Online Encyclopedia


By country

Roman Catholics by country
Region Country Total Population (2005 est) % of Catholics Catholic total
Central Asia Roman Catholics in Afghanistan 29,928,987 n/a n/a
Balkans Roman Catholics in Albania 3,563,112 13.32% 474,606
North Africa Roman Catholics in Algeria 32,531,853 0.01% 3,253
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Angola 11,190,786 44.14% 4,939,612
South America Roman Catholics in Argentina 39,537,943 88% 34,793,389
Middle East Roman Catholics in Armenia 2,982,904 3.7% 110,367
Oceania Roman Catholics in Australia 20,090,437 26% 5,223,513
Central Europe Roman Catholics in Austria 8,184,691 74% 6,056,671
Middle East Roman Catholics in Azerbaijan 7,911,974 n/a n/a
Middle East Roman Catholics in Bahrain 688,345 n/a n/a
South Asia Roman Catholics in Bangladesh 144,319,628 0.22% 317,503
Eastern Europe Roman Catholics in Belarus 10,300,483 17% 1,751,082
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Belgium 10,364,388 47% 4,871,262
Central America Roman Catholics in Belize 279,457 58% 162,085
West Africa Roman Catholics in Benin 7,460,025 23.18% 1,729,233
South Asia Roman Catholics in Bhutan 2,232,291 0.06% 1,339
South America Roman Catholics in Bolivia 8,857,870 78% 6,909,138
Balkans Roman Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina 4,025,476 15.54% 625,558
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Botswana 1,640,115 4.94% 81,021
South America Roman Catholics in Brazil 186,112,794 73.57% 136,923,182
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Brunei 372,361 6.36% 23,682
Balkans Roman Catholics in Bulgaria 7,450,349 1% 74,503
West Africa Roman Catholics in Burkina Faso 13,925,313 17% 2,367,303
Central Africa Roman Catholics in Burundi 6,370,609 63.09% 4,019,217
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Cambodia 13,607,069 0.16% 21,771
West Africa Roman Catholics in Cameroon 16,380,005 25.68% 4,206,385
North America Roman Catholics in Canada 32,805,041 43% 14,106,167
Central Africa Roman Catholics in Central African Republic 3,799,897 23% 873,976
Central Africa Roman Catholics in Chad 9,826,419 8.96% 880,447
South America Roman Catholics in Chile 15,980,912 70% 11,186,638
East Asia Roman Catholics in China 1,306,313,812 0.75% 9,797,353
South America Roman Catholics in Colombia 42,954,279 81.82% 35,145,191
East Africa Roman Catholics in Comoros 671,247 0.03% 201
Central Africa Roman Catholics in Congo (Brazzaville) 3,039,126 42.65% 1,296,187
Central Africa Roman Catholics in Congo (Kinshasa) 60,085,004 50.39% 30,276,833
Central America Roman Catholics in Costa Rica 4,016,173 86.64% 3,479,612
Balkans Roman Catholics in Croatia 4,495,904 85% 3,821,518
North America Roman Catholics in Cuba 11,346,670 45% 5,106,001
Middle East Roman Catholics in Cyprus 780,133 1.28% 9,985
Central Europe Roman Catholics in Czech Republic 10,241,138 38.32% 3,924,404
West Africa Roman Catholics in Côte d'Ivoire 17,298,040 19.4% 3,355,819
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Denmark 5,432,335 0.64% 34,766
East Africa Roman Catholics in Djibouti 476,703 0.2% 953
Caribbean Roman Catholics in Dominican Republic 8,950,034 88.89% 7,955,685
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in East Timor 1,040,880 90% 936,792
South America Roman Catholics in Ecuador 13,363,593 91.53% 12,231,696
North Africa Roman Catholics in Egypt 77,505,756 0.35% 271,270
Central America Roman Catholics in El Salvador 6,704,932 57.1% 3,828,516
East Africa Roman Catholics in Eritrea 4,561,599 3.34% 152,357
Eastern Europe Roman Catholics in Estonia 1,332,893 0.36% 4,798
East Africa Roman Catholics in Ethiopia 73,053,286 0.8% 584,426
Oceania Roman Catholics in Fiji 893,354 9% 80,401
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Finland 5,223,442 0.14% 7,312
Western Europe Roman Catholics in France 60,656,178 42% 25,475,594
West Africa Roman Catholics in Gabon 1,389,201 50.17% 696,962
West Africa Roman Catholics in Gambia 1,593,256 2.1% 33,458
