Vatican reports 425 increase in Catholic priests

The global number of Catholic priests increased by 425 in 2024, marking the first rise in five years, according to statistics from the Vatican's Fides news agency. Data from the Statistical Yearbook of the Church shows the total number of priests grew from 406,996 to 407,421.

This growth occurred even as the Catholic population reached 1.422 billion by June 30, 2024, an increase of 16.69 million from the previous year. The Fides report indicates that the number of priests remains insufficient to meet the needs of the growing number of faithful for sacraments and pastoral care.

Regional trends show significant differences in priest numbers. Africa saw the largest increase with 1,676 new priests, followed by Asia with 1,065 and the Americas with 199. In contrast, Europe lost 2,483 priests in the same period, while Oceania recorded a decrease of 32.