Diocese of Little Rock Statistics

Updated Feb. 26, 2026

The following information came from the Official Catholic Directory. It was compiled from data collected in 2025.

Diocese Established: November 28, 1843

Diocesan Boundaries: 75 counties (52,068 square miles) that make up Arkansas. These fall into eight regions called deaneries: Central, North Delta, North Ozark, Ouachita, South Delta, West Ozark, River Valley and West River Valley.

Bishop: Anthony B. Taylor

Abbots in Diocese: 1 (Abbot Elijah Owens, OSB, Subiaco Abbey)

Total Catholic Population: 178,892 people

Churches: 130 (parishes and missions)

New Parishes Created: 0

Number of Full-Time Professional Ministry Personnel in Churches: 122 (in addition to priests and deacons)

Diocesan Priests: 87 (active and retired)

Religious Order Priests: 28 (active and retired)

Extern Priests: 24 (from other dioceses)

Total Priests Serving in Diocese: 139

Seminarians: 25

Permanent Deacons: 125

Religious Sisters: 86

Religious Brothers: 34

Catholic Schools: 26 (Elementary, Junior High and Senior High Schools)

Total Catholic School Students: 7,104 (Fall 2025 statistic from Catholic Schools Office)

Total Catholic Students in PRE Programs: 7,918

Hospitals and Health Care Centers: 12

Homes for Aged: 29

Special Centers for Social Services: 8

Total Marriages in the Catholic Church: 609

Infant and Minor Baptisms: 2278

Adult Baptism and Adults Received into Full Communion: 754

First Communions: 2,730

Confirmations: 2,764

Deaths: 818