The Catholic Church’s Changing Demographics in America

“If we want to have Catholic Church in America, we need to invest in the Hispanic community.”

Susana Chapa Vargas, Diocese of Lansing

At least a third of American Catholics today are Hispanic—57% White, followed by 33% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 2% Black, while 3% are of another race.

Pew Research Center, 9 Facts about U.S. Catholics, April 12, 2024

Since 2007, the share of U.S. Catholics who are White decreased 8 percentage points, while those who are Hispanic has increased 4 points.

Ibid

Hispanics have contributed 71% to the growth of the Catholic Church in the United States since 1960.

Secretariat of Hispanic Affaires, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

More than 50% of all Catholics in the U.S. under age 25 are of Hispanic descent.

Ibid

The current estimated Hispanic population in the U.S. was estimated atis 65 million in 2024, which is expected to surpass the 111 million mark by the year 2060, which would nearly be be 30% of the total U.S. population projections for 2060.

U.S. Census Bureau, New Estimates Highlight Differences in Growth Between the U.S. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Populations, June 27, 2024. U.S. Census Bureau projections, 2018.

Photo courtesy Dr. Eric Bouwens for the Diocese of Grand Rapids.