- Time of past OR future Camino
- Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese
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Anyone think the strong dollar is a factor. Just a a thought. European folks struggling to afford USA and staying in Europe, and USA folks getting great value here, Cost of flights and inflation not withstanding. I am not convinced myself (different demographic, most Camino folk seem relatively affluent, and the ‘land aspect’ is relatively cheap). It’s a thought though as exchange rates have a big impact on traffic flows. Are there nationality breakdowns year on year?According to this article, more Compostelas have been issued thus far in 2022 than the previous record set in 2019 when 347,578 pilgrims received Compostelas.
Halfway through Wednesday, September 21st the number was already at 348,230.
I doubt that the dollar-euro exchange rate is a major factor in overall pilgrim numbers. In 2019 pilgrims from the United States made up slightly less than 6% of the total. It seems unlikely that currency fluctuations would drive a big enough change in American pilgrim numbers to make a serious change in monthly or annual totals. If you want to look at annual or monthly statistics and nationalities then you can find a lot of information on the pilgrim office website: https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/statistics/Anyone think the strong dollar is a factor. Just a a thought. European folks struggling to afford USA and staying in Europe, and USA folks getting great value here, Cost of flights and inflation not withstanding. I am not convinced myself (different demographic, most Camino folk seem relatively affluent, and the ‘land aspect’ is relatively cheap). It’s a thought though as exchange rates have a big impact on traffic flows. Are there nationality breakdowns year on year?
Thank you very much for that. Appreciate the quick and informative reply. Wow only 6% that surprises me! I wrongly assumed much greater. Was just a hunch based on some work I did a few years ago communicating to UK consumers how much further their GBP would go in a number of countries due exchange rate gains which had good results! I will stand that thought down!I doubt that the dollar-euro exchange rate is a major factor in overall pilgrim numbers. In 2019 pilgrims from the United States made up slightly less than 6% of the total. It seems unlikely that currency fluctuations would drive a big enough change in American pilgrim numbers to make a serious change in monthly or annual totals. If you want to look at annual or monthly statistics and nationalities then you can find a lot of information on the pilgrim office website: https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/statistics/
Thank you so much I guess I had based my views on demographics on this forum which I guess was daft as those travelling further often need to be on a forum for support. My three Caminos were allHere's the page where you an download the statistics
US residents are relatively minor numbers overall. Spanish pilgrims are easily the most numerous by a very large number.Anyone think the strong dollar is a factor. Just a a thought. European folks struggling to afford USA and staying in Europe, and USA folks getting great value here, Cost of flights and inflation not withstanding. I am not convinced myself (different demographic, most Camino folk seem relatively affluent, and the ‘land aspect’ is relatively cheap). It’s a thought though as exchange rates have a big impact on traffic flows. Are there nationality breakdowns year on year?
Thank you. YesI had assumed the US would be much bigger numbers. Based on representation here! I should know better. Fascinating though. Thought UK would be higher but hey ho!US residents are relatively minor numbers overall. Spanish pilgrims are easily the most numerous by a very large number.
Other European residents are next with lots of Italians and Portuguese.
I am yet to calculate the final numbers but if we looked at pilgrim numbers as a proportion of population then again the Spanish would be first but interestingly, the Irish would be next. I do need to double check these numbers though.
Just wanted to add that this website also keeps a record of the numbers of Compostelas issued every day. And of course also the running total of Compostelas for this year: yesterday they had reached a total of 351.573 Compostelas for 2022 so far. The 4th of August 2022 holds a lonely record with 4.978 arrivals on that day. The 15th of April 2022 - Good Friday ie the Friday before the Easter Weekend this year - also holds a record.
Do any of the stakeholders in the Camino do any advertising. I.e. Spanish tourist board, Galicia, SdC? I know it’s a niche market for a number of reasons, so not expecting a 30 second advert during the Super Bowl but anyone seen anything?I find the distribution amongst the nationalities fascinating. Here are the top Compostela figures for 2019 - the last "normal" year before Covid and the extended Holy Year. Not surprisingly Spain vastly outnumbers other countries. Something that we might sometimes overlook being an English-language forum. As a Brit I tend to focus on the UK's representation compared to other nations. It raises so many questions for me. Why does Germany with only a slightly larger population send 3x the number of pilgrims? Allowing for the big difference in population the Irish seem to be 14x more likely to be pilgrims. Perhaps most remarkable of all to me is Korea - a country of similar size to the UK and sending roughly comparable numbers of pilgrims despite its distance and great differences in language and cultural and religious history.
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100% agree! It’s fascinating!I find the distribution amongst the nationalities fascinating. Here are the top Compostela figures for 2019 - the last "normal" year before Covid and the extended Holy Year. Not surprisingly Spain vastly outnumbers other countries. Something that we might sometimes overlook being an English-language forum. As a Brit I tend to focus on the UK's representation compared to other nations. It raises so many questions for me. Why does Germany with only a slightly larger population send 3x the number of pilgrims? Allowing for the big difference in population the Irish seem to be 14x more likely to be pilgrims. Perhaps most remarkable of all to me is Korea - a country of similar size to the UK and sending roughly comparable numbers of pilgrims despite its distance and great differences in language and cultural and religious history.
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The regional government of Galicia has a considerable budget for the promotion of the Camino(s) to Santiago in many forms, both within Spain and abroad.any of the stakeholders in the Camino do any advertising. I.e. Spanish tourist board, Galicia, SdC?
Ha thank you! That’s interesting and good to hear a sizeable promotional budget !The regional government of Galicia has a considerable budget for the promotion of the Camino(s) to Santiago in many forms, both within Spain and abroad.
BTW, they contributed € 700,000 to the making of Martin Sheen's "The Way" which was of course a relatively modest contribution to an overall budget of $ 3.8 million for this movie.
I heard somewhere that there was a popular Korean film or documentary about the Camino that has inspired many of them to visit Spain and walk it.I find the distribution amongst the nationalities fascinating. Here are the top Compostela figures for 2019 - the last "normal" year before Covid and the extended Holy Year. Not surprisingly Spain vastly outnumbers other countries. Something that we might sometimes overlook being an English-language forum. As a Brit I tend to focus on the UK's representation compared to other nations. It raises so many questions for me. Why does Germany with only a slightly larger population send 3x the number of pilgrims? Allowing for the big difference in population the Irish seem to be 14x more likely to be pilgrims. Perhaps most remarkable of all to me is Korea - a country of similar size to the UK and sending roughly comparable numbers of pilgrims despite its distance and great differences in language and cultural and religious history.
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Layman's opinion on my neighbors. And Brazilians, Koreans.I find the distribution amongst the nationalities fascinating. Here are the top Compostela figures for 2019 - the last "normal" year before Covid and the extended Holy Year. Not surprisingly Spain vastly outnumbers other countries. Something that we might sometimes overlook being an English-language forum. As a Brit I tend to focus on the UK's representation compared to other nations. It raises so many questions for me. Why does Germany with only a slightly larger population send 3x the number of pilgrims? Allowing for the big difference in population the Irish seem to be 14x more likely to be pilgrims. Perhaps most remarkable of all to me is Korea - a country of similar size to the UK and sending roughly comparable numbers of pilgrims despite its distance and great differences in language and cultural and religious history.
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Does compostellas equate to the number of people on the coming. I have walked a total of close to 800 kms so far this year on different Caminos yet I did not seek or receive a compostella. I know from experience that there are very many people doing the same. The last hundred is only a small indicator of the people on the CaminoAccording to this article, more Compostelas have been issued thus far in 2022 than the previous record set in 2019 when 347,578 pilgrims received Compostelas.
Halfway through Wednesday, September 21st the number was already at 348,230.
I think that most people do still ask for a Compostela. Personally I no longer do. My entirely subjective impression is that the number who do not ask for one has increased in recent years but that they are still a small percentage. Impossible to put an accurate figure on it though and the Compostela statistics are probably still the most reliable guide to trends.Does compostellas equate to the number of people on the coming. I have walked a total of close to 800 kms so far this year on different Caminos yet I did not seek or receive a compostella. I know from experience that there are very many people doing the same. The last hundred is only a small indicator of the people on the Camino
No, they don’t but they are good enough to make trends and patterns visible, and they provide a better picture than anecdotal evidence.Does compostellas equate to the number of people on the [Camino]
You are correct that many more pilgrims walk various Camino routes every year than are reflected in the official numbers.Does compostellas equate to the number of people on the coming. I have walked a total of close to 800 kms so far this year on different Caminos yet I did not seek or receive a compostella. I know from experience that there are very many people doing the same. The last hundred is only a small indicator of the people on the Camino
Other people may be able to give a more definitive reply, but my understanding is that nobody owns the Camino as an entity/trademark. (I am assuming that certain things cannot be trademarked.)Who actually ‘owns’ the Camino as an entity/ trademark and so on?
