Hajj 2026: 1.7 million pilgrims from 165 countries
Saudi Arabia recorded a record number of pilgrims for Hajj 2026 — over 1.7 million believers, including 1.5 million foreigners from 165 countries around the world, arriving through various entry points.
Scale of the 2026 Pilgrimage
The General Authority for Statistics of Saudi Arabia announced that in 2026, 1,707,301 pilgrims performed Hajj. Of these, 1,546,655 arrived from abroad, representing 165 nationalities, while 160,646 were citizens and residents of the Kingdom. These figures demonstrate the global nature of the sacred pilgrimage and the increasing capacity of Saudi Arabia to organize the reception of pilgrims from all corners of the globe. Such a significant number of believers requires careful coordination of logistics, security, and ensuring the comfort of participants.
Arrival Routes for Pilgrims
The majority of foreign pilgrims — 1,485,729 people — arrived by air through the Kingdom's airports. A total of 54,429 pilgrims crossed through land borders, while 6,497 believers arrived by sea. This variety of routes reflects the global network of transport connections that link Saudi Arabia with Muslim communities around the world. Coordinating arrivals through multiple entry points requires the coordinated efforts of various government agencies and services.
Gender Distribution and Staffing
Among all pilgrims, 893,396 were men and 813,905 were women. A total of 441,049 staff members were involved in organizing Hajj this year, along with 26,701 volunteers working in various sectors. This huge team of professionals and volunteers ensured safety, medical care, logistics, and spiritual support for pilgrims throughout the sacred period. Quality training of staff and volunteers is a key factor in the successful conduct of an event of this scale.
Data Collection Methodology and Reliability
The statistics were collected based on administrative records provided mainly by the Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia, ensuring a high level of accuracy and reliability of the information. The General Authority for Statistics used a unified statistical model that has been applied over the past six years for reporting on the Hajj season. A complete report on Hajj statistics has been published on the official website of the authority and is available to the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pilgrims came for Hajj 2026 from abroad?
A total of 1,546,655 foreign pilgrims from 165 countries arrived for Hajj 2026. They entered through airports (1,485,729), land borders (54,429), and sea entry points (6,497).
How many volunteers and staff participated in organizing Hajj?
A total of 441,049 staff members and 26,701 volunteers participated in organizing Hajj 2026. They worked in various sectors, ensuring safety, medical care, logistics, and spiritual support for pilgrims.
How was the information on pilgrim statistics collected?
The data was collected based on administrative records from the Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia using a unified statistical model applied over the last six years, ensuring high accuracy and reliability of the information.
