Umrah performers fall 70% to 5.82 mln in 2019/20 due to COVID-19: GASTAT

The total number of Umrah performers reached almost 5.82 million in September 2019 to August 2020 (1441 AH), dropping 70%, compared with 19.2 million a year earlier, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The decline is attributed to COVID-19 and the application of the Ministry of Health's protocol to curb the pandemic.

According to Umrah survey, Umrah performers coming from abroad accounted for 66.08% (3.85 million) of the total number of Umrah performers, compared to 33.92% (1.97 million) of the Umrah performers from inside the Kingdom.

Umrah is one of the most important factors for comprehensive economic development in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom aims to allow around 30 million pilgrims to perform Umrah by 2030.

The table below illustrates the development in the number of Umrah performers:

According to the survey, the month of Muharram recorded the largest number of pilgrims from within the Kingdom, or 19% (368,400) of the total number of pilgrims from inside the Kingdom. It was followed by Jumada al-Thani with 860,500 pilgrims.  

The age group between 30 and 39 years represents the highest number of pilgrims from within the Kingdom, or 31% (610,000) of the total number of pilgrims. Meanwhile, the age group of 60 years and over accounted for the highest number of pilgrims coming from abroad, or 26% (995,700) of the total number of pilgrims coming from abroad.

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