The Vatican has published “A Catholic Journal for 2000 to 2006” which has the following data:<br/><br/>
The Catholic population accounts for universal population 17.3%
Population of Bishops: 4,541 (2000) - 4,898 (2006)
Population of Priests*: 405,178 (2000) - 407,262 (2006) [Population of Diocesan priests: 265,781 (2000) - 271,091 (2006)
Population of Nuns: 800,000 (2000) – 750,000 (2006)<br/><br/>
Rate of increment for Church members: Europe 1%; Americas 8.4%; Oceania 7.6%; Africa 17.9%; Asia 0% (growth rate of population and the population rate of increment for church members are similar)<br/><br/>
Priests’ population rate of increment: 2%
Nuns’ population rate of increment: - 6.3%<br/><br/>
Archdiocese of Hong Kong Catholic handbook data:<br/><br/>
Catholic population: 159,723 (2000) - 246,877 (2006)<br/><br/>
Priests’ population * 321 (2000) - 290 (2006)
[Diocesan priests’ population: 70 (2000) - 66 (2006)]<br/><br/>
Population of Religious brothers: 67 ** (2000) - 72 *** (2006)<br/><br/>
Nuns’ population: 529 ****(2000) – 508 ****(2006)<br/><br/>
Hong Kong church members’ rate of increment: 54.6%<br/><br/>
Hong Kong priests’ rate of increment: -2%<br/><br/>
Nuns’ rate of increment: -4%
Data shows that the increase in the number of Catholics in Hong Kong as Asia’s highest rate, but the number of priests and the growth rate is inversely proportional to the number of Catholics.<br/><br/>
Simultaneously the nuns’ population rate of increment also relatively reduces in these six years.<br/><br/>
Today, Hong Kong has a total of 13 seminarians, of which six belong to the diocese, seven to three religious orders.<br/><br/>
Eight male novices, five female novices.<br/><br/>
We should strive for and pray for religious vocations.<br/><br/>
* Diocesan priests and religious priests
** belong to nine different religious orders
*** belong to 12 different religious orders
**** belong to 25 different religious orders
***** belong to 27 different religious orders