Middle East Roman Catholics in Georgia 4,677,401 1.8% 84,193
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Germany 82,431,390 33.4% 27,532,084
West Africa Roman Catholics in Ghana 21,029,853 11.1% 2,334,313
Balkans Roman Catholics in Greece 10,668,354 0.43% 45,873
Caribbean Roman Catholics in Grenada 89,502 65% 58,176
Central America Roman Catholics in Guatemala 14,655,189 55% 8,060,353
West Africa Roman Catholics in Guinea 9,467,866 2.66% 251,845
West Africa Roman Catholics in Guinea-Bissau 1,416,027 8.97% 127,017
South America Roman Catholics in Guyana 765,283 12% 91,833
Caribbean Roman Catholics in Haiti 8,121,622 55% 4,466,892
Central America Roman Catholics in Honduras 6,975,204 63% 4,394,378
Central Europe Roman Catholics in Hungary 10,006,835 56.56% 5,659,865
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Iceland 296,737 1.74% 5,163
South Asia Roman Catholics in India 1,080,264,388 1.58% 17,068,177
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Indonesia 241,973,879 3.05% 7,380,203
Middle East Roman Catholics in Iran 68,017,860 0.02% 13,603
Middle East Roman Catholics in Iraq 26,074,906 1.19% 310,291
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Ireland 4,015,676 88.4% 3,549,857
Middle East Roman Catholics in Israel 6,276,883 1.5% 94,153
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Italy 58,102,112 87% 50,548,837
Caribbean Roman Catholics in Jamaica 2,731,832 2% 54,636
East Asia Roman Catholics in Japan 127,417,244 0.4% 509,668
Middle East Roman Catholics in Jordan 5,759,732 1.2% 69,116
Central Asia Roman Catholics in Kazakhstan 15,185,844 0.66% 100,226
East Africa Roman Catholics in Kenya 33,829,590 28% 9,472,285
East Asia Roman Catholics in Korea, North 22,912,177 n/a n/a
East Asia Roman Catholics in Korea, South 48,422,644 6.62% 3,205,579
Middle East Roman Catholics in Kuwait 2,335,648 6.16% 143,875
Central Asia Roman Catholics in Kyrgyzstan 5,146,281 0.56% 28,819
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Laos 6,217,141 0.6% 37,302
Eastern Europe Roman Catholics in Latvia 2,290,237 17.04% 390,256
Middle East Roman Catholics in Lebanon 3,826,018 n/a n/a
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Lesotho 1,867,035 70% 1,306,924
West Africa Roman Catholics in Liberia 3,482,211 5.42% 188,735
North Africa Roman Catholics in Libya 5,765,563 0.7% 40,358
Eastern Europe Roman Catholics in Lithuania 3,596,617 79% 2,841,327
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Luxembourg 468,571 90% 421,713
Balkans Roman Catholics in Macedonia 2,045,262 1% 20,452
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Madagascar 18,040,341 24.01% 4,331,485
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Malawi 12,158,924 19.57% 2,379,501
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Malaysia 23,953,136 3.3% 790,453
South Asia Roman Catholics in Maldives 349,106 n/a n/a
West Africa Roman Catholics in Mali 12,291,529 1.54% 189,289
North Africa Roman Catholics in Mauritania 3,086,859 n/a n/a
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Mauritius 1,230,602 23.51% 289,314
North America Roman Catholics in Mexico 106,202,903 88% 93,458,554
Eastern Europe Roman Catholics in Moldova 4,455,421 0.46% 20,494
Central Asia Roman Catholics in Mongolia 2,791,272 0.04% 1,116
North Africa Roman Catholics in Morocco 32,725,847 0.07% 22,908
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Mozambique 19,406,703 22.23% 4,314,110
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Myanmar 42,909,464 1.05% 450,549
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Namibia 2,030,692 16.95% 344,202
South Asia Roman Catholics in Nepal 27,676,547 0.03% 8,302
Western Europe Roman Catholics in the Netherlands 16,407,491 31.27% 5,130,622
Oceania Roman Catholics in New Zealand 4,035,461 12.65% 510,485
Central America Roman Catholics in Nicaragua 5,465,100 72.9% 3,984,057
West Africa Roman Catholics in Niger 11,665,937 0.1% 11,665
West Africa Roman Catholics in Nigeria 128,771,988 14.38% 18,517,411
