Business Environment Profiles - United States
Published: 17 July 2025
Number of cremations
2 Million
-1.5 %
This driver measures the annual number of cremations performed in the United States. Data and projections are sourced from the Cremation Association of North America, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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In 2025, the number of cremations is anticipated to total 1.8 million, reflecting a continued, albeit declining, reliance on cremation as a method of handling remains. This figure demonstrates a marginal decrease of 0.8% from the previous year, signaling a moderation in demand following notable volatility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its cost-effectiveness and growing acceptance as an environmentally friendly alternative to burial, the number of cremations is exhibiting a downtrend as overall mortality rates slow.
During the five years to 2025, the number of cremations declined at an average annual rate 1.5%. The period saw significant fluctuation, with a surge in 2020 when the number of cremations rose 21.3% to 1.9 million, primarily due to pandemic-related fatalities. The following years reflected a normalization, with cremation volumes rising slightly to 2.0 million in 2021 before receding in both 2022 and 2023, recording decreases of 2.9% and 6.9%, respectively. By 2024, this downward trajectory had slowed, and the decline measured 1.4%. Variations in cremation rates across states have persisted, with states like Nevada and Washington posting rates above 78%, compared with under 33% in several Southern states. This interstate disparity results primarily from regional religious beliefs and cemetery space constraints.
Broader macro trends during this period include demographic changes, such as the aging population, which has historically contributed to growth in total deaths and, correspondingly, cremations. However, the decline in mortality rates after the COVID-19 pandemic has tempered demand. Socioeconomic influences, including shifting family structures and the appeal of lower cost and greater flexibility compared to burial, have underpinned long-term adoption, particularly in urbanized and less religious populations. Pandemic-driven mortality in 2020 represents an outlier rather than an ongoing trend, as subsequent years saw retreating volumes. Overall, over the five years to 2025, the growth momentum established earlier in the period was offset by a reversion toward pre-pandemic norms and a gradual plateau in underlying demographic pressures.
In 2026, the number of cremations is forecast to decline further to 1.7 million, equating to a 1....
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