Statistics

2022  2020   2019   2018   2017

2016   2015   2014   2011

2022

The statistics below represent the number of religious who belong to the 250 congregations, members of the CRC. These statistics have been compiled in the Fall of 2022. The CRC gathered together some provinces into regions to fulfil its mission in Canada.

2020

The statistics below represent the number of religious who belong to the 250 congregations, members of the CRC. These statistics have been compiled in the Fall of 2020. The CRC gathered together some provinces into regions to fulfil its mission in Canada.

 

2020 Statistical Survey

The figures below are the result of a statistical survey conducted among the CRC members in early 2021.

DOWNLOAD THE SUMMARY OF THE STUDY

Religious in Canada

75% of CRC members responded to the survey, which counted 9293 consecrated persons across Canada. This represents 82% of the membership count as of Fall 2020.

Average and age distribution

85% of consecrated persons are over 75 years old and 49% are over 85 years old. The 85-94 age group is the largest.

Members by community

There are members in all age groups from 20 years to over 95 years. Note that there are 2,777 religious in community infirmaries, or about 30% of religious in Canada.

Geographic distribution

85% of religious live in 2 provinces of Canada, Quebec and Ontario. The distribution is as follows:

  • 69% Quebec
  • 16% Ontario
  • 8% Maritime
  • 7% Western

Religious are present in every province and territory in Canada except the Yukon.

Entry into religious life

For congregations with temporary professions

329 religious (or 3.5%) are or have been in formation (postulancy, novitiate and temporary profession) in the last 5 years.

The average age of religious in formation (from 20 to 74 years) is 33,9 years.

For congregations without temporary professions

195 religious are or have been formed in the last 5 years, with an average age of 33.2 years.

Deceases and departures

Deceases:

3578 religious have died in 5 years (of which 116 deaths are attributed to COVID-19 in 2020) – 28% of religious from 5 years ago. This means that the number of religious has decreased by about 30% in 5 years.

The average age of death is 90 years.

Departures:

There have been 123 departures from community in 5 years, or about 1 in 3 religious in formation (including temporary professions), and about 2 in 3 religious in formation (excluding temporary professions).

The average age of the departures over the last 5 years is 42,5 years.

Members by community

There are members in all age groups from 20 years to over 95 years. Note that there are 2,777 religious in community infirmaries, or about 30% of religious in Canada.

Foreign missionaries and religious

  • 286 religious in a Canadian community are from outside Canada or 3% of the number of religious.
  • 70 communities have members living in Canada, but who are not from Canada.
  • 97 communities have only members from Canada.
  • Among the number of communities with non-Canadian members, the percentage of non-Canadian members to Canadian members ranged from 0.5% to 100% of members.
  • Only one community has only members from outside Canada.

Type of congregation

20 communities are of diocesan right and 157 of pontifical right.

Lay associates

Religious communities have 5735 lay associates, which is 2/3 of the number of religious (9329 out of 11316). The average age is 72,3 years.

2019

The statistics below represent the number of religious who belong to the 250 congregations, members of the CRC. These statistics have been compiled in the Fall of 2019. The CRC gathered together some provinces into regions to fulfil its mission in Canada.

 

2018

The statistics below represent the number of religious who belong to the 250 congregations, members of the CRC. These statistics have been compiled in the Fall of 2018. The CRC gathered together some provinces into regions to fulfil its mission in Canada.

 

2017

The statistics below represent the number of religious who belong to the 250 congregations, members of the CRC. These statistics have been compiled in the Fall of 2017. The CRC gathered together some provinces into regions to fulfil its mission in Canada.

Statistics 2018

 

2016

The statistics below represent the number of religious who belong to the 250 congregations, members of the CRC. These statistics have been compiled in the Fall of 2015 and 2016. The CRC gathered together some provinces into regions to fulfil its mission in Canada.

2017 Statistics

 

2015-2016

2016 Statistics

 

2014

The Figures Speak for Themselves

Article by Yvon Pomerleau, OP, CRC’s Executive Director, publish in the CRC Bulletin, Volume 11, No. 2 – Spring 2014.

Is it possible to paint a picture of religious life in Canada using statistics? Some figures speak for themselves. Even if they do not explain everything, we must be able to wrap our head around them. For the sake of simplicity and convenience, the statistics will be presented here in rounded numbers and percentages. Besides, precision does not necessarily coincide with accuracy, because the data changes from day to day. This table reflects data gathered back on December 31, 2012.

Throughout Canada, there are a little more than 200 religious congregations, of which 185 responded to our questionnaire. 70% of congregations are female and 30% male. The same percentage applies to French-speaking congregations (70%) versus English-speaking ones (30%). The total number of men and women religious is less than 16,000, of which 80% are women and 20% men, and again, 80% Francophone and 20% Anglophone.

National Distribution

Of the men and women religious living in Canada, 90% originated in this country and 10% came from abroad. Distribution over the national territory is very uneven: 68% in Quebec; 16% in Ontario; 8% in Western Canada; 6.5% in the Atlantic and 1.5% in the Northern Territories.

Age Groups

The breakdown by age group is as follows: 50% are over 80 years old; 44% are between 60 and 80 years old; 5% are between 40 and 60 years old and only 1% under 40. There are only 120 (1%) men and women religious in initial formation, including 40 novices across the country. However, almost 25% of religious live in a nursing home.

Community Living

In terms of community living, the situation is as follows: 45% live in communities of more than 20 people; 15% in communities of between 10 and 20 people; 13% between 5 and 10 and 15% less than 5 people. 8% of men and women religious live alone; 3% with other congregations and 1% with laity.
The number of associates or fraternity members would be around 10,000, of which 1% are consecrated laypeople.
But these figures fail to tell the whole story. They say nothing of the many social and apostolic commitments in the areas of education, health, guidance, catechesis and prayer. What cannot be measured in hard numbers is probably the most important.

 

CRC Statistics for 2011-2012

The 2011-2012 statistics gives totals per province of the number of men and women religious belonging to the 235 religious congregations, members of the CRC. In 2011, the total number of women and men religious belonging to the 235 religious congregations is: 18,098.

Open this PDF document: Statistics 2011-2012.

According to our latest data (December 2012), the total total number of women and men religious is now 16,900.