As of May 1 2020, there were over 23 thousand more deaths in care homes in England and Wales than there were on the same date in 2019, with 12.5 thousand of these caused by Coronavirus (COVID-19) and 10.6 thousand due to other causes.

The end of life care profiles data update for May 2019 has been published by Public Health England (PHE).

This version includes 10 updated indicators with 2017 data for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), local authorities (LAs) and higher geographies:

• percentage of deaths by place of occurrence (hospital, home, care home, hospice and other places)
• percentage of deaths by underlying cause of death (cancer, respiratory disease and circulatory disease)
• age standardised mortality rates (all ages and 0 to 64, 65 to 74, 75 to 84, 85 years and older)
• percentage of all deaths (0 to 64, 65 to 74, 75 to 84, 85 years and older)

The end of life care profiles are designed to improve the availability and accessibility of information around end of life care. The data is presented in an interactive tool that allows users to view and analyse it in a user-friendly format.

The profiles provide a snapshot overview of end of life care across England. They are intended to help local government and health services to improve care at the end of life.

There were 667,479 deaths in the United Kingdom in 2021, compared with 689,629 in 2020. Between 2003 and 2011, the annual number of deaths in the UK fell from 612,085 to just over 552,232. Since 2011 however, the annual number of annual deaths in the United Kingdom has steadily grown, with the number recorded in 2020, the highest since 1918 when there were 715,246 deaths. Both of these spikes in the number of deaths can be attributed to infectious disease pandemics. The great influenza pandemic of 1918, which was at its height towards the end of World War One, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused numerous deaths in 2020. Impact of COVID-19 The weekly death figures for England and Wales highlight the tragic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. In two weeks in April 2020, there were 22,351 and 21,997 deaths respectively, almost 12,000 excess deaths in each of those weeks. Although hospitals were the most common location of these deaths, a significant number of these deaths also took place in care homes, with 7,911 deaths taking place in care homes for the week ending April 24, 2020, far higher than usual. By the summer of 2020, the number of deaths in England and Wales reached more usual levels, before a second wave of excess deaths hit the country that Winter, and peaking in late January 2021. Although subsequent waves of COVID-19 cases resulted in far fewer deaths, the number of excess deaths remained elevated throughout 2022. Long-term life expectancy trends As of 2022 the life expectancy for men in the United Kingdom was 78.57, and almost 82.57 for women, compared with life expectancies of 75 for men and 80 for women in 2002. In historical terms, this is a major improvement in relation to the mid-eighteenth century, when the overall life expectancy was just under 39 years. Between 2011 and 2017, improvements in life expectancy in the UK did start to decline, and have gone into reverse since 2018/20. Between 2020 and 2022 for example, life expectancy for men in the UK has fallen by over 37 weeks, and by almost 23 weeks for women, when compared with the previous year.

Provisional counts of the number of deaths registered in England and Wales, by age, sex, region and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), in the latest weeks for which data are available.

Based on a comparison of coronavirus deaths in 210 countries relative to their population, Peru had the most losses to COVID-19 up until July 13, 2022. As of the same date, the virus had infected over 557.8 million people worldwide, and the number of deaths had totaled more than 6.3 million. Note, however, that COVID-19 test rates can vary per country. Additionally, big differences show up between countries when combining the number of deaths against confirmed COVID-19 cases. The source seemingly does not differentiate between "the Wuhan strain" (2019-nCOV) of COVID-19, "the Kent mutation" (B.1.1.7) that appeared in the UK in late 2020, the 2021 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) from India or the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) from South Africa.

The difficulties of death figures

This table aims to provide a complete picture on the topic, but it very much relies on data that has become more difficult to compare. As the coronavirus pandemic developed across the world, countries already used different methods to count fatalities, and they sometimes changed them during the course of the pandemic. On April 16, for example, the Chinese city of Wuhan added a 50 percent increase in their death figures to account for community deaths. These deaths occurred outside of hospitals and went unaccounted for so far. The state of New York did something similar two days before, revising their figures with 3,700 new deaths as they started to include “assumed” coronavirus victims. The United Kingdom started counting deaths in care homes and private households on April 29, adjusting their number with about 5,000 new deaths (which were corrected lowered again by the same amount on August 18). This makes an already difficult comparison even more difficult. Belgium, for example, counts suspected coronavirus deaths in their figures, whereas other countries have not done that (yet). This means two things. First, it could have a big impact on both current as well as future figures. On April 16 already, UK health experts stated that if their numbers were corrected for community deaths like in Wuhan, the UK number would change from 205 to “above 300”. This is exactly what happened two weeks later. Second, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly which countries already have “revised” numbers (like Belgium, Wuhan or New York) and which ones do not. One work-around could be to look at (freely accessible) timelines that track the reported daily increase of deaths in certain countries. Several of these are available on our platform, such as for Belgium, Italy and Sweden. A sudden large increase might be an indicator that the domestic sources changed their methodology.

