Fig. 1.
Changes in the number of pilgrims registered at the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim’s Office between 2003 and 2024. Jubilee years of St. James are marked with an asterisk.
Fig. 2.
Changes in the proportion of women and men among pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela between 2003 and 2024.
Fig. 3.
Age structure of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela between 2003 and 2024.
Fig. 4.
A – motivation of the pilgrims: registered at the Pilgrim’s Reception Office in Santiago de Compostela; B – from the surveyed group Camino de Santiago Polska (2021–2022).
Table 1.
Demographics of respondents.
| Typical features | Respondents (n = 278) | Respondents (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Male | 89 | 32.0 |
| Female | 189 | 68.0 |
| Age | ||
| under 18 | 1 | 0.4 |
| 18–45 | 143 | 51.4 |
| 46–65 | 117 | 42.1 |
| over 65 | 17 | 6.1 |
| Faith | ||
| Catholicism | 236 | 84.9 |
| Protestantism | 5 | 1.8 |
| Other | 10 | 3.6 |
| Religiously indifferent | 27 | 9.7 |
| Place of residence | ||
| Countryside | 40 | 14.4 |
| Town with population of up to 50,000 | 51 | 18.3 |
| City with 50,000 to 150,000 inhabitants | 52 | 18.7 |
| City with 150,000 to 500,000 inhabitants | 42 | 15.1 |
| City of more than 500,000 inhabitants | 93 | 33.5 |
| Education | ||
| Primary | 3 | 1.1 |
| Vocational | 5 | 1.8 |
| Secondary | 39 | 14.0 |
| Higher | 231 | 83.1 |
| Financial situation | ||
| Very good | 41 | 14.75 |
| Good | 156 | 56.12 |
| Average | 77 | 27.70 |
| Poor | 4 | 1.44 |
Fig. 5.
Impact of the pilgrimage on the life and personality of the participants (N = 201).
Table 2.
Experience of pilgrimage/religious tourism (n = 278).
| Factor | Respondents (n = 278) | Respondents (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Previous pilgrimage experience | ||
| yes | 184 | 66.2 |
| No | 94 | 33.8 |
| Type of pilgrimage | ||
| Domestic | 180 | 64.7 |
| International | 102 | 36.7 |
| Pilgrimage mode (n=184)* | ||
| Hiking | 128 | 69.5 |
| Bus | 27 | 14.7 |
| Bicycle | 6 | 3.3 |
| Other | 23 | 12.5 |
| Frequency of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela | ||
| Once | 148 | 53.2 |
| Twice | 56 | 20.1 |
| Three to five times | 51 | 18.4 |
| More than five times | 23 | 8.3 |
Table 3.
Preparation for a pilgrimage along the Way of St James (n = 278).
| Factor | Respondents (n = 278) | Respondents (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Inspiration | ||
| Internet | 39 | 14.0 |
| Friends and family | 80 | 28.8 |
| Film and literature | 149 | 53.6 |
| Other | 10 | 3.6 |
| Pilgrimage organiser | ||
| Independently | 263 | 94.6 |
| Travel office | 5 | 1.8 |
| Church | 10 | 3.6 |
| Time to prepare for pilgrimage | ||
| More than year | 45 | 16.2 |
| 6–12 months | 71 | 25.5 |
| 1–5 months | 102 | 36.7 |
| Less than one month | 60 | 21.6 |
Table 4.
Making the journey to Santiago de Compostela (n = 278).
| Factor | Respondents (n = 278) | Respondents (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Pilgrimage mode | ||
| Hiking | 261 | 93.9 |
| Bicycle | 17 | 6.1 |
| Total kilometres | ||
| 100–200 | 21 | 7.6 |
| 200–400 | 107 | 38.5 |
| 400–700 | 51 | 18.3 |
| 700–1000 | 71 | 25.5 |
| Over 1000 | 28 | 10.1 |
| Average daily kilometres | ||
| 16–30 | 222 | 79.9 |
| Over 30 | 56 | 20.1 |
| Daily expenses (€) | ||
| 5–15 | 112 | 40.3 |
| 16–40 | 160 | 57.5 |
| Over 40 | 6 | 2.2 |
| Place of accommodation | ||
| Albergue | 240 | 85.3 |
| Rental rooms | 16 | 5.8 |
| Tent | 20 | 7.2 |
| Open air | 2 | 0.7 |
| Companionship | ||
| Alone | 97 | 34.9 |
| With one companion | 106 | 38.1 |
| In small group | 75 | 27.0 |
| Impact on life and personality | ||
| yes | 201 | 72.3 |
| No | 16 | 5.8 |
| Not sure | 61 | 21.9 |