I find the various stats and discussions regarding how busy the camino is quite confusing and contradictory. In many places, and from many people, I've heard that May is one of the busiest months. However the chart above shows May 2022 as being well below the numbers in July and August.A forum member, @diegoromerosm, maintains a website where the data about Compostelas issued by the Pilgrim Office are presented in various graphs. In every year, the number of arrivals / Compostelas reaches its peak during the summer months. This August 2022 broke all records and shows higher monthly numbers than ever before, driven mainly by Spanish pilgrims - 20,000 resp. 15,000 more in August 2022 than in August 2010. Other data show that this is mainly due to the number of pilgrims who started in towns / walked on sections of the various Caminos that are close to Santiago or in Galicia only.
Source: https://solviturambulando.es/
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That May and September are busiest months has to do with numbers of pilgrims starting from St Jean Pied de Port, not the numbers arriving in Santiago.I find the various stats and discussions regarding how busy the camino is quite confusing and contradictory. In many places, and from many people, I've heard that May is one of the busiest months. However the chart above shows May 2022 as being well below the numbers in July and August
This is something that many people miss. We might as well be talking about two different routes, when comparing numbers.I've heard that May is one of the busiest months. However the chart above shows May 2022 as being well below the numbers in July and August.
May in St. Jean, 700 klms and six weeks away from Santiago de Compostela is busy for the Eastern section of the Camino Frances. These people start turning up in Santiago in June.I've heard that May is one of the busiest months. However the chart above shows May 2022 as being well below the numbers in July and August.
I meet enough Americans at home.Being from the US, I was always eager to meet an American on the Camino,
Well played! The Camino is definitely a nice opportunity to meet people from other cultures.I meet enough Americans at home.
Unfortunately the Pilgrim Office doesn't publish those figures, nor do they provide the raw data so that others could calculate it.I'd be quite curious to see a division of distance walked vs nationality...
Very interesting statistics, thank you everyone.Just wanted to add that this website also keeps a record of the numbers of Compostelas issued every day. And of course also the running total of Compostelas for this year: yesterday they had reached a total of 351.573 Compostelas for 2022 so far. The 4th of August 2022 holds a lonely record with 4.978 arrivals on that day. The 15th of April 2022 - Good Friday ie the Friday before the Easter Weekend this year - also holds a record.
Llegadas diarias de peregrinos desde 2020 | Solvitur Ambulando
Aquí tienes los datos de las llegadas diarias de peregrinos a Santiago de Compostela ofrecidos por la Oficina del Peregrino.solviturambulando.es
I suspect there may well be issues with data protection - releasing aggregate data (eg male vs female) isn't usually a problem; but if you get the raw data it could very well be that there is (absolutely random example) only one female pilgrim from Iceland and now you can get their start point etcetera.There are a number of different perspectives and comparisons that I am interested in. Perhaps we can start a conversation to allow access to the raw data?
It is refreshing that others like those posting in this thread are developing their interest in data and its presentation.
The first thing that you see when you start to fill in the online application form for obtaining your Compostela is some blurb about the GRDP. And who would not know what that is ... Every applicant enters personal details such as telephone number, email, first and last name, sex, age and nationality. You can bet your last eurocent on this: there would be issues with data protection if third parties would want to have access to these data.I suspect there may well be issues with data protection
This comment surprises me because I have had quite the opposite experience, albeit on the VdlP and not camino Francés, many pilgrims I met were Spanish and for several it was actually important to begin from their hometown or on a camino near to their hometown (South or East Spain) and finish in Santiago. The completion represented a fulfilment of a pilgrimage, possibly with some religious connotation. To put numbers to my comment: My “camino family“ whom I met and walked with on and off amounted to perhaps 10-12 different people during my camino and 6 were Spanish. I would also say that 80% of the bicigrinos who passed me were Spanish.I think the other thing that gets forgotten quite often when comparing numbers or thinking "but I don't see them" when it comes to Spanish pilgrims is that the vast majority of them just want to get the Compostela and do as close to the minimum distance as possible. So they'll start in Sarria, Tui or Ferrol and you will rarely see them before this. (And if you do talk to them, most of them will declare you absolutely insane for starting further out!).
I'd be quite curious to see a division of distance walked vs nationality...
