Catholics still comprise about half (50%) of Christians worldwide and 16% of the total global population

The Global Catholic Population

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What has changed substantially over the past century is the geographic distribution of the world’s Catholics. 

In 1910, Europe was home to about two-thirds of all Catholics, and nearly nine-in-ten lived either in Europe (65%) or Latin America (24%). 

By 2010, by contrast, only about a quarter of all Catholics (24%) were in Europe. The largest share (39%) were in Latin America and the Caribbean.

ANALYSIS February 13, 2013

Navigate this page:

• Change in share of Catholics between 1910 and 2010
• Population change in Catholic countries
• The U.S. Catholic population
• Countries with the most Catholics now
• Countries with the most Catholics in 1910
• Methodology
• Defining Catholics

Read more: www.pewforum.org