In 2022, Nevada had a cremation rate of 83 percent, higher than any other state in the United States. Maine followed, with a cremation rate of approximately 82 percent.

Funerals, burials, and cremations in the U.S. The cremation rate in the United States has been increasing steadily since the year 2000. Consequently, the burial rate in the United States has been on the decline, and was around the 30 percent mark at the last count. These trends look set to continue as the median cost of an adult funeral with a viewing and a burial in the United States has continued to increase.

Leading death care providers in the U.S. Death care services have proven to be lucrative business opportunities in the United States. For instance, the revenue of Carriage Services from their funeral segment alone reached almost 250 million U.S. dollars in 2023. The revenue of Service Corporation International, the leading death care service provider in the United States, reached over four billion U.S. dollars in the same year.

The cremation rate in the United States increased steadily between 1975 and 2024. This figure was forecasted to grow to 65.2 percent by 2027. Rise in popularity of cremation Several factors have contributed to the increase in popularity of cremations in the United States. One of the most significant factors has been that cremation is often more affordable than traditional burial, primarily owing to lower costs associated with caskets, burial plots, and cemetery maintenance. The median cost of an adult funeral with a viewing and a burial, for example, has been increasing since 2014. Furthermore, the burial rate in the United States has decreased significantly since 2005. Leading death care providers The United States has been home to several large death care service providers. These companies have included Service Corporation International, headquartered in Houston, Texas. When broken down by segment, the largest revenue share of Service Corporation International has come from funeral services. Another Houston-based death care service provider is Carriage Services, with the company performing almost 50,000 funeral services in 2022.

This statistic illustrates the leading states in the United States with the highest number of cremations in 2017. In that year, California had the highest number of cremations, with 171,196.

The burial rate in the United States stood at 45.2 percent in 2015; this figure has been forecasted to decrease to 16 percent by 2040. In 2005 this figure was over 60 percent, roughly four times more than this predicted figure.

Burial rate versus cremation rate As the burial rate has decreased dramatically in the United States, the cremation rate has perhaps unsurprisingly increased steadily over the last few years. As cremation rates have increased, so has the costs of an adult funeral with a viewing and a burial. This has been a factor in the rising popularity of cremations, as the higher costs of burials are associated with the purchasing of caskets, burial plots, and cemetery maintenance, all of which are unnecessary when it comes to cremations. International cremation rates It has not only been in the United States where cremation rates have been on the rise. The cremation rate in Canada has seen a steep increase since 2000, whereas the cremation rate in China has also been on the rise since 2014.

In 2023, there were almost 19,000 funeral homes in the United States - an increase of approximately 200 compared to the previous year. There were roughly 700 fewer funeral homes in the United States in 2022 than there were in 2004.
Death care services There are several different components that make up the death care services industry in the United States. As this service is deemed a necessity by most, historically it has demonstrated itself as profitable engagement. Funeral homes, for example, had a market size of 19 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 - a significant increase when compared to the previous year. With such a large and nationwide enterprise, the funeral service industry alone needed a workforce of approximately 33,000 funeral attendants in 2022. Furthermore, the mean annual wage of this personnel group was around 34,000 U.S. dollars in 2022.
Cremation services The cremation rate in the United States has been increasing rapidly since 1975. To demonstrate the swift rise in popularity of cremations, this rate was at 5.69 percent in 1975 and reached approximately 59 percent in 2022. With such a rise in prominence came an increase in price for this death care service. The median cost of an adult funeral with a viewing and a cremation in the United States was almost 8,000 U.S. dollars in 2021, meaning this service almost doubled in price since 2014.