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Norway 4,593,041 1.12% 51,442
Middle East Roman Catholics in Oman 3,001,583 0.1% 3,001
South Asia Roman Catholics in Pakistan 162,419,946 0.79% 1,283,117
Middle East Roman Catholics in Palestine 3,761,904 n/a n/a
Central America Roman Catholics in Panama 3,039,150 82% 2,492,103
Oceania Roman Catholics in Papua New Guinea 5,545,268 32.97% 1,828,274
South America Roman Catholics in Paraguay 6,347,884 90% 5,713,095
South America Roman Catholics in Peru 27,925,628 80% 22,340,502
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Philippines 87,857,473 81% 71,164,553
Central Europe Roman Catholics in Poland 38,635,144 80% 30,908,115
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Portugal 10,566,212 94% 9,932,239
Caribbean Roman Catholics in Puerto Rico 3,916,632 40% 1,566,652
Middle East Roman Catholics in Qatar 863,051 n/a n/a
Balkans Roman Catholics in Romania 22,329,977 5% 1,116,498
Eastern Europe Roman Catholics in Russia 143,420,309 0.53% 760,127
East Africa Roman Catholics in Rwanda 8,440,820 43.9% 3,705,519
Middle East Roman Catholics in Saudi Arabia 26,417,599 2.5% 660,439
West Africa Roman Catholics in Senegal 11,126,832 3.5% 389,439
Balkans Roman Catholics in Serbia and Montenegro 10,829,175 4% 433,167
East Africa Roman Catholics in Seychelles 81,188 87% 70,633
West Africa Roman Catholics in Sierra Leone 6,017,643 2.9% 174,511
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Singapore 4,425,720 3.75% 165,964
Central Europe Roman Catholics in Slovakia 5,431,363 68.9% 3,742,209
Central Europe Roman Catholics in Slovenia 2,011,070 58% 1,166,420
East Africa Roman Catholics in Somalia 8,591,629 n/a n/a
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in South Africa 44,344,136 6.43% 2,851,327
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Spain 40,341,462 81% 32,676,584
South Asia Roman Catholics in Sri Lanka 20,064,776 7.12% 1,428,612
North Africa Roman Catholics in Sudan 40,187,486 5% 2,009,374
South America Roman Catholics in Suriname 438,144 18% 78,865
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Swaziland 1,173,900 5.35% 62,803
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Sweden 9,001,774 1.62% 145,828
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Switzerland 7,489,370 41.8% 3,130,556
Middle East Roman Catholics in Syria 18,448,752 2% 368,975
East Asia Roman Catholics in Taiwan 22,894,384 1.39% 318,231
Central Asia Roman Catholics in Tajikistan 7,163,506 0.55% 39,399
East Africa Roman Catholics in Tanzania 36,766,356 25.74% 9,463,660
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Thailand 65,444,371 0.44% 287,955
West Africa Roman Catholics in Togo 5,681,519 27.8% 1,579,462
Central America Roman Catholics in Trinidad and Tobago 1,088,644 26% 283,047
North Africa Roman Catholics in Tunisia 10,074,951 0.22% 22,164
Middle East Roman Catholics in Turkey 69,660,559 0.05% 34,830
Central Asia Roman Catholics in Turkmenistan 4,952,081 0.54% 26,741
East Africa Roman Catholics in Uganda 27,269,482 45.42% 12,385,798
Eastern Europe Roman Catholics in Ukraine 47,425,336 7.88% 3,737,116
Middle East Roman Catholics in the United Arab Emirates 2,563,212 5% 128,160
Western Europe Roman Catholics in the United Kingdom 60,441,457 8.45% 5,107,303
North America Roman Catholics in the United States 295,734,134 26% 76,890,874
South America Roman Catholics in Uruguay 3,415,920 58% 1,981,233
Central Asia Roman Catholics in Uzbekistan 26,851,195 0.01% 2,685
Western Europe Roman Catholics in Vatican City 921 100% 921
South America Roman Catholics in Venezuela 25,375,281 70% 17,762,696
Southeast Asia Roman Catholics in Vietnam 83,535,576 6.62% 5,530,055
North Africa Roman Catholics in Western Sahara 273,008 0.06% 163
Middle East Roman Catholics in Yemen 20,727,063 0.02% 4,145
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Zambia 11,261,795 26.31% 2,962,978
Southern Africa Roman Catholics in Zimbabwe 12,746,990 7.71% 982,792
Total 6,430,856,221 15.843% 1,018,857,238

