Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has confirmed that 1.70 million Muslims took part in the 2026 Hajj, marking a modest increase on the previous year’s figures.
The official census, released for the 2026 season, covers pilgrims who performed the rites across Makkah al-Mukarramah and the holy sites. Of the total, 1.54 million arrived from outside the Kingdom, while 160,646 were Saudi citizens and residents.
Air travel remained the dominant entry method, with 1.48 million pilgrims arriving by plane. A further 54,429 entered via land borders, and 6,497 came by sea.
According to GASTAT, the 2026 turnout rose by approximately 34,000 pilgrims compared with 2025, when 1.67 million participated. However, the figure remains below the 1.83 million recorded in 2024.
The authority described the latest numbers as the verified official count for the 2026 pilgrimage, adding that year-on-year data shows a decline between 2024 and 2025 before this partial rebound.
Hajj, one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings, draws Muslims from across the globe to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Source: NAN
