Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis in Luxembourg and Belgium (26 to 29 September 2024) - Statistics, 23.09.2024
Statistics of the Catholic Church in Luxembourg and Belgium as of 31 December 2022 (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 Luxembourg and Belgium as of 31 December 2022:
Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure
|
Belgium
|
Luxembourg
|
Area (km2)
|
30,528
|
2,586
|
Population (in thousands)
|
11,618
|
654
|
Density (inhabitants/km2)
|
381
|
253
|
Catholics (in thousands)
|
8,361
|
271
|
Catholics per 100 inhabitants
|
71.97
|
41.43
|
Ecclesiastical circumscriptions
|
9
|
1
|
Parishes
|
3,656
|
275
|
Other pastoral centres
|
434
|
-
|
Catholics per pastoral centre
|
2,044
|
985
|
Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
Belgium
|
Luxembourg
|
Bishops1
|
22
|
3
|
Diocesan priests
|
2,066
|
121
|
Religious priests
|
1,677
|
49
|
Total priests
|
3,743
|
170
|
Permanent deacons
|
577
|
20
|
Men religious (other than priests)
|
355
|
13
|
Professed women religious
|
5,045
|
225
|
Members of secular Institutes
|
91
|
6
|
Lay missionaries
|
34
|
-
|
Catechists
|
4,803
|
-
|
[1] Situation on 15.06.2024
Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload
|
Belgium
|
Luxembourg
|
Catholics per priest
|
2,234
|
1,594
|
Catholics per pastoral worker
|
570
|
620
|
Priests per pastoral centre
|
0.92
|
0.62
|
Priests per 100 people engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
25.7
|
39.6
|
|
|
|
Table 4 – Priestly vocations
|
Belgium
|
Luxembourg
|
Minor seminarians
|
1
|
-
|
Major seminarians
|
197
|
12
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 inhabitants
|
1.70
|
1.83
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 Catholics
|
2.36
|
4.43
|
Major seminarians per 100 priests
|
5.26
|
7.06
|
|
|
|
Table 5 – Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
|
|
|
|
Belgium
|
Luxembourg
|
Schools:
|
|
|
Pre-school and primary
|
3,368
|
2
|
Lower middle and secondary
|
1,076
|
5
|
Higher and university
|
30
|
-
|
|
|
|
Students in:
|
|
|
Pre-school and primary schools
|
608,989
|
1,980
|
Lower middle and secondary
schools
|
572,292
|
2,500
|
Higher and university institutes
|
172,563
|
-
|
Table 6 – Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
|
|
|
|
Belgium
|
Luxembourg
|
Hospitals
|
88
|
2
|
Clinics
|
19
|
-
|
Leper colonies
|
8
|
-
|
Homes for the elderly and disabled
|
360
|
25
|
Orphanages and nurseries
|
181
|
4
|
Family advisory centres
|
52
|
-
|
Special centres of social education or rehabilitation
|
5
|
-
|
Other institutions
|
142
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
