The charts are posted here. (.pdf format)
The Jesuits were the first order (of the top dozen) to have lost more than half of their members from their recent high point (from 36,038 in 1966 to 17,908 in 2011). They are currently at 13,768 members, down 62% from the all time high.
One might note that there is no significant change in the trends (positive or negative) since Pope Francis (a Jesuit) became Pope. In fairness, it normally takes several years for any event in a religious order (or diocese) to have an impact on the vocation numbers. In the case of the Jesuits, they also have a much longer formation process than most, meaning it could take even longer.
Likewise, it will be years before any effects from the election of Pope Leo XIV (an Augustinian) will be seen in the statistics.
Two more orders reached that milestone in 2016: Franciscans (now down 55%) and Oblates of Mary Immaculate (now down 54%).
Two more orders reached that point in 2022: Redemptorists (down 51%) and Vincentians/Lazarists (down 52%).
In terms of priests, only four orders have reached that point, the Benedictines which are down 57% from their recent high point (from 7,058 in the early 1970s to 3,420 in 2019) and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate which reached it in 2021 (from 5,441 in 1967 to 2,643) and down 53% now).
In 2022 the Jesuits were down 50% (from 21,025 in 1969 to 10,432), now down 53%.
In 2024 the Franciscans were added to the list, down 51% (from 16,528 in 1967 to 8,140.
In the top dozen, only one order, Divine Word Missionaries, has hit its high mark in terms of members in recent years (6,131 in 2009).
In terms of priests, two orders hit their highest mark in 2016: Divine Word Missionaries with 4,231 and Discalced Carmelites with 2,937.
The Salesians had the best year of the top 12, increasing both their number of priests and number of members overall.
Overall, adding all of the top 12 together, the all time high was in 1966 with 160,926 total members. In 2025, that had dropped 48% to 84,356. In terms of priests, the high was in 1971 with 95,411 total priests. In 2025, that had dropped 38% to 59,276.
If current trends continue, the Jesuits will lose the title of the largest religious order to the Salesians of Saint John Bosco soon - the difference now is less than 100. In addition the Jesuits fell under 10,000 priests in 2025.
In terms of the number of living Bishops from each order, it is once again mostly the same orders.
Salesians of Saint John Bosco is the top with 111. Next is Franciscans with 110.
Only three more have more than 50: Capuchins with 74; Jesuits with 65; and Redemptorists with 59.
In the top dozen, only one order, Divine Word Missionaries, has hit its high mark in terms of members in recent years (6,131 in 2009).
In terms of priests, two orders hit their highest mark in 2016: Divine Word Missionaries with 4,231 and Discalced Carmelites with 2,937.
The Salesians had the best year of the top 12, increasing both their number of priests and number of members overall.
Overall, adding all of the top 12 together, the all time high was in 1966 with 160,926 total members. In 2025, that had dropped 48% to 84,356. In terms of priests, the high was in 1971 with 95,411 total priests. In 2025, that had dropped 38% to 59,276.
If current trends continue, the Jesuits will lose the title of the largest religious order to the Salesians of Saint John Bosco soon - the difference now is less than 100. In addition the Jesuits fell under 10,000 priests in 2025.
In terms of the number of living Bishops from each order, it is once again mostly the same orders.
Salesians of Saint John Bosco is the top with 111. Next is Franciscans with 110.
Only three more have more than 50: Capuchins with 74; Jesuits with 65; and Redemptorists with 59.
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(* Out of curiosity I checked the top dozen orders based on number of members - it was the same dozen, but in a slightly different order.)
Note that only Male Religious Orders were included because that happens to be the data I have readily available. As time permits, I hope to do similar charts for Female Religious Orders. A few have already been added to the main website.
Women Religious Orders
