Who To Expect

Much has been written about the varying numbers of people on the Camino routes but there seems to be distinct differences on who to expect at different times of the year.For instance in the summer you will encounter a great many young Spaniards walking the last 100kms.
When I walked the Camino Frances in April/May of this year I made many observations about my fellow pilgrims.Some examples:-
A/ There were as many women as men.
B/About half the pilgrims were over 50yrs of age.
C/There were as many women walking alone as men.
D/Most people walked in twos.
E/The nationality most represented were Germans.They made up approximately 30% of the overall number.Apparently many were influenced by a book written by a famous German comedian who had walked the Camino Frances.
F/I only met two black people on the whole Camino.I walked for half a day with a young man from Liberia who could not understand why there were not many more black people on the Camino.He intended to "pass the word around".The other was a young Senagalese woman in O Cebreiro.
G/There were people from a great many countries on the walk,far more than I expected.

It would be interesting to get other peoples observations relating to other times of the year.It could help some to decide when to walk.

Take care,
Harry

My observations were based on actual headcounts at various albergues,restaurants etc and with conversations with many pilgrims and albergue staff.Also they were for only the 24 days I took to complete my walk from St.Jean to Santiago. I have a distrust of official numbers,they tend to tell only some of the story.Usually they account for the bits that they are interested in. The official numbers for example do not include the great many people who have no religious interest in the Camino but see it as merely a way of having a cheap holiday.Also the official numbers do not answer my question of why hardly any black people.Does this mean that the Camino is for the white middleclasses by default? I kept a detailed account of my walk including the details I submitted.This is my whole point in fact as patterns will change throughout the year and even from week to week as well as month to month.
Something I don't know how to take into consideration is the number of people who are not interested in claiming a compostela which judging by conversations I had could be a significant number.I am not sure that I will bother next time.
Harry

Hello again,
I wish you were right but I don't think so.Most British white people did not know of the significance of Santiago until relatively recently.It has been brought to the attention of most Brits via the TV and by word of mouth.There is a massive black population in Britain but they seem to be excluded somehow.
I think this is the case in the rest of Europe also.
Most of the Germans I spoke to only became aware of the Camino via a book written by a comedian who's on-stage persona is that of a racist,sexist,couch potato biggot.Apparently it came as a huge surprise to many Germans that this man had walked the Camino and that in fact off-stage he is the exact opposite of the character he portrays.and is in fact a very spiritual man.
I hope that perhaps a black person might read this and give some idea why this imbalance might be.In fact Sillydoll as far as I have so far seen you and I are the only people to even have broached the subject on this whole site.
Bye again,
Harry