SJPDP pilgrim office statistics for 2024

[Bradypus]

@Monasp has just posted the monthly pilgrim count for 2024 from the SJPDP pilgrim office. On their Facebook page. I'll post a screenshot here for those who do not use Facebook. About 2% up on the 2023 total.

Bureau d'accueil des pèlerins de St Jacques de St Jean Pied de Port | Voici les statistiques de la fréquentation de notre bureau d'accueil de SJPDP en 2024 | Facebook

Voici les statistiques de la fréquentation de notre bureau d'accueil de SJPDP en 2024. Sur l'année nous avons une progression de presque 2% avec des disparités mensuelles

www.facebook.com

PS: @Monasp has also posted the list of nationalities recorded by the SJPDP pilgrim office. The largest national groups recorded were from France, the US and Korea.

Bureau d'accueil des pèlerins de St Jacques de St Jean Pied de Port | Les pèlerins passés à notre bureau étaient de 121 nationalités différentes | Facebook

Les pèlerins passés à notre bureau étaient de 121 nationalités différentes

www.facebook.com

 

[Maurice Frank]

Interesting, thank you for sharing (I do not use Facebook)

 

[Tincatinker]

Interesting to see that 4,692 Spaniards started from France. Were they on the wrong tour?

I’ve always assumed that no practical Spaniard would travel to France just so they could walk back to Spain the following day. Just shows how wrong I can be. Though I suppose many might have been working elsewhere in Europe and just followed the train line south

 

[Bradypus]

I’ve always assumed that no practical Spaniard would travel to France just so they could walk back to Spain the following day. Just shows how wrong I can be.

I've met a few in SJPDP and found it quite strange. It used to be the case that the Spanish mainly started from Roncesvalles instead. But last year the Santiago pilgrim office recorded fewer people of any nationality who started from Roncesvalles (4,386) than the 4,692 Spanish who were counted in SJPDP.

 

[Tincatinker]

So, despite my fervent postulations over many years that “the Camino does not start in St Jean” 4,692 Spaniards ignored me just like the other 53,759 did.

Maybe I should reconsider my position

 

[dfox]

It used to be the case that the Spanish mainly started from Roncesvalles instead.

Hiking the Napoleon route, from SJPdP to Roncesvalles is quite an experience. It's worth the effort.

 

[Murk]

So, despite my fervent postulations over many years that “the Camino does not start in St Jean” 4,692 Spaniards ignored me

If I understand correctly, the 4,692 Spaniards didn't necessarily start in St Jean, right?
They just passed by the pilgrim's office -- they might have started much farther in France or Europe. They might even have finished at SJPDP after walking one of the chemins in France!

(Probably wishful thinking, but as far as I'm concerned your postulation still stands)

 

[andycohn]

If I understand correctly, the 4,692 Spaniards didn't necessarily start in St Jean, right?
They just passed by the pilgrim's office -- they might have started much farther in France or Europe. They might even have finished at SJPDP after walking one of the chemins in France!

(It might be wishful thinking, but as far as I'm concerned your postulation still stands)

Interesting point, which raises some other questions. According to the pilgrim office in Santiago at the end of the camino, the overall number of people who FINISH the Frances is DOWN since 2012 -- if we exclude those who only did the last Sarria - SDC section (94,253 in 2012 vs. 85,287 in 2024).

This seems to contradict the figures provided here by the SJPDP office, which show that the number of people who START the Camino (at least in SJPDP) is UP since 2012. One possible explanation is that the SJPDP figures really reflect an increase in the number of pilgrims who FINISHED their walk in SJPDP rather than having started there -- by following the Le Puy or other of the French caminos. (My wife and I, for example, did not stop at the SJPDP office when we started the Frances, but we did stop there when we finished the Le Puy route).

Or maybe there's some other explanation for the seeming contradiction. Perhaps more people are walking only part of the Frances these days. Or more are breaking down. Who knows?

 

[CaminoTrails]

Thank you for the statistics. Do you know when the busiest months of the year are? I want to walk the Camino Frances again this year, but not quite sure which month is best. I have walked in May and June in the past. Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[Tincatinker]

Thank you for the statistics. Do you know when the busiest months of the year are? I want to walk the Camino Frances again this year, but not quite sure which month is best. I have walked in May and June in the past. Thanks for any help you can offer.

