Hajj 2026 Pilgrim Count Rises to Over 1.7 Million — Saudi Statistics Authority
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has announced that a total of 1,707,301 pilgrims performed the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, marking an increase from the figures recorded in 2025.
The official statistics, released for the 2026 Hajj season, cover both male and female pilgrims who participated in the annual pilgrimage across Makkah al-Mukarramah and other holy sites.
According to the data, 1,546,655 pilgrims arrived from outside the Kingdom, while 160,646 Saudi citizens and residents performed Hajj domestically.
A breakdown of international arrivals showed that 1,485,729 pilgrims entered Saudi Arabia by air, 54,429 arrived through land borders, while 6,497 pilgrims came by sea.
GASTAT, the Saudi government agency responsible for compiling the annual Hajj census, stated that the figures represent the verified official count for the 2026 pilgrimage season.
The newly released statistics indicate a recovery in pilgrim turnout compared to 2025, when the total number of pilgrims stood at 1,673,230. The latest figure represents an increase of approximately 34,000 pilgrims year-on-year.
However, the 2026 turnout remains below the 1,833,164 pilgrims recorded during the 2024 Hajj season.
Year-on-year statistics released by the authority showed a decline in pilgrim numbers between 2024 and 2025 before a partial rebound this year.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage remains one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, attracting Muslims from across the globe to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for spiritual rites prescribed in Islam.
