In carrying out its Hajj statistics program within the boundaries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Central Department of Statistics & Information (CDSI) depends on the comprehensive enumeration methodology for all individuals coming to Makkah for performing Hajj. This is achieved through Hajj Statistics centers stationed by the CDSI at all entrances of Makkah.
The counting usually begins on the 1st of the month of Dhu Al-Hijjah of every lunar year and ends at 6:00 o'clock in the evening of the 9th day of the same month.
The Hajj statistics program aims at providing comprehensive and accurate data on the number of pilgrims by means of transportation and date of arrival to be utilized in preparation of plans and programs required for securing around the clock services for pilgrims.
Relating to pilgrims within the Kingdom, the process of counting them is usually carried out by CDSI employees stationed at the Support Centers and distributed usually at Ihram locations as well as at other places in the cities of Jeddah, Taif, and Madina.
Those employees provide the driver of each vehicle carrying pilgrims with a card including the type of vehicle, number of inner pilgrims distributed by gender and nationality, and the driver, in turn, delivers such a card to CDSI's personnel stationed at the Main Centers of the entrances of Makkah, where such cards are being processed and on which daily reports are prepared.
Furthermore, the CDSI estimates the number of the pilgrims from among the residents of Makkah city itself based on field studies, it implemented from time to other on a sample of households in Makkah to define the percentage of the inner pilgrims of the sacred city.
This estimated number of Makkah's inner pilgrims in addition to the number of pilgrims from all other regions of the Kingdom together represent the total number of the Kingdom's inner pilgrims.
Concerning the pilgrims coming from abroad, they are registered annually by the General Directorate of Passports which provides the CDSI with their total number classified by gender, nationality, means of transportation and date of arrival.
CDSI is keen to provide government officials, planners, researchers and scholars with a clear picture about the number of pilgrims classified by gender, nationality, means of transportation and date of arrival, with the aim of utilizing these comprehensive data in offering integrated services to the pilgrims on an accurate, scientific and comprehensive basis.