Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

2025/05/25

Statistical Presentation

Data description 

The hajj statistics publication presents data on numbers of pilgrims and their detailed characteristics.
Hajj statistics is a census made to collect data on the main characteristics as follows:
•    Pilgrims from within the Kingdom by sex and nationality.
•    Pilgrims from abroad the kingdom by sex and nationality.
•    The means of transport used for pilgrims from abroad according to the ports

Data is also used to estimates:
•    The relative distribution of the categories of pilgrims from abroad according to the date of arrival and departure.

Classification system

The following classifications are applied in hajj statistics.
National Code of Countries and Nationalities
It is a standardized international classification, comprehensive of countries and their subdivisions, based on the ISO 3166 country codes. This classification assigns codes to countries and their subdivisions. Using these codes and numbers instead of country names is useful for statistical purposes, saving time and avoiding errors. The purpose of this classification is to categorize individuals by nationality into Saudis and non-Saudis.
The classifications are available on GASTAT’s website: www.stats.gov.sa 

Sector coverage

Not applicable.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terms and concepts of Hajj Statistics :
•    Hajj: 
It is one of the five pillars of Islam (an obligation upon every able-bodied Muslim) and involves a pilgrimage to Mecca and the surrounding holy sites during a specific time of the year to perform the rituals of Hajj. 
•    Internal pilgrims: 
It refers to the pilgrims coming to perform the rituals of Hajj from citizens and residents within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 
•    Abroad pilgrims:
 It refers to the pilgrims coming to perform the rituals of Hajj from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
•    Makkah al-Mukarramah: 
It is the first sacred city for Muslims, home to Al-Masjid Al-Haram and the Kaaba, the qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims. It is the birthplace of the noblest of creation, our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Makkah (Mecca) is located in the western part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has witnessed great attention during the reign of the Kingdom's kings. The care and development continue to provide the best services to the umrah performers. 
•    Holy places: 
These are geographical places located in the vicinity of Mecca, including Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. 
•    The Makkah Road Initiative:
It is one of the initiatives of the Ministry of Interior , which falls under the programs of Saudi Vision  2030, and aims to facilitate the journey of pilgrims  through the completion of passport and customs procedures  and health requirements  and sorting and coding of luggage at the airports of their countries and transfer them directly from their countries to their residence in the Kingdom.

Statistical unit

The statistical unit in Hajj statistics is the individual pilgrim.

Statistical population

The statistical community in Hajj statistics is all individuals coming to perform Hajj rituals  from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or from abroad.

Reference area

Makkah

Time coverage

The time series of Hajj statistics is available from 1972 until then and the data available on the website of the General Authority for Statistics for the last ten years of the time series.

Base period

 Not applicable.
 

Unit of measure

•    Most results are measured by numbers (e.g.: Number of pilgrims).
•    Some indicators are calculated as rates (such as: Percentage of pilgrims according to the means of arrival).
 

Reference period​​

All data on Hajj statistics are based on the Hajj season for the Hijri year.

Confidentiality 

Confidentiality - policy

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07-12-1397, data must always be kept confidential and must be used by GASTAT only for statistical purposes.
Therefore, the data are protected in the data servers of the Authority.

Confidentiality - data treatment

Data are displayed in appropriate tables to facilitate its summarization, comprehension, results extraction. comparison with other data and coming up with statistical connotations for the study community. It is also easier to check tables without the need to see any sensitive or confidential data, which violates the confidentiality of statistical data.

Release policy

Release calendar

The hajj statistics publication is added to the statistical calendar.

Release calendar access

The release calendar is available at:  https://www.stats.gov.sa/statistical-calendar-releases

User access

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to better meet its clients' needs, so it immediately provides them with the results of the publication once the hajj statistics publication is published.
It also receives questions and inquiries from clients about the publication and its results through various communication channels, such as:
•    GASTAT official website:  www.stats.gov.sa
•    GASTAT official e-mail address: info@stats.gov.sa
•    Client support e-mail address:  info@stats.gov.sa
•    Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
•    Official letters.
•    Statistical telephone: (199009).

Frequency of dissemination

Annual

Accessibility and clarity

News release

The announcements for each publication are available on the statistical calendar as mentioned in 7.2. The press releases can be viewed on the website of GASTAT on the link : https://www.stats.gov.sa/ar/news

Publications

GASTAT issues hajj statistics publications and reports regularly within a pre-prepared dissemination plan and is published on GASTAT’s website. GASTAT is keen to publish its publications in a way that serves all users of different types, including publications in different formats that contain (publication tables, data graphs, indicators, and metadata) in both English and Arabic.
The results of Hajj statistics are available at the link : https://www.stats.gov.sa/statistics

On-line database

The data is published on the statistical database at the following link:
GASTAT (stats.gov.sa)

Micro-data access

Not available.

Other

Not available.

