Catholic population in Banja Luka diocese declines significantly

The Catholic population in the Banja Luka diocese has fallen to 22,951 believers as of late 2025, according to data presented by Bishop Željko Majić. This represents a massive decline from the 129,000 Catholics who resided in the diocese before the 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the city of Banja Luka alone, the Catholic population has dropped from approximately 30,000 to fewer than 1,000. Recent demographic data shows that while 303 people were baptized last year, 611 believers passed away, highlighting a continuing downward trend.

Bishop Majić urged clergy not to let the shrinking numbers or the hardships of the past discourage them, emphasizing a mission to remain present for the elderly, the sick, and the youth. This local decline mirrors a national trend in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the total Catholic population has decreased by 58 percent since 1991, falling from 760,000 to approximately 320,000.