I am going out on a limb here with a bit of personal anecdotal evidence and a lot of gut feeling. The time of year must make a difference, in addition to the location/area. I walked the CF in sections and at very different times of the year, and the time where I noticed the highest proportion of Spanish walkers among the pilgrim population was during the days before Easter and before Burgos.Perhaps less Spanish on the Francés? Or the time of year makes a difference?
Do you mean to imply that the percentage of Spanish pilgrims across the Camino may be greater than the statistic for compostelas issued may suggest? (For instance 45% in 2019?).…In my opinion, all this may contribute to an overall impression that there are fewer Spanish pilgrims than there actually are.
No, I would not know how to assess that. It was just an attempt to illustrate the personal impressions that we may have gained because we don't register the nationalities of all the pilgrim walkers around us but mainly those with whom we happen to interact or choose to interact. Or who choose to interact with usDo you mean to imply that the percentage of Spanish pilgrims across the Camino may be greater than the statistic for compostelas issued may suggest? (For instance 45% in 2019?).
October - December 2019 was ≈ 47,000I've just looked at today's pilgrim office total. 2847 Compostelas issued today. In October? Remarkable! Going to be interesting to see the final sum at the end of the year.
I have heard rumours that there are other Caminos these days.Only a small minority, however, will have walked SJPP to Santiago ...
A spur of the moment notion brought us to Sarria last SundayI've just looked at today's pilgrim office total. 2847 Compostelas issued today. In October? Remarkable! Going to be interesting to see the final sum at the end of the year.
Buen Camino, @Annette london. You timed your walk wellA spur of the moment notion brought us to Sarria last Sunday
Lets hope we won’t be trampled on the way in to Santiago tomorrow,
That sounds pretty much what I saw too when I last past through Sarria in 2016. I used to like the place but on that walk I just passed straight through without stopping and found somewhere much quieter for the night.A spur of the moment notion brought us to Sarria last Sunday
Now think of Piccadilly Circus and multiply that by10
The place is heaving with walkers. Never seen anything like it.
Its a circus,
2592 today. So you were right on the first part anyway. Wait and see for the rest!I boldly predict that today's (Saturday) number of Compostelas will be in the 2,000 range, too, before it goes down again at the beginning of the new week.
First thought was probably tomorrow evening. But there were 2231 yesterday - a Thursday. And I've just been watching a stream of bodies passing the CRTVG webcam at Bando. So I'm beginning to wonder if the 400,000 will be hit today after all!The counter on solviturambulando.es stands at 397,542 Compostelas. There is only one question now: Will the all-time record of 400,000 Compostelas have been reached by this Friday evening (14 October) or by tomorrow evening?
Hi! Is there any ‘ethnicity’ data held on Compostella issuance?Quite remarkable, I think - number of Compostelas:
- 51,000 in October 2022
- 36,000 in October 2019
- 35,000 in October 2018
They track pilgrims by country, sex, age, profession.Hi! Is there any ‘ethnicity’ data held on Compostella issuance?
They track pilgrims by country, sex, age, profession.
And as @Kathar1na posted way upthread, a member here @diegoromerosm maintains a site of data and graphs.They track pilgrims by country, sex, age, profession.
A forum member, @diegoromerosm, maintains a website where the data about Compostelas issued by the Pilgrim Office are presented in various graphs. In every year, the number of arrivals / Compostelas reaches its peak during the summer months. This August 2022 broke all records and shows higher monthly numbers than ever before, driven mainly by Spanish pilgrims - 20,000 resp. 15,000 more in August 2022 than in August 2010. Other data show that this is mainly due to the number of pilgrims who started in towns / walked on sections of the various Caminos that are close to Santiago or in Galicia only.
Source: https://solviturambulando.es/
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All the same, I'm glad to have walked farther away this year. . .as @Kathar1na says -And although the final total this year is already well over previous records the 2022 Holy Year blip looks set to be the smallest in recent history.
Quite remarkable, I think - number of Compostelas
It's not so well known that about 30% of South Koreans are Christian. It's a very complicated history.great differences in language and cultural and religious history.
I walked the Via de la Plata from Seville in January and February and could probably have counted all the pilgrims I met over nearly 1000km on my fingers and toes. A surprisingly solitary experience. But I would not have chosen to walk any of the major routes in peak seasons this year!All the same, I'm glad to have walked farther away this year. . .as @Kathar1na says -
Record numbers were registered in 2022 at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago but no such records were registered at the Pilgrim Welcome Office in SJPP in 2022. Their monthly data have been consistently lower in 2022 compared to 2019, a trend that was yet again confirmed this October:
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