Camino Statistics 2025

2025 was a record year — in the third week of October, the 500,000th pilgrim received their Compostela. Never before have more than half a million certificates been issued in a single year.

Even though the season isn’t quite over yet, it’s already worth taking a look at the statistics.

The Camino Francés remains the classic among all Camino routes, and it’s unlikely that any other route will surpass it in the remaining weeks of the year.

Almost half of all pilgrims chose the Camino Francés this year.

As of October 23, around 230,000 pilgrims have received their Compostela for walking the Camino Francés. But the Camino Portugués is becoming increasingly popular — with 181,000 pilgrims, it’s close on the heels of the Francés.

The Camino Inglés, Primitivo, and del Norte follow, each with between 20,000 and 28,000 pilgrims.

Overview as of October 23, 2025:

• Camino Francés: 229,277 pilgrims (45.5%)

• Camino Portugués Central Route: 95,936 pilgrims (19.04%)

• Camino Portugués Coastal Route: 85,651 pilgrims (17%)

• Camino Inglés: 28,899 pilgrims (5.74%)

• Camino Primitivo: 26,723 pilgrims (5.3%)

• Camino del Norte: 20,532 pilgrims (4.07%)

Not much has changed here either: the Spanish are still the most frequent pilgrims.

About 220,000 pilgrims were Spanish. The surprise is second place, now held by the United States.

Although there is a big gap between first and second place, with around 41,500 American pilgrims, this shows the greatest change. Just a few years ago, hardly anyone in the U.S. knew what the “Camino de Santiago” was — and now Americans have surpassed other nationalities.

8.3% of all pilgrims came from the United States. In the past two years, Americans have overtaken Germans and Italians to claim the top positions.

Overview as of October 23, 2025:

• Spain: 219,303 pilgrims (43.78%)

• United States: 41,587 pilgrims (8.3%)

• Italy: 25,624 pilgrims (5.12%)

• Germany: 23,287 pilgrims (4.65%)

• Portugal: 21,826 pilgrims (4.36%)

The numbers may be impressive, but statistics are just statistics — they’re very general.

You might get the impression that you’ll be pushed through the streets in crowds — don’t worry, that’s not what it’s really like.

That doesn’t mean it never happens, but you can still walk even the most popular Camino routes in relative peace. It’s all a matter of planning and personal flexibility.

If you start the last 100 km of the Camino Francés in August at 8 a.m. in Sarria, you’ve chosen the most crowded section, in the busiest month, at the most popular time of day.

I’ve always walked the Camino Francés in a way that allowed me to encounter only occasional pilgrims. Most recently, I walked from Logroño in early April. I was able to enjoy wide-open views on the Meseta and still find company in the evenings.

It also helps not to start at the same time and place as everyone else. Late starters have a clear advantage!

Official statistics from the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago