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How are Pilgrim Statistics Compiled?

Mycenius

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Time of past OR future Camino
Francés 2026
Greetings All,

I am curious about how the pelegrinos statistics for each year are compiled. Is anyone able to clarify. Are they based on how many got stamps at recognised start points and/or how many got stamps on arriving at SdC? Or at any point in between?

Just trying to understand when you look at the stats and graphs and read the yearly assessments/reviews how was it determined 'x' number of pilgrims walked in May (did they start in May, did the finish in May, did they just get a stamp somewhere sometime anytime in May)? Can people be counted twice if they started in one month and finished in another, etc..?

Did a bit of a search but couldn't find any previous posts about this - but obviously may not have used the right 'terms' to find them...

Many TIA
 
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I think they just count the number of people checking in at the pilgrim office in SdC.
Which of course also rules out all the people that doesn't "need" the certificate. I have walked a camino 9 times now but "only" have 3 or 4? certificates. It's only the first that holds a significance to me.
 
Mycenius said:
Just trying to understand when you look at the stats and graphs and read the yearly assessments/reviews
Click to expand...
It depends on which stats and graphs and assessments you are reading!

If you are wondering about statistics published by the Pilgrim Office of the Cathedral in Santiago, then their statistics are about the people who claimed a compostela or other completion certificate at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago. They are counted by the date of arrival in Santiago. The place where they started is recorded, but not the date they started.

If you are wondering about statistic from the Pilgrim Office in St. Jean Pied de Port (SJPP), they are compiling information only about the people who "registered" in their office in SJPP.

Other organizations across Spain might collect statistics about various factors but they are not usually so publicly discussed. People regularly post links here on the forum to surveys that they are conducting about some aspect of the Camino.

Mycenius said:
Did a bit of a search but couldn't find any previous posts about this
Click to expand...
You could try clicking on the tag "statistics" that I've put under the title of this thread. You will see threads that discuss some of the statistics.
 
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That source says they are statistics from the Pilgrim Office in Santiago ("según la contabilidad del Centro de Acogida del Peregrino compostelano"), so they would be a count of the number of people arriving in Santiago in a given month. There can be only one month of arrival.

You could check that graph against the numbers published on the Pilgrim Office website.
 
Great thank you and will do. And Yes I thought they were from the Pilgrim Office but wasn't sure how they tally them, etc. appreciate the quick help!
 
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You might also be interested in this thread, about how the pilgrim traffic differs in different sections of the Camino at different times of the year.

Thread 'A tale of two Caminos - What about those crowds?'

And they are both the Camino Francés!


As @Juanma says, the high (crowded) seasons of the first 700 km of the Camino Francés are in May and September, (and it seems increasingly in April), while the high season of the last 100 km...
 
There is apparently some initiative in Galicia to start collecting statistics of those staying in the Albergues in the Region.

Not sure if this project will actually go live or be abandoned, nor if all Albergues would participate if it did. And anyway, pilgrims staying in hotels or AirBnBs or whatnot, or sleeping outdoors, would still slip through the gaps in such a system.
 
Let's say we are talking about the statistics from the Pilgrim office in Santiago (read: people claiming a Compostela). Let's say, you check in at June 5th, in the form you state you started in Leon, are French national, travelled by foot and for religious reasons. So in the statistic it will reflect one pilgrim starting from Leon, on foot, religous reason, French national, arrived on June 5th. It will not reflect when you started, if you walked in one go or where you are currently living.

As with all statistics they are not perfect. They give some indication if you compare them over the years. But they won't be able to count those who did not claim a Compostela, they can not count those that abandoned the Camino for whatever reason and they can not tell if every statement is made truthfully ( i would assume that many claim "religous reasons" just to make sure they get the Compostela).

It gets more complicated when you compare statistics from different origins, for example the one from Saint Jeans pilgrim office with Santiagos pilgrim office...
 
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