Dominican Order

ROME — The Order of Preachers closed the year 2025 with 5,111 friars worldwide, according to the newly released Statistics of the Order of Preachers produced by the Order’s General Curia. The figures offer a global snapshot of Dominican life, including the number of bishops, priests, deacons, brothers, and friars in formation, as well as data on professions, ordinations, and vocations.

In total, the Order counts 3,993 priests, alongside bishops, transitional and permanent deacons, 210 cooperator brothers, and friars in various stages of formation. The Order is presently organized into 35 provinces and six vice-provinces, with 249 priories and 263 houses, and carries out its mission of preaching in 107 countries across the world.

During 2025, the Order recorded 142 simple professions, 65 solemn professions, and 103 priestly ordinations, reflecting continued commitment to the Dominican vocation in many parts of the world. New vocations continue to come to the Order, with 198 novices and 130 postulants entering initial formation. Out of the total number of friars in formation, 19 are cooperator brothers in formation and 3 cooperator brother novices.

While some provinces continue to experience numerical decline, others (particularly in parts of Asia and Africa) show notable vitality, highlighting the diverse demographic realities of the Order today. Overall, taking into account deaths and friars who have been dispensed from their vows, the global total reflects a modest net decrease of 35 friars for the year.

The statistics also place the friars within the broader context of the Dominican Order, which continues to flourish worldwide. The Dominican Family includes approximately 2,005 Dominican nuns in 178 monasteries across 46 countries, 17,213 apostolic sisters in 144 congregations, and 137,412 Lay Dominicans organized in 2,306 fraternities across 75 countries. It also includes 527 Dominican diocesan priests associated with 32 priestly fraternities. In addition, three Dominican secular institutes are present in 13 countries, and the International Dominican Youth Movement counts 1,940 members in 122 groups across 30 countries.

Taken together, the 2025 statistics offer hope to a living and evolving Order (brothers, sisters, nuns, and laity) sharing in the mission of Saint Dominic to proclaim the Gospel for the salvation of souls.

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