DATA FROM THE 1998 STATISTICAL YEARBOOK OF THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, APR 4, 2000 (VIS) - Between the years 1978 and 1998, the number of bishops in the world increased from 3,714 to 4,439. This is one of the statistics contained in the Statistical Yearbook of the Church for 1998, which is to be published in the next few days.

Of the continents, America had the largest number of bishops -1,672 - representing 37.7 percent of the total. Europe had 32.9 percent (1,459); Asia 13.9 percent (617); Africa 12.9 percent (575) and Oceania 2.6 percent (116).

The number of priests, both diocesan and religious, dropped between 1978 and 1998. In 1998, the total number was 404,626 of whom 264,202 were diocesan and 140,424 religious. Between 1978 and 1998, the number of diocesan priests grew strongly in Africa and also grew, though less strongly, in Asia and America. In contrast to this, there was a considerable drop in numbers in Europe and a smaller drop in Oceania.

Though there was a drop in numbers of priests, especially in Europe and North America, there was considerable growth in the numbers of permanent deacons, both religious and diocesan; lay members of secular institutes; lay missionaries and catechists.

The number of candidates to the priesthood grew in Africa and America, especially Latin America. In western Europe the numbers remained static, while in eastern Europe they grew strongly.

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