A newly released study from the Pew Research Center highlights a significant global trend: more adults are leaving the Catholic Church than entering it in most countries. At the same time, the data shows that Catholicism continues to hold a strong presence in many parts of the world, particularly in historically Catholic nations.
According to reporting by EWTN News, the research—published April 23—examines how “religious switching,” or the change in religious identity from childhood to adulthood, is reshaping the global Christian landscape. The report, titled “Catholicism Has Lost People to Religious Switching in Many Countries, While Protestantism Has Gained in Some,” draws on extensive surveys conducted in 24 countries, along with broader data collected from more than 800,000 interviews worldwide.
The findings reveal that Christianity as a whole “has experienced some of the largest losses of followers due to religious switching,” according to the study. Within Christianity, Catholicism has been particularly affected. In most of the countries surveyed, the number of people leaving the Catholic Church exceeds those entering it.
Despite these losses, the Church remains deeply rooted in many nations. Catholics still form a majority in several countries, including Poland, the Philippines, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Hungary, Colombia, and Argentina. In Poland, for example, 96% of adults were raised Catholic, and 92% continue to identify with the faith, with only a small percentage reporting that they have left.
However, the overall trend across the surveyed countries shows decline. “More people left Catholicism than joined it in 21 of the countries,” the report states. Many of those who leave either join Protestant communities or step away from organized religion entirely.
The pattern varies by region. In parts of Europe and Latin America, a growing number of former Catholics now identify as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.” Chile stands out as an example, where 19% of former Catholics fall into this category. By contrast, in countries such as Kenya, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Philippines, former Catholics are more likely to join Protestant churches than to become unaffiliated.
The study also points to measurable shifts within specific countries. In Italy, a historically Catholic stronghold, 22% of adults said they were raised Catholic but no longer identify as such, while only 1% reported converting into the Church—resulting in a net loss of 21 percentage points due to religious switching.
In the United States, the numbers are similarly striking. While 30% of adults say they were raised Catholic, only 17% still identify as Catholic today. An additional 2% of adults who were not raised Catholic have entered the Church, bringing the total share of Catholic adults to 19%.
The report also examines trends among Protestants, noting that their experience with religious switching differs. In several countries—particularly in Latin America—Protestantism has seen net gains. In Brazil, for instance, 15% of adults have joined Protestant communities, compared to 6% who have left. Many of these new Protestants were formerly Catholic, according to the data.
At the same time, Protestant communities are not immune to broader secular trends. The study notes that many who leave Protestantism ultimately become religiously unaffiliated.
While the data reflects real challenges for the Catholic Church, it also underscores the enduring strength of the faith in many regions. Even amid cultural shifts and rising secularism, Catholic identity remains a defining element of national and spiritual life for millions around the world.
The findings offer both a sobering assessment and a call to renewal—pointing to the need for deeper evangelization, stronger catechesis, and renewed witness in a rapidly changing global landscape.
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