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Statistics

All data published on NFDA.org is based on the latest available government, industry, and research reports; data is updated as new information becomes available.



Funeral Service Facts

Employment: U.S. funeral homes employed 102,877 workers in 2007.1


Funeral home/funeral home combined with crematories revenue: $11.95 billion in 2007, increased from $11.05 billion in 2002.1


2009 national employment estimate for occupation of funeral director: 25,820; embalmers: 8,190.2


Number of U.S. funeral homes per office of National Directory of Morticians Redbook: 2010: 19,902; 2005: 21,495;2000: 22,107.3


The top 4 publicly-traded funeral home operators in the U.S. accounted for approximately 10% of market share in 2009.


In 2008, 71% of deaths were casketed according to the Casket & Funeral Supply Association of America, a 5% decrease since 2003 (76%). In 1998, 79% of deaths were casketed.


Sources

1Latest U.S. Census Bureau Economic Census (2007). Economic Census conducted every 5 years.
2Latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data
32009 IBISWorld Industry Report: "Funeral Homes in the U.S."; Red Book

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2009 Funeral Costs

Cost of regular adult funeral including following basic items. Does not include cemetery, monument/marker costs or miscellaneous cash advance charges such as for flowers or obituaries.

Item Price*
Non-declinable basic services fee $1,817
Removal/transfer of remains to funeral home $250
Embalming $628
Other preparation of the body $200
Use of facilities/staff for viewing $395
Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony $450
Use of a hearse $275
Use of a service car/van $125
Basic memorial printed package $125
Subtotal without Casket: $4,265
Metal Casket $2,295
AVERAGE COST OF A FUNERAL
$6,560
Vault $1,195
Total Cost of a Funeral with Vault
$7,755

Source
2010 NFDA General Price List Survey.

Cost of an Adult Funeral: 1960 - Present

Year Cost of an Adult Funeral
1960 $708
1965 $790
1971 $983
1975 $1285
1980 $1809
1985 $2737
1991 $3742
1995 $4626
2000 $5180
2006 $6195
2009 $6,560

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source
2010 NFDA General Price List Survey.

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Cremation Facts

2009 U.S. Cremation Rate: 36.86%


1999 U.S. Rate: 25.04%


2009 Canadian Cremation Rate: 68.4%


2009 Top 10 U.S. States by Percentage of Deaths Cremated

  • Nevada – 73.93%
  • Washington – 69.62%
  • Oregon – 69.24%
  • Hawaii – 68.82%
  • Vermont – 65.67%
  • Arizona – 65.60%
  • Montana – 64.81%
  • Maine – 62.75%
  • Colorado – 62.01%
  • Wyoming – 61.76%

2009 Bottom 10 U.S. States by Percentage of Deaths Cremated 

  • Mississippi – 11.87%
  • Georgia – 13.61%
  • Kentucky – 14.82%
  • Alabama – 15.42%
  • Louisiana – 19.46%
  • West Virginia – 20.76
  • Tennessee – 22.85%
  • South Dakota – 23.90%
  • Indiana – 24.46%
  • Arkansas – 25.49%

Projected 2015 U.S. Rate: 46.04%


Projected 2025 U.S. Rate: 58.85%


Source

© Cremation Association of North America, August 2010 Report: "2008 Statistics and Projections to the Year 2025: 2009 Preliminary Data."


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Death Rate

U.S. death rates (annual deaths per 1,000 population)

2000 8.5 final data 2000-2006
2005 8.3
2006 8.0
2007 8.0 provisional data 2007-2009
2008 8.1
2009 7.9
2010-2016 8.3 projected data 2010-2050
2017-2020 8.4
2025 8.6
2040 9.6
2045-2050 9.7


According to the latest projections of the National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the U.S. death rate, which has been in decline overall the last 20 years, will hover at an average of 8.3 for the next decade.


Increase in death rate not predicted until approximately 2020, when the progressive aging of the U.S. population will trigger steady growth – rising to 9.7 by 2045-2050.


Source
U.S. National Center for Health Statists-Vital Statistics of the United States; National Vital Statistics Reports; U.S. Census Bureau.

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