 

By region

These percentages were calculated by using the above numbers. The first percentage, 4th column, is the percentage of population that is Catholic in a region (Catholics in the region * 100/total population of the region). The last column shows the Catholic percentage compared to the total Catholic population of the world (Catholics in the region * 100/total Catholic population of the world).

(Note: Egypt, Sudan, and other Arab Maghreb countries are counted as part of North Africa, not Middle East).

Roman Catholics in Africa
Region Total Population Catholics % of Catholics % of Catholic total
Central Africa 83,121,055 37,346,660 44.93% 3.666%
East Africa 193,741,900 35,835,832 18.497% 3.517%
North Africa 202,151,323 2,369,490 1.172% 0.233%
Southern Africa 137,092,019 24,846,069 18.124% 2.439%
West Africa 268,997,245 36,152,847 13.44% 3.548%
Total 885,103,542 136,550,898 15.428% 13.402%


Roman Catholics in Asia
Region Total Population Catholics % of Catholics % of Catholic total
Central Asia 92,019,166 198,986 0.216% 0.02%
East Asia 1,527,960,261 13,830,831 0.905% 1.357%
Middle East 274,775,527 2,035,133 0.741% 0.2%
South Asia 1,437,326,682 20,107,050 1.399% 1.973%
Southeast Asia 571,337,070 86,789,279 15.191% 8.518%
Total 3,903,418,706 122,961,279 3.15% 12.069%


Roman Catholics in Europe
Region Total Population Catholics % of Catholics % of Catholic total
Balkans 65,407,609 6,612,175 10.109% 0.649%
Central Europe 74,510,241 51,457,684 69.061% 5.051%
Eastern Europe 212,821,296 9,505,200 4.466% 0.933%
Western Europe 375,832,557 168,622,083 44.866% 16.55%
Total 728,571,703 236,197,142 32.419% 23.183%


Roman Catholics in The Americas
Region Total Population Catholics % of Catholics % of Catholic total
Caribbean 23,809,622 14,102,041 59.228% 1.384%
Central America 42,223,849 26,684,151 63.197% 2.619%
North America 446,088,748 189,561,596 42.494% 18.605%
South America 371,075,531 285,157,458 76.846% 27.988%
Total 883,197,750 515,505,246 58.368% 50.596%


Roman Catholics in Oceania
Region Total Population Catholics % of Catholics % of Catholic total
Oceania 30,564,520 7,642,673 25.005% 0.75%

Top sixty

Top sixty by population on the left and by percentage on the right.

