Overview

• Combined membership of Germany's Catholic and Evangelical churches fell to 37.8 million in 2024, down from 38.9 million the year prior.
• The Catholic Church now has fewer than 20 million members, representing 23.7% of the population, while the Evangelical Church reports 18 million members.
• Church exits decreased compared to 2023, with 321,611 Catholics and 345,000 Evangelicals leaving their respective churches.
• Deaths and low baptism rates also contributed significantly to the membership decline, with 213,000 Catholic deaths and 335,000 Evangelical deaths reported in 2024.
• The Diocese of Münster surpassed the Archdiocese of Cologne as the largest Catholic diocese in Germany, reflecting shifting regional dynamics.