Funeral Statistics (2026): Costs, Cremation Trends, and How People Plan

Funerals are changing fast—driven by rising cremation rates, more online planning, and growing interest in greener options.

Below is a data-focused snapshot of the latest funeral statistics, including costs, disposition trends, consumer preferences, and industry size.

Top funeral statistics at a glance

• 3,072,039 deaths occurred in the U.S. in 2024 (provisional), a rough proxy for annual funeral volume.
• The U.S. cremation rate is projected at 63.4% in 2025, while the burial rate is projected at 31.6%.
• By 2045, cremation is projected to reach 82.3% (burial projected at 13.0%).
• The national median cost of a funeral with viewing + burial (2023) is $8,300.
• The national median cost of a funeral with viewing + cremation (2023) is $6,280.
• Nearly 30% of families now complete all funeral arrangements online.
• 19.4% report they have pre-planned and prepaid funeral arrangements.
• 61.4% say they’d be interested in exploring green funeral options.
• The U.S. funeral homes industry market size is estimated at $20.3B (2024) and $20.8B (2025).
• Overall employment of funeral service workers is projected to grow 4% from 2024–2034 (about 5,800 openings/year).

Cremation vs. burial (projected)

Disposition continues shifting toward cremation. NFDA’s latest projections show cremation more than double burial in 2025.

Label	Bar	Value
Cremation (projected, 2025)		63.4%
Burial (projected, 2025)		31.6%

Max = 63.4%. Widths: Cremation (projected, 2025) 100.00%, Burial (projected, 2025) 49.84%.

Long-range trend (why this matters)

• By 2045, cremation is projected to reach 82.3% while burial falls to 13.0%.
• All 50 states plus D.C. are projected to surpass a 50% cremation rate by 2035.

Funeral cost statistics

NFDA’s latest General Price List study puts the national median at $8,300 for viewing + burial and $6,280 for viewing + cremation (both for 2023). These medians do not include cemetery costs (interment), monuments/markers, or cash-advance charges (like flowers or obituaries).

Label	Bar	Value
Viewing + burial (median, 2023)		$8,300
Viewing + cremation (median, 2023)		$6,280

Max = $8,300. Widths: Viewing + burial (median, 2023) 100.00%, Viewing + cremation (median, 2023) 75.66%.

Cost change vs. inflation (two-year comparison)

• NFDA reported the median cost of a funeral with burial increased 5.8% over two years (from $7,848 to $8,300).
• Over the same two years, NFDA reported the median cost of a funeral with cremation increased 8.1% (from $5,810 to $6,280).

How families plan funerals (digital + preplanning)

Consumer behavior is moving online, but many people still want a professional involved—especially when they’re unsure about legal, logistical, or pricing details.

Label	Bar	Value
Would arrange livestreaming (NFDA study, 2025)		~64%
Used a funeral home found on Facebook (NFDA study, 2025)		40%
Prefer hybrid online + funeral director (NFDA study, 2025)		31.8%
Complete all arrangements online (NFDA study, 2025)		~30%
Pre-planned and prepaid (NFDA study, 2025)		19.4%

Max = 64%. Widths: Would arrange livestreaming (NFDA study, 2025) 100.00%, Used a funeral home found on Facebook (NFDA study, 2025) 62.50%, Prefer hybrid online + funeral director (NFDA study, 2025) 49.69%, Complete all arrangements online (NFDA study, 2025) 46.88%, Pre-planned and prepaid (NFDA study, 2025) 30.31%.

Online cremation arrangements (funeral home operations)

• Nearly 36% of NFDA member firms already offer online cremation arrangements.
• Another 25% plan to offer online cremation arrangements within four years.

Green funerals and alternative disposition statistics

• 61.4% of consumers say they’d be interested in exploring green funeral options.
• 58.3% of respondents report attending a funeral at a non-traditional location.
• “Human composting” (natural organic reduction) is legal in over a dozen U.S. states (availability still varies by region/provider).
• As of Nov 1, 2024, the Green Burial Council reported 179 certified funeral homes and 73 certified cemeteries (hybrid + natural + conservation) in its active provider totals.

Funeral industry size and structure (U.S.)

• Funeral homes market size is estimated at $20.3B (2024) and $20.8B (2025).
• Number of funeral homes businesses is estimated at 24,284 (2024) and 24,422 (2025).

Funeral workforce statistics

• Median annual wage (May 2024): $76,830 for funeral home managers; $49,800 for morticians/undertakers/funeral arrangers.
• Overall employment of funeral service workers is projected to grow 4% from 2024–2034.
• Projected openings: about 5,800 per year on average.

Consumer rights: price transparency

In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule gives consumers the right to receive a General Price List when they ask about funeral arrangements—helpful for comparing providers and avoiding surprise fees.

Sources

National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA); Cremation Association of North America (CANA); U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/NCHS); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC); IBISWorld; Green Burial Council (GBC).