Newly released Church statistics from 2023 indicate that the global number of Catholic priests and seminarians has continued to decline, even as the worldwide Catholic population grows. The figures, drawn from Vatican-linked data and analyzed by Catholic media outlets, point to an ongoing vocational crisis affecting much of the Church.
According to LifeSiteNews, statistics published by the Vatican agency Fides show that the total number of Catholic priests worldwide fell by 734 between 2022 and 2023, bringing the global total to 406,996 priests. This decrease occurred despite an increase of roughly 16 million Catholics during the same period.
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Seminary enrollment also declined. Fides reported that the number of seminarians worldwide dropped by 1,986 in 2023, a proportional decrease that confirms the continuation of a longstanding downward trend in priestly vocations, according to LifeSiteNews’ analysis of the data.
The decline has not been uniform across all regions. Africa and Asia were the only continents to register growth in the number of priests, with increases of 1,451 and 1,145 respectively. However, even in these regions, challenges remain. As reported by LifeSiteNews, Asia experienced a significant drop in seminarians in 2023, with enrollment falling by 1,331. In Africa, seminary numbers rose by 383, a smaller increase than the year prior. As of 2023, African seminarians account for nearly one in three seminarians worldwide.
At the same time, traditional priestly societies continue to expand. LifeSiteNews notes that the Society of St. Pius X has grown steadily since its founding in 1970 and numbered 733 priests as of November 1, 2025, not including its bishops. The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter has also experienced mostly consistent growth since its establishment in 1988.
The vocational decline extends beyond the priesthood. According to Fides, the number of religious sisters worldwide fell by 9,805 in 2023, for a total of 589,423 sisters. Africa and Asia again stood apart, with Africa seeing an increase of 1,804 sisters and Asia recording a modest rise of 46.
Meanwhile, the number of permanent deacons continues to increase. LifeSiteNews reports that Fides recorded an additional 1,234 permanent deacons worldwide in 2023, with numbers remaining stable in Europe while continuing to grow in the Americas.
Historical context further illustrates the depth of the issue. In the United States, the number of priests plateaued around 1965 and began declining sharply around 1985, even as the Catholic population expanded. LifeSiteNews points to this trend as evidence of long-term vocational harm following changes in liturgy and catechesis after the Second Vatican Council.
Supporting this assessment, a secular study published in 2025 by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that Vatican II “triggered a decline” in Catholic Mass attendance. The study concluded that “compared to other countries, Catholic countries experienced a steady decline in the monthly adult religious service attendance rate starting immediately after Vatican II” in 1965.
According to data cited by Catholic World News and referenced by LifeSiteNews, the number of seminarians peaked in 2011 and began to fall sharply after 2013. Since that year, global seminary enrollment has shown what the data describes as an “uninterrupted” decline through 2023.
Together, these figures underscore the seriousness of the Church’s global vocation crisis, even as certain regions and traditional communities continue to show signs of resilience and growth.
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