Many factors have fueled consumers' choice of burial and cremation services. The increasing cost of conventional burial services, especially in population centers with diminished cemetery space, has prompted consumers to consider lower-cost cremation. However, traditional burials still remain the most popular service offered. Additionally, households increasingly view their pets as an integral part of the family. This, combined with a rising pet ownership rate, has boosted demand for pet burial and cremation services. Overall, industry revenue increased at a CAGR of 12.5% to $1.3 billion over the past five years, including a 1.3% increase in 2024 alone. The jump in 2024 can be mainly attributed to the continued growth in the number of household pets throughout the past five years. While demand for pet burial and cremation services is typically tied to disposable income levels and a households' relationship to the pet, industry revenue grew robustly in 2020 and 2021, even as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the economy. The pandemic caused a massive surge in unemployment, but disposable income levels remained high thanks to government stimulus. With more people working remotely at the height of pandemic and even today, pet purchases have grown and the need for burial and cremation services has followed that growth. As a result of the surge in revenue throughout the period, industry profit has also benefitted. Over the next five years, the pet burial and cremation service industry will continue expanding, albeit at a slower rate. Although the economy will move in a favorable direction, competition from at-home burials will continue to limit the industry's growth. However, an aging pet population will contribute to steady demand for pet burial and cremation services over the next five years. As a result, industry revenue is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 1.9% to $1.4 billion over the five years to 2028.

In 2023, the median cost of a funeral including a viewing and a cremation stood at almost 6,300 U.S. dollars. This was an increase of 470 U.S. dollars when compared to 2021.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Death Care market size is USD 122584.2 million in 2024 and will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.50% from 2024 to 2031.

North America holds the major market of more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 49033.68 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.7% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a share of over 30% of the global market size of USD 36775.26 million.
Asia Pacific holds the market of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 28194.37 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America holds the market of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 6129.21 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa holds the major market of around 2% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 2451.68 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Corporate holds the highest Death Care market revenue share in 2024.

Market Dynamics of Death Care Market

Key Drivers for Death Care Market

Rising Geriatric Population to Increase the Demand Globally

The growing number of senior persons worldwide is driving the geriatric population growth. Longer life expectancies increase mortality rates, which expands the need for death care services' customers. The need for all-inclusive end-of-life solutions, such as funeral planning, cremation services, and grief assistance, is highlighted by this shift in the population. The death care industry is seeing constant demand and innovation as societies struggle with the effects of an aging population. It is crucial for service providers to adjust to the changing needs of this particular demographic group in order to provide dignified and courteous end-of-life experiences.

Increasing urbanization to Propel Market Growth

The increasing trend of urbanization encourages a move toward smaller living areas, which reduces the number of house burials that are customary. In order to meet the demands of urban people, funeral houses, cemeteries, and cremation services are in high demand. The accessibility and availability of death care facilities become critical factors as cities grow and populations congregate. In metropolitan settings, funeral houses and crematoriums are essential for providing effective end-of-life care that are sensitive to cultural differences. This shift brought about by urbanization highlights the need for flexible death care methods so that people can pay their loved ones a proper tribute even in the face of physical limitations.

Restraint Factor for the Death Care Market

Lack of Awareness to Limit the Sales

There's a widespread ignorance in many poor countries about the range of death care services available. This shortfall limits the market's ability to grow in terms of new and creative solutions. People who lack information are frequently forced to use traditional methods, which hinders the adoption of more modern, effective, and culturally sensitive death care options. In order to close this informational gap and enable communities to make knowledgeable decisions about end-of-life preparations, education and outreach programs become essential. A more dynamic and responsive death care sector that caters to the changing needs and preferences of varied people worldwide can be fostered by stakeholders by raising knowledge and understanding of the wide range of services that are offered.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Death Care Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on the death care industry, leading to changes in consumer behavior and disruptions. Health and safety concerns have prompted modifications in funeral customs, including gathering bans and social distancing measures that modify customary funeral settings. Due to the perception that cremations pose a reduced risk of transmission than traditional burials, demand for these services has surged. Furthermore, the state of the economy has affected how people spend their money, with some choosing more straightforward and affordable final arrangements. Funeral homes and death care providers have had to quickly adjust to accommodate the changing demands of bereaved families while adhering to health s...

In 2024, the market size of funeral homes in the United States was estimated to be 18 billion U.S. dollars. This was a decrease of roughly 1.79 billion U.S. dollars when compared to 2022 and indicated a decline of 3.9 percent.

This statistic shows the cost of a funeral for an adult between 1960 and 2006 in the United States. Since 1960, the cost for an adult's funeral have increased from 708 U.S. dollars in 1960 to approximately 6,195 U.S. dollars in 2006.