Is there a way to get download/clone statistics of a git repository?

I just find out there is an even simpler way to get it with a single command using the github API.

curl -u [username]:[password] https://api.github.com/repos/[owner]/[repo]/traffic/clones

here:

username  = your github id
password  = your github password, optional. If not put in command, a password request would pop out.
owner     = the owner of the repo, might be another name for a organized repo
repo      = the repo name

Have fun.

Its super easy now!

Go "REPO -> Insights -> Traffic"

Cloning is a read-only operation, the original repository isn't modified. There is no way you can pull statistics for data that simply isn't tracked.