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. The data on this page was last updated on April 12, 2013.
- Employment: U.S. funeral homes employed 102,877 workers in 2007.1
- As of 2008, it was estimated that there are 25,680 fuenral directors in the U.S. and 8,200 embalmers. 2
- 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 according to the National Directory of Morticians Redbook:
- 2012: 19,680 2007: 21,080 2002: 21,757
- Approximately, 86% of fuenral homes in the United States are privately owned by families, individuals or closely-held companies. The remaining 14% are owned by publicly traded corporations.
- The average NFDA-member funeral home handles 112 calls per year and has three full-time and three part-time employees.
Sources:
- U.S. Census Bureau Economic Census
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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 |
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: NFDA General Price List Survey. (Note: This survey is not conducted annually)
- 2011 U.S. Cremation Rate: 42.0%
- 2010: 40.6%
- 2009: 38.15%
- 2008: 36.22%
- 2007: 34.60%
- 2006: 33.87%
- 2005:32.13%
- 2000: 26.17%
- 1995: 21.11%
- 1990: 17.13
- 1985: 13.86
- 1980: 9.72%
- 1975: 6.55%
- 1970: 4.59%
- 1965: 3.87%
- 1960: 3.56%
- 2011 Top 10 U.S. States by Percentage of Deaths Cremated
- Nevada: 73.9%
- Rhode Island: 73.4%
- Washington: 72.1%
- Oregon: 70.6%
- Hawaii: 68.9%
- Montana: 67.1%
- Maine: 65.5%
- New Hampshire: 65.1%
- Colorado: 64.7%
- Arizona: 62.7%
- 2011 Bottom 10 U.S. States by Percentage of Deaths Cremated
- Mississippi: 15.7%
- Alabama: 18.6%
- Kentucky: 22.0%
- Louisiana: 22.5%
- West Virginia: 25.2%
- Indiana: 27.1%
- Arkansas: 28.9%
- Utah: 29.5%
- South Dakota: 30.2%
- Tennessee: 30.7%
- Projected 2016 U.S. Cremation Rate: 49.0%
Source: Cremation Association of North America
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U.S. death rates (annual deaths per 1,000 population)
| Year | Annual Deaths per 1,000 population |
|
| 2000 | 8.5 | Final Data |
| 2001 | 8.5 | |
| 2002 | 8.5 | |
| 2003 | 8.4 | |
| 2004 | 8.2 | |
| 2005 | 8.3 | |
| 2006 | 8.0 | |
| 2007 | 8.0 |
Provisional |
| 2008 | 8.1 | |
| 2009 | 7.9 | |
| 2010 | 7.9 | |
| 2011 | 8.0 | |
| 2012-2016 | 8.3 | Projected Data |
| 2017-2020 | 8.4 | |
| 2025 | 8.6 | |
| 2030 | 8.9 | |
| 2035 | 9.3 | |
| 2040 | 9.6 | |
| 2045-2050 | 9.7 |
Source: U.S. National Center for Health Statists-Vital Statistics of the United States; National Vital Statistics Reports; U.S. Census Bureau.