Adult baptisms increase in Germany as overall numbers continue to decline

The German bishops’ conference has said there has been a substantial increase in adult baptisms, while baptisms overall have declined.

The conference released statistics last week showing that in 2025, 2,650 adults and young adults aged 14 and over were baptized, a 28% increase from 2024.

However, overall there were 109,002 baptisms in 2025, a decrease from 116,274 in 2024.

Other European countries have seen an increase in adult baptisms, too. In France, this year there were 21,386 adults and teenagers aged between 11 to 17 baptized during the Easter Vigil, an increase from 17,788 in 2025.

In Spain, in 2024 there were 13,323 non-infant baptisms – people over the age of seven – although there were 146,370 baptisms overall which was down from 152,426 the previous year.

Belgium has also seen an increase in adult baptisms, and there were 689 adult candidates for baptism this year, which was an increase of 30% from 2025. 

In the United Kingdom, the archdiocese of Southwark saw 590 people present at the rite of election this year, with half of them aged under 35, with Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark telling Crux Now that “the actual number baptised and received is higher.”