Statistics of the Catholic Church in Thailand and Japan 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 Thailand and Japan as of 31 December 2017:
Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure
|
Thailand
|
Japan
|
Area (km2)
|
513,115
|
377,829
|
Population (in thousands)
|
65,522
|
126,786
|
Density (inhabitants/km2)
|
128
|
336
|
Catholics (in thousands)
|
389
|
536
|
Catholics per 100 inhabitants
|
0.59
|
0.42
|
Ecclesiastical circumscriptions
|
11
|
16
|
Parishes
|
502
|
859
|
Other pastoral centres
|
566
|
102
|
Catholics per pastoral centre
|
365
|
558
|
Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
Thailand
|
Japan
|
Bishops1
|
16
|
29
|
Diocesan priests
|
523
|
511
|
Religious priests
|
312
|
896
|
Total priests
|
835
|
1,407
|
Permanent deacons
|
-
|
29
|
Men religious (other than priests)
|
123
|
173
|
Professed women religious
|
1,461
|
4,976
|
Members of secular Institutes
|
57
|
174
|
Lay missionaries
|
221
|
5
|
Catechists
|
1,901
|
1,307
|
[1] Situation on 30.09.2019
Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload
|
Thailand
|
Japan
|
Catholics per priest
|
446
|
381
|
Catholics per pastoral worker
|
84
|
66
|
Priests per pastoral centre
|
0.78
|
1.46
|
Priests per 100 people engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
18.4
|
17.7
|
Table 4 – Priestly vocations
|
Thailand
|
Japan
|
Minor seminarians
|
771
|
33
|
Major seminarians
|
306
|
80
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 inhabitants
|
0.47
|
0.06
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 Catholics
|
78.6
|
14.9
|
Major seminarians per 100 priests
|
36.65
|
5.69
|
Table 5 – Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
|
Thailand
|
Japan
|
Schools:
|
|
|
Pre-school and primary
|
253
|
575
|
Lower middle and secondary
|
163
|
183
|
Higher and university
|
10
|
57
|
|
|
|
Students in:
|
|
|
Pre-school and primary schools
|
319,515
|
83,517
|
Lower middle and secondary schools
|
147,034
|
67,508
|
Higher and university institutes
|
22,149
|
53,310
|
Table 6 – Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
|
Thailand
|
Japan
|
Hospitals
|
4
|
29
|
Clinics
|
8
|
10
|
Leper colonies
|
-
|
-
|
Homes for the elderly and disabled
|
26
|
274
|
Orphanages and nurseries
|
115
|
236
|
Family consultation centres
|
7
|
3
|
Special centres of social education or rehabilitation
|
11
|
21
|
Other institutions
|
19
|
33
|
