BOGOTA, Colombia, JULY 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The number of priests in Latin America and the Caribbean increased from 2000 to 2005, though the situation of vocations faces various challenges.

A team within the Latin American bishops' council collected and analyzed the vocational statistics from 22 countries for the five-year period.

Overall, there was an increase of 11.93% in the number of diocesan priests (from 37,884 to 42,405) and a slight decrease in the number of religious priests (from 24,186 to 23,945).

During those years, for every 10 priests that were ordained, four priests died or left the priesthood. In the 22 countries studied, 1,080 priests left the ministry between 2000 and 2005. Only in Belize and Puerto Rico did no priest leave.

Nicaragua and Guatemala reflect the highest rates of growth in the number of diocesan priests.

The number of women religious increased from 126,287 in 2000 to 127,439 in 2005, implying a small increase of 0.91%.

Brazil, Mexico and Colombia are the countries with the highest number of ordinations.