiled by its news agency Fides. asserted

Vatican → be → agency

The total number of Catholics in the world stood at 1.422 billion at the end of June 2024, representing 17.8% of the global population, and up 0.1% year on year. asserted

number → stand → year

Some 20.3% of Catholics live in Africa and 20.2% in Europe, with the Americas accounting for 47.7%, Asia 11% and Oceania 0.8%. asserted

Asia → live → %

In last year's statistics, relating to the end of June 2023, there were 1.405 billion Catholics globally, with about 20% of them living in Africa and 20.4% living in Europe. asserted

% → relate → Europe

Fides also counted 5,525 bishops around the world and 407,421 priests, noting that the number of priests, up by 425, had increased for the first time in five years. asserted

number → count → years