Top 60
Rank Country Catholic Population % of Catholics Country % of Catholics Catholic Population
1 Brazil 136,923,182 73.57% Vatican City 100% 921
2 Mexico 93,458,554 88% Portugal 94% 9,932,239
3 United States 76,890,874 26% Ecuador 91.53% 12,231,696
4 Philippines 71,164,553 81% Paraguay 90% 5,713,095
5 Italy 50,548,837 87% East Timor 90% 936,792
6 Colombia 35,145,191 81.82% Luxembourg 90% 421,713
7 Argentina 34,793,389 88% Dominican Republic 88.89% 7,955,685
8 Spain 32,676,584 81% Ireland 88.4% 3,549,857
9 Poland 30,908,115 80% Mexico 88% 93,458,554
10 Congo (Kinshasa) 30,276,833 50.39% Argentina 88% 34,793,389
11 Germany 27,532,084 33.4% Italy 87% 50,548,837
12 France 25,475,594 42% Seychelles 87% 70,633
13 Peru 22,340,502 80% Costa Rica 86.64% 3,479,612
14 Nigeria 18,517,411 14.38% Croatia 85% 3,821,518
15 Venezuela 17,762,696 70% Panama 82% 2,492,103
16 India 17,068,177 1.58% Colombia 81.82% 35,145,191
17 Canada 14,106,167 43% Philippines 81% 71,164,553
18 Uganda 12,385,798 45.42% Spain 81% 32,676,584
19 Ecuador 12,231,696 91.53% Poland 80% 30,908,115
20 Chile 11,186,638 70% Peru 80% 22,340,502
21 Portugal 9,932,239 94% Lithuania 79% 2,841,327
22 China 9,797,353 0.75% Bolivia 78% 6,909,138
23 Kenya 9,472,285 28% Austria 74% 6,056,671
24 Tanzania 9,463,660 25.74% Brazil 73.57% 136,923,182
25 Guatemala 8,060,353 55% Nicaragua 72.9% 3,984,057
26 Dominican Republic 7,955,685 88.89% Venezuela 70% 17,762,696
27 Indonesia 7,380,203 3.05% Chile 70% 11,186,638
28 Bolivia 6,909,138 78% Lesotho 70% 1,306,924
29 Austria 6,056,671 74% Slovakia 68.9% 3,742,209
30 Paraguay 5,713,095 90% Grenada 65% 58,176
31 Hungary 5,659,865 56.56% Burundi 63.09% 4,019,217
32 Vietnam 5,530,055 6.62% Honduras 63% 4,394,378
33 Australia 5,223,513 26% Uruguay 58% 1,981,233
34 Netherlands 5,130,622 31.27% Slovenia 58% 1,166,420
35 United Kingdom 5,107,303 8.45% Belize 58% 162,085
36 Cuba 5,106,001 45% El Salvador 57.1% 3,828,516
37 Angola 4,939,612 44.14% Hungary 56.56% 5,659,865
38 Belgium 4,871,262 47% Guatemala 55% 8,060,353
39 Haiti 4,466,892 55% Haiti 55% 4,466,892
40 Honduras 4,394,378 63% Congo (Kinshasa) 50.39% 30,276,833
41 Madagascar 4,331,485 24.01% Gabon 50.17% 696,962
42 Mozambique 4,314,110 22.23% Belgium 47% 4,871,262
43 Cameroon 4,206,385 25.68% Uganda 45.42% 12,385,798
44 Burundi 4,019,217 63.09% Cuba 45% 5,106,001
45 Nicaragua 3,984,057 72.9% Angola 44.14% 4,939,612
46 Czech Republic 3,924,404 38.32% Rwanda 43.9% 3,705,519
47 El Salvador 3,828,516 57.1% Canada 43% 14,106,167
48 Croatia 3,821,518 85% Congo (Brazzaville) 42.65% 1,296,187
49 Slovakia 3,742,209 68.9% France 42% 25,475,594
50 Ukraine 3,737,116 7.88% Switzerland 41.8% 3,130,556
51 Rwanda 3,705,519 43.9% Puerto Rico 40% 1,566,652
52 Ireland 3,549,857 88.4% Czech Republic 38.32% 3,924,404
53 Costa Rica 3,479,612 86.64% Germany 33.4% 27,532,084
54 Côte d'Ivoire 3,355,819 19.4% Papua New Guinea 32.97% 1,828,274
55 Korea, South 3,205,579 6.62% Netherlands 31.27% 5,130,622
56 Switzerland 3,130,556 41.8% Kenya 28% 9,472,285
57 Zambia 2,962,978 26.31% Togo 27.8% 1,579,462
58 South Africa 2,851,327 6.43% Zambia 26.31% 2,962,978
59 Lithuania 2,841,327 79% United States 26% 76,890,874
60 Panama 2,492,103 82% Australia 26% 5,223,513