Statistics of the Catholic Church in Portugal as of 31 December 2021 (from the Central Office for Church Statistics)
Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure
Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate
Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload
Table 4 – Priestly vocations
Table 5 – Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
Table 6 – Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
The following are some statistical data relating to the situation of the Catholic Church in Portugal as of 31 December 2021:
Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure
Area (km2)
|
91,982
|
Population (in thousands)
|
10,298
|
Density (inhabitants/km2)
|
112
|
Catholics (in thousands)
|
9,050
|
Catholics per 100 inhabitants
|
87.88
|
Ecclesiastical circumscriptions
|
21
|
Parishes
|
4,574
|
Other pastoral centres
|
1,835
|
Catholics per pastoral centre
|
1,412
|
Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate
Bishops (Situation on 15.06.2023)
|
47
|
Diocesan priests
|
2,389
|
Religious priests
|
878
|
Total priests
|
3,267
|
Permanent deacons
|
420
|
Men religious (other than priests)
|
215
|
Professed women religious
|
3,861
|
Members of secular Institutes
|
479
|
Lay missionaries
|
147
|
Catechists
|
49,468
|
Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload
Catholics per priest
|
2,770
|
Catholics per pastoral worker
|
156
|
Priests per pastoral centre
|
0.51
|
Priests per 100 people engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
5.72
|
Table 4 – Priestly vocations
Minor seminarians
|
94
|
Major seminarians
|
468
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 inhabitants
|
4.54
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 Catholics
|
5.17
|
Major seminarians per 100 priests
|
14.33
|
Table 5 – Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
Schools:
|
|
Pre-school and primary
|
583
|
Lower middle and secondary
|
54
|
Higher and university
|
21
|
|
|
Students in:
|
|
Pre-school and primary schools
|
65,153
|
Lower middle and secondary schools
|
19,327
|
Higher and university institutes
|
15,031
|
Table 6 – Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
Hospitals
|
59
|
Clinics
|
56
|
Leper colonies
|
-
|
Homes for the elderly and disabled
|
896
|
Orphanages and nurseries
|
799
|
Family consultation centres
|
130
|
Special centres of social education or rehabilitation
|
27
|
Other institutions
|
1,021
|
