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: Six CSV files containing annonymized survey responses from different pilgrim groups: all pilgrims (n=900), Hajj pilgrims (n=694), Umrah-only pilgrims (n=206), first-time Hajj pilgrims (n=556), repeat Hajj pilgrims (n=138), and first-time Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims (n=512). The subgroup datasets are derived from the complete survey dataset and contain overlapping participant records. 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. Variables Each CSV file contains 56 variables covering pilgrims' demographic characteristics, pilgrimage history, communication capabilities, and challenges experienced during Hajj and Umrah. The variables are organized into the following categories, with representative column names provided below. Demographic Characteristics: Survey Mode, Age (during survey), Your gender, Country you live in, Your highest educational qualification, Your occupation (please check all that apply), Your occupation (ISCO standard), and Your occupation (simplified). Language and Communication Capabilities: Language(s) you speak (please check all that apply), Can you speak in Arabic?, Can you speak in Urdu/Hindi?, Can you speak in English?, Which electronic device(s) do you use for communication? (please check all that apply), and Which electronic device(s) do you use for communication? (Categorized). Pilgrimage History: Have you ever performed Hajj/Umrah?, Is multiple times Hajj?, When have you performed Hajj/Umrah? (cleaned), Age when performed Hajj(Missing value handled by Median), Age when performed Hajj (Binning), and Did you perform only Umrah?. Communication Difficulties: Did you face any difficulty in communicating (talking) with others during Hajj/Umrah? and Do you face any difficulty in communicating (talking) with others in day to day life?. Navigation and Getting Lost: Did you get lost any time during Hajj/Umrah?, When did you get lost? (please check all that apply), For how long you were lost?, Which of the following causes were responsible for your getting lost? (please check all that apply), What did you do when you got lost? (please check all that apply), and Did you get sick after/when you got lost?. Additional variables document illness during normal pilgrimage activities and perceived periods of greater risk of getting lost. Transportation and Essential Services: Did you face any problem in finding vehicles?, Did you face any problem in finding a washroom/bathroom/toilet?, Did you face any problem in finding a clean/hygienic washroom/bathroom/toilet?, Did you face any problem in getting drinking water?, and Did you face any problem in getting food?. Corresponding location-specific columns document where these difficulties occurred. Pilgrimage-Specific Challenges: Did you face any hurdle in entering into Masjid al-Haram?, Did you face any hurdle in finding your camp at Mina?, and Did you face any hurdle in 'Arafah?. Additional columns capture the specific hurdles encountered, suggestions for resolving them, and perceptions of crowding at Masjid al-Haram. Road Navigation and Directional Signs: How frequently did you find directional signs on the roads of Mecca while performing Hajj/Umrah?, Did you face any difficulty in understanding the existing road direction signs?, What were the difficulties you faced in understanding road directions? (please check all that apply), and What are your suggestions to make road directions easy to understand? (please check all that apply) (optional). Other Experiences and Recommendations: What were the other difficulties you faced during Hajj/Umrah? (please check all that apply) (optional) and What are your suggestions to resolve these hurdles? (please check all that apply) (optional). The dataset includes categorical, numerical, binary, multiple-response, and free-text variables. Several columns contain processed or derived information, including standardized occupation categories, categorized communication devices, cleaned pilgrimage years, and age groups. Missing values in the processed age-at-Hajj variable were handled using median imputation. All six CSV files follow the same column structure, facilitating comparisons across pilgrimage groups. The subgroup datasets are derived from the complete survey dataset and contain overlapping participant records; therefore, they should not be treated as independent samples when combining data for analysis. 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 Ethical Considerations and Limitations The underlying study received institutional ethical approval (ESTT/Ta-4/R-184), and informed verbal consent was obtained from participants.