There are currently about 244 Catholic cardinals worldwide , of whom 121 are “cardinal electors” (those under 80 who can vote in a papal conclave).

Quick Scoop: Key Numbers

  • Total cardinals in the Catholic Church: 244.
  • Cardinal electors (under age 80, can vote for a pope): 121.
  • Non‑elector cardinals (age 80+): around 123 (244 total minus 121 electors).

These figures are very recent (noted as of 19 February 2026), and they change occasionally when:

  • The pope creates new cardinals in a consistory.
  • Existing cardinals die or turn 80 and lose voting rights.

A Bit of Context

The full body of all cardinals is called the College of Cardinals , which advises the pope and, most famously, elects a new pope in a conclave when the papal seat becomes vacant. Cardinals are appointed directly by the pope and normally serve for life, but their role as electors ends at age 80.

Historically, popes have sometimes gone above the traditional guideline of 120 electors , so the exact count of voting cardinals can fluctuate slightly from year to year depending on new appointments and birthdays.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.