The Camino de Santiago has witnessed constant growth over the past two decades, becoming one of the most traveled pilgrimage routes in the world. Year after year, thousands of walkers embark on the journey to Santiago de Compostela through the Jacobean routes, motivated by spiritual, cultural, or athletic reasons. However, certain events, such as Holy Years or the COVID-19 pandemic, have marked significant milestones in the evolution of the number of pilgrims. By analyzing the statistics of the Camino de Santiago in recent years, we can observe how pilgrim numbers have varied, which routes have gained popularity, and how this ancient tradition has evolved to reach record numbers today.

Pilgrims

Pilgrims after finishing their Camino in the Plaza del Obradoiro, in front of the façade of Santiago Cathedral

The Evolution of the Camino Over the Last 20 Years

Here, we present the total number of pilgrims from 2003 to 2024. We highlight when it was a Holy Year (*), an Extraordinary Holy Year (**), and the devastating year of COVID-19 (***). Let’s take a closer look at the evolution of the Camino de Santiago over different years, which, in one way or another, have been important milestones, represented in a table and graph.

YEAR TOTAL YEAR TOTAL
2003 74,324 2014 237,882
2004 * 179,870 2015 262,444
2005 93,923 2016 ** 277,854
2006 101,056 2017 301,036
2007 114,377 2018 327,377
2008 125,601 2019 347,566
2009 147,254 2020 *** 54,144
2010 * 272,385 2021 * 178,912
2011 183,374 2022 ** 438,208
2012 192,458 2023 446,039
2013 215,879 2024 499,242
Evolution of the total number of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago per year, between 2003 and 2024

Evolution of the total number of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago per year, between 2003 and 2024. Source: Own elaboration

The statistics of the Camino show that it has grown steadily year after year. As seen, Holy Years always significantly increase the total number of pilgrims compared to previous years.

In 2017, the number of pilgrims exceeded 300,000 for the first time, a figure that dropped drastically in the COVID-19 year. The Camino began to recover and gained momentum again in the 2021 Holy Year, although still far from the 2017 figures. By 2022, the 2017 record was surpassed with more than 400,000 pilgrims, and in 2024, we came close to half a million.

Statistics of the Camino de Santiago routes in recent years

The following table presents data from 2024, the previous four years, and the Holy Years of 2016 and 2010. Let’s take a closer look to analyze how the different Camino de Santiago routes have evolved.

WAY 2024 2023 2022 ** 2021 * 2020 *** 2016 ** 2010 *
FRENCH 236,380 219,786 226,863 98,091 28,906 176,075 189,278
PORTUGUESE 95,453 88,717 93,195 34,248 10,252 49,538 33,140
PORTUGUESE COASTAL 74,758 52,747 30,607 7,942 2,736 2,600 1,114
ENGLISH 28,058 24,093 24,205 10,980 2,932 9,703 6,461
PRIMITIVE 24,464 20,714 21,360 10,143 3,399 12,089 8,043
NORTHERN 21,417 20,583 20,868 9,595 3,804 17,289 17,662
VÍA DE LA PLATA 9,028 7,964 10,631 4,046 1,125 9,067 14,252
WINTER 2,870 2,022 2,352 932 406 287 139
MUXÍA – FINISTERRE 2,255 1,787 1,616 808 263 770 1,797
OTHERS 4,111 3,664 5,960 2,129 321 436 499

 

Growth of the Camino de Santiago

The statistics of the Camino are clear. It is important to highlight the significance of the French Way, which remains the most traveled route. In second place, as usual, is the Portuguese Way, a very popular route.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese Way along the Coast is experiencing significant growth in the number of pilgrims. This is due to its beauty, of course, and perhaps also to the international air connections offered by Porto Airport. Additionally, the English Way, Primitive Way, and Northern Way have also been growing in recent years. Even the Via de la Plata and the Camino to Finisterre and Muxía are experiencing a resurgence. Finally, the Winter Way and other recently officialized routes are gradually attracting more pilgrims.

The statistics of the Camino de Santiago in recent years reflect a clear trend: the number of pilgrims has grown steadily, establishing this route as one of the most important pilgrimages in the world. Despite moments of crisis, such as the impact of the pandemic in 2020, the Camino has demonstrated remarkable resilience, reaching record numbers in recent years. With current figures and the growing popularity of the Camino, the future looks promising. Every year, more people discover the magic of this unique experience, contributing to the evolution and preservation of a tradition that remains alive after centuries. And you, have you walked the Camino de Santiago yet?