Documentation on methodology

Workshops and meetings were held with the authorities concerned with Hajj statistics in the Kingdom and their needs were studied as well as taking into account the needs of the beneficiaries of this publication where the target indicators were identified and accordingly a measurement methodology was developed for these indicators, identifying potential data sources, requesting data and then calculating the indicators according to the available indicators sources. 

Quality documentation

Quality documentation covers documentation on methods and standards for assessing, measuring, and monitoring the quality of statistical process and output. It is based on standard quality criteria such as relevance, accuracy and reliability, timeliness and punctuality, accessibility and clarity, comparability, and coherence.

Quality management

Quality assurance

GASTAT declares that it considers the following principles: impartiality, user orientated, quality of processes and output, effectiveness of statistical processes, reducing the workload for respondents. 
Quality controls and validation of data are actions carried out throughout the process in different stages such as the data input and data collection and other final controls.

Quality assessment

GASTAT performs all statistical activities according to a national model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality issues related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

Relevance 

User needs

Internal users in the GASTAT for hajj statistics data:
•    Department of customer support.
External users and major beneficiaries for the hajj statistics data, include:
•    Government entities.
•    Regional and international organizations.
•    Research institutions.
•    Media.
•    Individuals.

User satisfaction

Not available.

Completeness

Hajj statistics data are based on one main source  to provide comprehensive information:
Administrative records from the Ministry of Interior, and the data status is complete.

Accuracy and reliability 

Overall accuracy

•    Data is checked with previous years to identify any significant changes in the data.
•    The internal consistency of the data is checked before it is finalized.
•    The links between variables are checked and coherence between different data series is confirmed.

Timeliness and punctuality

Timeliness 

The General Authority for Statistics is committed to applying internationally recognized standards regarding the announcement, clarification of the time of publishing statistics on its official website, as outlined in the statistical calendar, as well as adhering to the announced time of publication. In the event of any delay, updates will be provided accordingly.

 Punctuality

The publication is done according to the publication dates in the statistical calendar published for the hajj statistics on the website page of the General Authority for Statistics.
The data are available at the expected time, as scheduled in the statistical release calendar, If the publication is delayed, reasons shall be provided

Coherence and comparability

Comparability - geographical

The data cannot be compared geographically, as the Hajj statistics pertain to the Hajj season in a single geographical area—Makkah.

Comparability - over time

The statistics began in 1972  as a field census, and the following are the main changes that have taken place in recent years:
•    1972-2019:
A field census that includes the number of pilgrims and their characteristics as well as data on the arrival of pilgrims and the number of vehicles carrying pilgrims.
•    2020م
The Hajj statistics were not published due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions.
•    2021-2025: 
A register-based census that includes the number of pilgrims, their characteristics, means of arrival and departure, and periods of stay. 

Coherence- cross domain

Not applicable. 

Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

Not applicable. 

Coherence- National Accounts

Not applicable. 

Coherence - internal 

Not applicable.

Data revision

 Data revision – policy

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

Data revision - practice

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

 Statistical processing

Source data

The main source of  Hajj statistics is the administrative records of:
•    Ministry of Interior.
The data framework for Hajj statistics in Saudi Arabia is provided by data from the Ministry of Interior
 The main variables published from the administrative records source are:
•    Number of internal pilgrims by sex and nationality.
•     Number of external pilgrims by sex and nationality.
•    The relative distribution of external pilgrims by port of entry (air, land, and sea).

Frequency of data collection

Annual

Data collection

Data collection from administrative records:
In coordination with the Authority’s departments concerned with data collection and management, the records of the Hajj Statistics publication are obtained from the Ministry of Interior, which includes data on the distribution of pilgrims from within and outside the kingdom according to sex, nationality, entry points, and means of transportation.
The data is stored in the authority's databases after undergoing auditing and review processes following approved statistical methods and recognized quality standards. If errors or discrepancies are discovered, the data is cross-referenced with the data source for correction or clarification.

Data validation

Data are reviewed and matched to ensure their accuracy and precision in a way that suits their nature with the aim of giving the presented statistics quality and accuracy. 
The data for the current year publication are compared with the data of the previous year to ensure their integrity and consistency in preparation for processing data and extracting and reviewing results.
In addition to the data processing and tabulation to check their accuracy, all the outputs are stored and uploaded to the database after being calculated by GASTAT to be reviewed and processed by specialists in Tourism, Hajj and Umrah Statistics Department through modern technologies and software designed for this purpose.

Data compilation

Data editing:
Specialists of Tourism, Hajj and Umrah Statistics Department have processed and analyzed data in this stage, and this step was based on the following measures:
•    Sorting and arranging data in groups or different categories in a serial order.
•    Summarizing detailed data into key points or data.
•    Combining many data segments and ensuring their interconnection.
•    Processing incomplete or missing data.
•    Processing illogical data.
•    Converting data into statistically significant data.
•    Arranging, presenting, and interpreting data.

 Adjustment

Not applicable, only final results will be published.