The most notable growth in Catholics is in Africa, with an increase of 8,309,000; and the Americas with 5,668,000; followed by Asia with 954,000; Europe with 740,000; and Oceania with 210,000.
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 18, 2025 / 11:48 am (CNA). On the occasion of the 99th World Mission Day, to be celebrated on Sunday, Oct. 19, with the theme “Missionaries of Hope among all Peoples,” the Vatican news agency Fides presented some statistics that offer a general overview of the Catholic Church worldwide. The study is based on numbers from 2023, in which the world population rose to 7,914,582,000, with a positive trend on all continents, including Europe. The increase in Catholics was 15,881,000 over the previous year. The most notable growth in Catholics is in Africa, with an increase of 8,309,000; and the Americas with 5,668,000; followed by Asia with 954,000; Europe with 740,000; and Oceania with 210,000. The percentage of Catholics in the world’s population increased by 0.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 17.8%. The total number of bishops worldwide increased by 77 compared to the previous year’s survey, reaching 5,430. Diocesan bishops also increased by 84, while …
For a while now, I've doubted all these statistics that show the world population increasing while at the same time in the majority of nations there has been a severe drop in birth rates to the point that many are in demographic free fall - even China that used to be the most populated country with over a billion and enforced a draconian 'one-child' policy with forced abortion. So where are all these people? Or is it a ruse to brainwash us to believe in the "population bomb' that will destroy the world like was shown in sci-fi movies of the 70s such as Soylent Green?