Hajj Survey: A Multinational Survey Dataset on Pilgrims' Demographics and Challenges During Hajj and Umrah

Hajj Survey: A Multinational Survey Dataset on Pilgrims' Demographics and Challenges During Hajj and Umrah Description This dataset contains survey responses from 900 Hajj and Umrah pilgrims across 22 countries, with a predominant representation from Bangladesh. It was developed to investigate the challenges experienced by pilgrims during Hajj and Umrah, their demographic characteristics, and the associations between different pilgrimage-related problems and demographic factors. The study initially collected 988 responses through online and in-person surveys. Following data screening and quality assessment, 900 valid responses were retained. The dataset was collected using a structured questionnaire comprising 49 questions across 12 sections. It includes demographic information such as age, gender, country of residence, educational qualifications, occupation, language proficiency, and communication device usage. It also captures pilgrims' experiences of challenges related to transportation, navigation, communication barriers, access to washrooms and hygienic facilities, food and drinking water, locating camps at Mina, entering Masjid al-Haram, and performing rituals at Arafah. Additional responses document specific difficulties encountered and participants' suggestions for improving pilgrimage management. The data were collected through a convenience sampling strategy using trained survey collectors, direct in-person surveys, email distribution, and online questionnaires. Participants were recruited primarily from Bangladesh, with additional respondents from 21 other countries. Dataset Contents The repository includes the following materials: Survey Dataset: An Excel workbook containing 900 participant records and 57 columns covering demographic characteristics, pilgrimage experiences, reported difficulties, and suggestions for improvement. Survey Documents: The survey questionnaire, oral consent script, data collection terms and conditions, and documentation describing the steps involved in performing Hajj. Analysis Code: Python Jupyter notebooks supporting dataset preparation, statistical hypothesis testing, association analysis, and graph-based analysis of pilgrimage problems and demographic characteristics. Research Applications The dataset supports research on mass-gathering management, religious tourism, social vulnerability, human mobility, and inclusive pilgrimage planning. Potential applications include descriptive analysis of pilgrimage experiences, identification of co-occurring challenges, examination of demographic associations, and development of statistical and network-based models for understanding problems experienced during Hajj and Umrah. The accompanying analysis code supports methods including chi-square tests, Cramér's V association analysis, and graph-theoretic approaches for studying relationships among pilgrimage-related challenges and demographic variables. Associated Research Saiful Islam Salim, Najla Abdulrahman Al-Nabhan, Masfiqur Rahaman, Nafisa Islam, Tarik Reza Toha, Jannatun Noor, Adnan Quaium, Aaiyeesha Mostak, Mainul Hossain, Md. Masum Mushfiq, and A. B. M. Alim Al Islam. 2021. Human-Survey Interaction (HSI): A Study on Integrity of Human Data Collectors in a Mass-Scale Hajj Pilgrimage Survey. IEEE Access 9, (2021), 112528–112551. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3103046 Adnan Quaium, Najla Abdulrahman Al-Nabhan, Masfiqur Rahaman, Saiful Islam Salim, Tarik Reza Toha, Jannatun Noor, Mainul Hossain, Nafisa Islam, Aaiyeesha Mostak, Md Shihabul Islam, Md. Masum Mushfiq, Ishrat Jahan, and A.B.M. Alim Al Islam. 2023. Towards associating negative experiences and recommendations reported by Hajj pilgrims in a mass-scale survey. Heliyon 9, 5 (May 2023). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15486 This dataset accompanies the manuscript "Prioritizing Problems and Vulnerable Pilgrim Groups in Hajj through Network Analysis" which is under review. The associated research investigates relationships among reported pilgrimage problems using a Problem Association Network (PANet) and examines associations between demographic characteristics and reported problems through a Demography-Problem Association Network (DPANet). Ethical Considerations and Limitations The underlying study received institutional ethical approval (ESTT/Ta-4/R-184), and informed verbal consent was obtained from participants.