Saudi receives 1.67 million pilgrims for Hajj 2025

More than 1.67 million Muslims performed the Hajj pilgrimage this year, shrinking 8.5% from last year. 

Pilgrims went from 1,833,164 in 2024 to 1,673,230 this year. External pilgrims, numbering 1,611,310, made up 87.9% of the total visitor pool last year, growing to 90% - totalling 1,506,576 pilgrims - in 2025, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). 

Pilgrims hailing from 171 nationalities offered the annual pilgrimage this year. Male pilgrims, both internal and external, reached 877,841 this year, dropping from 958,137 in 2024. 

Hajj is an annual pilgrimage, mandated upon all able-bodied and financially capable Muslims to perform at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and exemplifies solidarity among Muslims who gathered from around the world to pray, reflect and seek absolution of their sins. 

The rites of the pilgrimage are performed over five to six days, extending from the 8th to the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.