Statistics of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria and North Macedonia as of 31 December 2017 (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 Bulgaria and North Macedonia as of 31 December 2017:
Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure
|
Bulgaria
|
North Macedonia
|
Area (km2)
|
110,912
|
25,713
|
Population (in thousands)
|
7076
|
2075
|
Density (inhabitants/km2)
|
64
|
81
|
Catholics (in thousands)
|
68
|
15
|
Catholics per 100 inhabitants
|
0.96
|
0.72
|
Ecclesiastical circumscriptions
|
3
|
2
|
Parishes
|
55
|
10
|
Other pastoral centres
|
-
|
9
|
Catholics per pastoral centre
|
1236
|
789
|
Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
Bulgaria
|
North Macedonia
|
Bishops (situation on 31.03.2019)
|
4
|
1
|
Diocesan priests
|
21
|
21
|
Religious priests
|
36
|
1
|
Total priests
|
57
|
22
|
Permanent deacons
|
1
|
-
|
Men religious (other than priests)
|
5
|
-
|
Professed women religious
|
63
|
30
|
Members of secular Institutes
|
2
|
-
|
Lay missionaries
|
3
|
6
|
Catechists
|
74
|
13
|
Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload
|
Bulgaria
|
North Macedonia
|
Catholics per priest
|
1193
|
682
|
Catholics per pastoral worker
|
325
|
208
|
Priests per pastoral centre
|
1.04
|
1.16
|
Priests per 100 people engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
29.19
|
31.1
|
Table 4 – Priestly vocations
|
Bulgaria
|
North Macedonia
|
Minor seminarians
|
-
|
2
|
Major seminarians
|
1
|
5
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 inhabitants
|
0.001
|
0.24
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 Catholics
|
1.47
|
33.3
|
Major seminarians per 100 priests
|
1.75
|
22.7
|
Table 5 – Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
|
Bulgaria
|
North Macedonia
|
Schools:
|
|
|
Pre-school and primary
|
2
|
-
|
Lower middle and secondary
|
-
|
-
|
Higher and university
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
Students in:
|
|
|
Pre-school and primary schools
|
63
|
-
|
Lower middle and secondary schools
|
-
|
-
|
Higher and university institutes
|
-
|
-
|
Table 6 – Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
|
Bulgaria
|
North Macedonia
|
Hospitals
|
-
|
-
|
Clinics
|
2
|
-
|
Leper colonies
|
-
|
-
|
Homes for the elderly and disabled
|
2
|
1
|
Orphanages and nurseries
|
4
|
1
|
Family consultation centres
|
2
|
-
|
Special centres of social education or rehabilitation
|
-
|
-
|
Other institutions
|
-
|
-
|
