SJPDP pilgrim office statistics - January to June 2024

[Bradypus]

@Monasp has just posted the SJPDP figures for pilgrims recorded at the pilgrim office for the first six months of this year. Up a little over 4% on the same period last year. The pdf file is on the SJPDP pilgrim office Facebook account. I've attached a screenshot of the table for those who do not use Facebook.

Bureau d'accueil des pèlerins de St Jacques de St Jean Pied de Port | Voici les statistiques du nombre de pèlerins passés au Bureau d'accueil arrêtés au 30/06/2024 | Facebook

Voici les statistiques du nombre de pèlerins passés au Bureau d'accueil arrêtés au 30/06/2024

www.facebook.com

 

[Anhalter]

Interestingly when looking on Santiagos statistics only 15.369 pilgrims that started in SJPDP claimed a compostela this year. Assuming it takes 1 month to walk (like, 1 month worth of pilgrims is still on the road, so i compare to the Jan-May number) there is a discrepancy of 8344 pilgrims. I guess some have to quit unvoluntarily and some more only walk a section, but honestly, i find roughly 1/3rd of "loss" quite a bit.

 

[Kitsambler]

Assuming it takes 1 month to walk

This may be the root of your difficulty. For the young and strong, that may be a good number. For folks who aren't, like myself, 7-8 weeks would be a better figure.

 

[markie6]

Factor in those who don't go to the Pilgrim Office too ...

 

[Bradypus]

Factor in those who don't go to the Pilgrim Office too ...

At either end of the route. Or both.

 

[markie6]

At either end of the route. Or both.

Indeed, all points to higher numbers

 

[Elvis2]

Interestingly when looking on Santiagos statistics only 15.369 pilgrims that started in SJPDP claimed a compostela this year. Assuming it takes 1 month to walk (like, 1 month worth of pilgrims is still on the road, so i compare to the Jan-May number) there is a discrepancy of 8344 pilgrims. I guess some have to quit unvoluntarily and some more only walk a section, but honestly, i find roughly 1/3rd of "loss" quite a

I walked with people who never went to the pilgrims office in SJPDP and also never got a Compestella at the end. I went to the Pilgrims both times in SJPDP
to know if NP route would be open first week in April. Some people pick their dates and walk come what may or which route. Not everyone is all Camino all the time like some of us.

 

[AidaYYC]

Interestingly when looking on Santiagos statistics only 15.369 pilgrims that started in SJPDP claimed a compostela this year. Assuming it takes 1 month to walk (like, 1 month worth of pilgrims is still on the road, so i compare to the Jan-May number) there is a discrepancy of 8344 pilgrims. I guess some have to quit unvoluntarily and some more only walk a section, but honestly, i find roughly 1/3rd of "loss" quite a bit.

Not all pilgrims that start in SJPP finish the Camino

 

[JabbaPapa]

Interestingly when looking on Santiagos statistics only 15.369 pilgrims that started in SJPDP claimed a compostela this year. Assuming it takes 1 month to walk (like, 1 month worth of pilgrims is still on the road, so i compare to the Jan-May number) there is a discrepancy of 8344 pilgrims. I guess some have to quit unvoluntarily and some more only walk a section, but honestly, i find roughly 1/3rd of "loss" quite a bit.

The SJPP stats are becoming increasingly misleading as far as I can tell.

A significant proportion of the pilgrims that I met in France had SJPP as their end point, or were ending their current stage there, or were planning to end their year's stage somewhere further along.

And even amongst those walking SJPP > Santiago, it's estimated that ~15% do not collect a Compostela, so that the statistical discrepancy that you mention is not solely explained by people quitting.

 

[geraldkelly]

That about a third of people starting in SJPP don't finish in Santiago isn't really surprising. Quite a lot of people don't walk the whole way, for various reasons. I would have thought this figure would be higher but then again some people don't go to the Pilgrims Office in SJPP so maybe that explains it.

 

[Kathor1]

@Monasp has just posted the SJPDP figures for pilgrims recorded at the pilgrim office for the first six months of this year. Up a little over 4% on the same period last year. The pdf file is on the SJPDP pilgrim office Facebook account. I've attached a screenshot of the table for those who do not use Facebook. View attachment 173585

Every year in May when the first posts of a real or perceived lack of beds appear on the forum there are posts that predict a new boom and offer various reasons: Year of Mercy, Jacobean Holy Year, year after Covid etc etc.

Yet this predicted boom is never reflected in the numbers of the SJPP pilgrim welcome office when they finally publish their numbers for May and/or June, see extract below (with Covid years removed). Of course one can find possible explanations for it. It is just that these total monthly numbers don't reflect much of an increase during the last 8 years as to those who are counted by the SJPP pilgrim welcome office.

 

[Bradypus]

Yet this predicted boom is never reflected in the numbers of the SJPP pilgrim welcome office when they finally publish their numbers for May and/or June

There has been a very real boom in numbers in recent years - but it has not been on the Camino Frances from SJPDP. The Easter/May/September peaks in SJPDP are fairly consistent and largely predictable. Other routes are now the first choice for many and it is a very long time since either SJPDP or Roncesvalles have been the preferred starting points for the majority of Camino walkers. The idea that 'the Camino' starts in SJPDP or that 'the Camino' is synonymous with 'the Camino Frances' is well out of date.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I am on the Francès right now, and I have spent some time here and there along much of its length over the past couple of weeks.

The general consensus among both locals and hospitaleros is that there are significantly fewer pilgrims than "normal".

 

[Linda SLP]

This may be the root of your difficulty. For the young and strong, that may be a good number. For folks who aren't, like myself, 7-8 weeks would be a better figure.

I took 8 weeks .

 

[RemysMimi]

Interestingly when looking on Santiagos statistics only 15.369 pilgrims that started in SJPDP claimed a compostela this year. Assuming it takes 1 month to walk (like, 1 month worth of pilgrims is still on the road, so i compare to the Jan-May number) there is a discrepancy of 8344 pilgrims. I guess some have to quit unvoluntarily and some more only walk a section, but honestly, i find roughly 1/3rd of "loss" quite a bit.

Some also do get compostelas. I walked but did not get one. I walked 3 times before and have compostelas from those times. Didn't feel like I need one this time.

 

[dpatterson0516]

Interestingly when looking on Santiagos statistics only 15.369 pilgrims that started in SJPDP claimed a compostela this year. Assuming it takes 1 month to walk (like, 1 month worth of pilgrims is still on the road, so i compare to the Jan-May number) there is a discrepancy of 8344 pilgrims. I guess some have to quit unvoluntarily and some more only walk a section, but honestly, i find roughly 1/3rd of "loss" quite a bit.

I do not find this strange. I have walked 5 Caminos and the San Salvador and on each I was shocked at the number of folks I met who were unfit, unprepared and unrealistic regarding their ability to complete their Camino. Many suffer Camino ending injuries. Some have walked multiple Caminos, but avoid the last 100 km. I have been to Santiago de Compostela multiple times.When I walk the Camino again, I will not go to Santiago. I have enough Compostelae and frankly with the pilgrim and tourist crowds I find SDC soul crushing.

 

[Pafayac]

I think only comparison with previous years means something (the 4% growth).
Absolute data are difficult to interpret because, as many say:
- Not all the pilgrims arriving in Santiago ask for a Compostela
- Not all the pilgrims passing or arriving in SJPP keep on walking to Santiago, some french pilgrims could be afraid of the Spaniards ;-)
- Not all the pilgrims in SJPP go to the SJPP pilgrim office. When I went there from Via Podiensis, I enter in the office to say hello but did not require a Credential nor anything: I doubt I have been counted.