Fátima Shrine welcomed 6.5 million pilgrims in 2025, marking record attendance during Portugal’s Jubilee of Hope.
Newsroom (19/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, one of the world’s most emblematic Catholic pilgrimage destinations, welcomed nearly 6.5 million pilgrims in 2025, marking a historic high during the Jubilee of Hope.
The impressive figure—released following the 47th Meeting of Portuguese Hoteliers—reflects the sanctuary’s continued global attraction and its vital role in Portugal’s religious and tourism sectors. The event, organized by the shrine itself, brought together regional hotel and tourism professionals who analyzed the economic and cultural impact of pilgrimage activity throughout the year.
According to the statement issued after the meeting, the 2025 total represented a notable rise from the 6.2 million visitors recorded in 2024 and surpassed the pre-pandemic benchmark of 6.3 million in 2019. The results signal a full recovery of international pilgrimage activity and renewed enthusiasm among the faithful, following the worldwide slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
International Diversity of Faithful
Statistics reveal that a total of 5,608 organized pilgrim groups registered in 2025. Of these, 1,276 were Portuguese groups, while 4,332 came from abroad. Pilgrims arrived from 84 countries across six continents, underscoring Fátima’s enduring resonance in the Catholic world.
For the first time, Asia edged past the Americas as the second most represented region, accounting for 22.3% of the total, compared with 20% from North and South America combined. Indonesia and Vietnam stood out among the top ten countries represented, surpassing other traditionally strong Asian groups such as the Philippines.
Within Europe, Spain, Poland, and Italy remained key sources of visitors. In Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines led the rankings, while the United States, Brazil, and Mexico were the most prominent nations from the Americas.
Among domestic pilgrims, groups from the Archdioceses of Porto and Lisbon showed the largest participation, reflecting strong national devotion to Our Lady of Fátima and the centrality of the shrine in Portuguese religious identity.
Pilgrim Services and Cultural Interest
The shrine’s support services also noted growth. Information booths handled 424,206 inquiries in 2025—an increase of 2% compared with the previous year. Of those interactions, 57,592 came from Portuguese pilgrims, while 366,614 were from foreign visitors seeking guidance and information.
Beyond worship and prayer, the sanctuary’s rich cultural offerings continue to draw visitors in record numbers. Museums and exhibit spaces at Fátima exceeded one million admissions last year. The house of Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the shepherd siblings canonized in 2017, received 429,930 visitors, while the nearby home of Lucia de Jesus—later Sister Lucia—welcomed 421,343 pilgrims.
A Testament to Global Faith
The figures from the Jubilee of Hope underscore the vitality and universality of Marian devotion at Fátima. More than a century after the 1917 apparitions, the Portuguese shrine remains a beacon of faith, reconciliation, and hope—its message clearly resonating with millions who continue to travel from around the world to walk its sacred grounds.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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