Statistics of the Catholic Church in Türkiye and Lebanon as of 31 December 2024 (compiled by the Central Office of 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 Türkiye and Lebanon as of 31 December 2024:
Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure
|
Türkiye
|
Lebanon
|
Area (km2)
|
774,815
|
10,400
|
Population (in thousands)
|
85,812
|
4,466
|
Density (inhabitants/km2)
|
111
|
4,466
|
Catholics (in thousands)
|
33
|
2,003
|
Catholics per 100 inhabitants
|
0.04
|
44.85
|
Ecclesiastical circumscriptions
|
7
|
24
|
Parishes
|
40
|
1,116
|
Other pastoral centres
|
18
|
47
|
Catholics per pastoral centre
|
569
|
1,722
|
Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
Türkiye
|
Lebanon
|
Bishops (Situation on 31.10.2025)
|
10
|
49
|
Diocesan priests
|
18
|
917
|
Religious priests
|
58
|
647
|
Total priests
|
76
|
1,564
|
Permanent deacons
|
2
|
46
|
Men religious (other than priests)
|
5
|
118
|
Professed women religious
|
37
|
1,698
|
Members of secular Institutes
|
1
|
4
|
Lay missionaries
|
2
|
145
|
Catechists
|
56
|
402
|
Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload
|
Türkiye
|
Lebanon
|
Catholics per priest
|
434
|
1,281
|
Catholics per pastoral worker
|
175
|
498
|
Priests per pastoral centre
|
1.31
|
1.34
|
Priests per 100 people engaged in activities of the apostolate
|
45.5
|
40.1
|
Table 4 – Priestly vocations
|
Türkiye
|
Lebanon
|
Minor seminarians
|
1
|
12
|
Major seminarians
|
10
|
270
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 inhabitants
|
0.01
|
6.05
|
Major seminarians per 100,000 Catholics
|
30.3
|
13.5
|
Major seminarians per 100 priests
|
13.2
|
17.3
|
Table 5 – Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
|
Türkiye
|
Lebanon
|
Schools:
|
|
|
Pre-school and primary
|
13
|
503
|
Lower middle and secondary
|
10
|
191
|
Higher and university
|
1
|
50
|
|
|
|
Students in:
|
|
|
Pre-school and primary schools
|
1,165
|
137,976
|
Lower middle and secondary schools
|
5,198
|
49,367
|
Higher and university institutes
|
400
|
56,235
|
Table 6 – Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious
|
Türkiye
|
Lebanon
|
Hospitals
|
5
|
23
|
Clinics
|
2
|
85
|
Leper colonies
|
-
|
1
|
Homes for the elderly and disabled
|
5
|
41
|
Orphanages and nurseries
|
2
|
56
|
Family consultation centres
|
1
|
16
|
Special centres of social education or rehabilitation
|
-
|
4
|
Other institutions
|
7
|
46
|
Geographical distribution in Türkiye and Lebanon
The following are present in Türkiye:
Of the Latins:
1 Metropolitan (Izmir)
2 Apostolic Vicariates (Istanbul, Anatolia)
Of the Chaldeans:
1 Archeparchy (Diarbekir)
Of the Armenians:
1 Archeparchy (Istanbul)
Of the Syriacs:
1 Patriarchal Exarchate (Türkiye)
Of the Byzantines
1 Patriarchal Exarchate (Istanbul)
The following are present in Lebanon:
Of the Latins:
1 Apostolic Vicariate (Bairut)
Of the Maronites:
1 Patriarchal Church (Antioch)
4 Archeparchies (Antélias, Bairut, Tripoli of Lebanon, Tyr)
6 Eparchies (Baalbek-Deir El-Ahmar, Batrum, Jbeil, Joubbé, Sarba and Jounieh, Saïdā, Zahleh)
Of the Greek-Melkites
2 Metropolitans (Bairut and Jbeil, Tyr)
5 Archeparchies (Baalbek, Bāniyās, Saïdā, Tripoli of Lebanon, Zahleh and Furzol)
Of the Syriacs:
1 Patriarchal Church (Antioch)
1 Eparchy (Bairut)
Of the Armenians
1 Patriarchal Church (Cilicia of the Armenians)
1 Metropolitan (Bairut)
Of the Chaldeans:
1 Eparchy (Bairut)