The information you’re seeking is in the first graphic in the first post in this thread

 

[HBS60]

If my experience is any indication, this might be the case. I met many Spanish Pilgrims early on who were planning to walk just to Logroño, or Burgos, usually because they were on vacation and had to go back to work. I assume they might resume their walk next year at the point they ended this year. I don’t know how common this is but it seems reasonable to me

 

[trecile]

I don’t know how common this is but it seems reasonable to me

It's very common for Spaniards and other Europeans.

 

[Bradypus]

It's very common for Spaniards and other Europeans.

I have an English friend who can only get about 10 days off work at a time. We started from SJPDP together two years ago and walked to Logroño. Last year we walked from Logroño to Burgos. We hope to return for a third stage in September. It will probably take us four or five years to reach Santiago together.

 

[CaminoTrails]

The information you’re seeking is in the first graphic in the first post in this thread

Got it and thank you so much. Missed that one.

 

[Sirage]

And just for fun, it appears my fellow Nationals from Australie are near the top of the table on a per capita ranking, although a just for fun comment doesn't come with detailed statistical analysis.

 

[Come Walk With Us]

Interesting thank you for sharing!

 

[CroPilgrim]

Hi!
Is it possible to get the whole list of all countries? I can only see half… don’t have FB… thank you in advance! I’m a proud part of the June group leaving SJPP on June 5th…

@Monasp has just posted the monthly pilgrim count for 2024 from the SJPDP pilgrim office. On their Facebook page. I'll post a screenshot here for those who do not use Facebook. About 2% up on the 2023 total.

View attachment 183510

Bureau d'accueil des pèlerins de St Jacques de St Jean Pied de Port | Voici les statistiques de la fréquentation de notre bureau d'accueil de SJPDP en 2024 | Facebook

Voici les statistiques de la fréquentation de notre bureau d'accueil de SJPDP en 2024. Sur l'année nous avons une progression de presque 2% avec des disparités mensuelles

www.facebook.com

PS: @Monasp has also posted the list of nationalities recorded by the SJPDP pilgrim office. The largest national groups recorded were from France, the US and Korea.

View attachment 183513

Bureau d'accueil des pèlerins de St Jacques de St Jean Pied de Port | Les pèlerins passés à notre bureau étaient de 121 nationalités différentes | Facebook

Les pèlerins passés à notre bureau étaient de 121 nationalités différentes

www.facebook.com

 

[Bradypus]

Hi!
Is it possible to get the whole list of all countries? I can only see half… don't have FB… thank you in advance! I'm a proud part of the June group leaving SJPP on June 5th…

 

[Monasp]

Interesting to see that 4,692 Spaniards started from France. Were they on the wrong tour?

I’ve always assumed that no practical Spaniard would travel to France just so they could walk back to Spain the following day. Just shows how wrong I can be. Though I suppose many might have been working elsewhere in Europe and just followed the train line south

Now many Spaniards come to do the Ports de Cize stage, because for them it's a prestigious stage that you have to have done. They've often started their route at Roncesvalles and then come on a WE to do the Route Napoléon stage in fine weather.

 

[Rhody]

April has really spiked the last few years. Any guesses why? Easter was 4/9 in 2023 and 3/31 in 2024 if that factors into it. I was planning on starting a week after easter in 2026 to beat the peak crowds, but these statistics say otherwise.

 

[Bradypus]

April has really spiked the last few years. Any guesses why? Easter was 4/9 in 2023 and 3/31 in 2024 if that factors into it. I was planning on starting a week after easter in 2026 to beat the peak crowds, but these statistics say otherwise.

I think the date of Easter is a major factor. Many albergues, bars and other facilities open up in time for Semana Santa which in the past has marked the beginning of the pilgrimage "season". But that season is gradually becoming wider as more people choose to walk in quieter times early or late in the year.

 

[Rhody]

I think the date of Easter is a major factor. Many albergues, bars and other facilities open up in time for Semana Santa which in the past has marked the beginning of the pilgrimage "season". But that season is gradually becoming wider as more people choose to walk in quieter times early or late in the year.

It's interesting that April is no longer a "quieter" time. It now is the #3 month and is up 25%-50%. What probably makes it seem even busier is the likelihood that the last 2 weeks are much busier than the 1st 2 weeks due to weather and Easter. Are there week by week statistics?