Cremation became the top choice in 2015 and has risen in popularity ever since. According to statistics from the National Funeral Directors Association, more than half of all Americans who die this year will be cremated. The association predicts that 80% of the US will choose cremation by the year 2040.
One of the driving factors is cost. Funeral costs continue to climb, as well as prices for burial plots and other incidentals. In 2016, the average cost of a funeral was $8,000, and a casket alone was between $2,000 and $10,000. That same year a direct cremation cost a mere $2,400.
Changes in religious attitudes are also partially responsible for the trend. Fewer people consider themselves religious today than in the past, lessening the need for a traditional funeral in a church.
Family members are often scattered across the US, making it more difficult to arrange a timely funeral. It is much easier to opt for cremation and arrange a memorial service at a later time.
Today many funeral homes serve as “event planners” for memorial services, offering a variety of options and doing most of the organizing. Clearly, cremation is here to stay.
Reference: Cremation has Replaced Traditional Burials in Popularity in America and People are Getting Creative with Those Ashes, CNN, January 23, 2020.