Where are these numbers coming from?

The numbers shown here were collected by Johns Hopkins University, a source that manually checks the data with domestic health authorities. For the majority of countries, this is from national authorities. In some cases, like China, the United States, Canada or Australia, city reports or other various state authorities were consulted. In this statistic, these separately reported numbers were put together. For more information or other freely accessible content, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

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Funeral Homes And Funeral Services Market Size 2025-2029

The funeral homes and funeral services market size is forecast to increase by USD 34.7 billion, at a CAGR of 7.4% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is characterized by a dynamic business landscape, driven by the continuous introduction of innovative products and services by market companies. These offerings cater to evolving consumer preferences, such as personalized funeral services and environmentally sustainable options. Strategic partnerships and acquisitions further fuel market growth, enabling companies to expand their reach and enhance their capabilities. However, the industry faces significant challenges, including the increasing costs of raw materials, particularly for caskets and urns, which put pressure on profit margins.
Additionally, regulatory requirements and cultural differences pose challenges in international markets, necessitating a nuanced approach to market entry and expansion. To capitalize on opportunities and navigate challenges effectively, companies must stay abreast of consumer trends and regulatory developments, while also exploring cost-saving measures and sustainable sourcing strategies.

What will be the Size of the Funeral Homes And Funeral Services Market during the forecast period?

Explore in-depth regional segment analysis with market size data - historical 2019-2023 and forecasts 2025-2029 - in the full report.
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The funeral services market continues to evolve, integrating various sectors to cater to the diverse needs of families and individuals navigating the complexities of end-of-life planning. Funeral homes offer comprehensive services, encompassing funeral trusts, probate services, and bereavement support. Photo albums, online memorials, and video tributes provide digital memorialization options, while safety protocols ensure a respectful and hygienic environment. Catering services, organ donation, and funeral home management streamline logistics, with memorial services and death certificates facilitating closure. Pre-need planning, reception planning, and compliance regulations enable families to prepare for the future.

Funeral software, funeral arrangers, and legal documentation simplify the planning process. Ongoing advancements in end-of-life care, grief resources, and memorial products offer continuous support throughout the grieving process. The market's dynamic nature reflects the evolving needs of consumers, ensuring a holistic approach to funeral services.

How is this Funeral Homes And Funeral Services Industry segmented?

The funeral homes and funeral services industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Service

  At-need
  Pre-need
  Burial Services
  Cremation Services
  Memorial Services


Mode Of Booking

  Offline
  Online


Type

  Caskets
  Urns
  Memorial Products
  Funeral Vehicles


Delivery Model

  Traditional Services
  Online Arrangements
  Hybrid Services


End-User

  Individual Families
  Religious Institutions
  Corporations


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Italy
    UK


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Service Insights

The at-need segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

The market encompasses various entities that cater to the needs of families during the end-of-life process. The at-need funeral service segment dominates the market, driven by the increasing number of deaths worldwide. This segment caters to families dealing with unexpected deaths, primarily due to accidents. companies offer a range of services, from arranging ceremonies and prayers to providing post-funeral services. The flexibility to customize funeral arrangements according to individual wishes and family traditions positively impacts the growth of the segment and the overall market. The market is further characterized by the integration of technology, with digital memorialization and online memorials gaining popularity. Legacy planning and grief support groups also play a crucial role in the market, offering families resources to cope with their loss. Compliance regulations and safety protocols ensure the professional and ethical conduct of funeral homes and funeral services, providing peace of mind to families during their time of need.

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The At-need segment was valued at USD 48.50 billion in 2019 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

APAC is estimated to contribute 31% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period.Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regiona