UK Cremation Statistics 2024: The Definitive Guide
In 2024, 522,733 cremations took place in the British Isles - an all-time high. 80.25% of all UK funerals are now cremations, up from just 0.07% a century ago. This page sets out the latest UK cremation figures year by year and nation by nation, with full sources cited.
UK cremation rate 2024 - at a glance
- 522,733 cremations in 2024
- 80.25% of all UK deaths end in cremation - the highest rate ever recorded
- England & Wales: 82.4%
- Scotland: 71.7%
- Northern Ireland: ~23%
- UK cremation rate has risen every decade since records began in 1885
Source: The Cremation Society of Great Britain - Annual Statistics.
How UK cremation has grown - 1885 to 2024
The first UK cremation was carried out on 26 March 1885 at Woking, Surrey. The deceased was Mrs Jeannette C. Pickersgill. That year, just three cremations took place across the entire country. Today, more than half a million UK funerals each year are cremations.
| Year | Total cremations | % of all UK deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1885 | 3 | - |
| 1900 | 444 | 0.07% |
| 1925 | 2,701 | 0.50% |
| 1950 | 89,558 | 15.59% |
| 1975 | 394,909 | 61.13% |
| 2000 | 437,609 | 71.51% |
| 2024 | 522,733 | 80.25% |
Source: The Cremation Society of Great Britain - Progress of Cremation in the British Islands, 1885 to present.
By the mid-1960s, more than half of all UK funerals were cremations. The rate has continued to climb every decade since.
UK cremation rate by nation (2024)
Cremation rates vary significantly across the four UK nations:
| Nation | Cremation rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| England & Wales | 82.4% | Continues to rise |
| Scotland | 71.7% | Rising steadily |
| Northern Ireland | ~23% | Lowest in UK; predominantly burial |
Why is Northern Ireland so different?
Northern Ireland's much lower cremation rate reflects its religious demographics. Roman Catholic teaching historically favoured burial - until 1963, the Catholic Church formally prohibited cremation. Although the prohibition was lifted, burial remains the dominant cultural choice across much of Northern Ireland, particularly in rural areas.
What's driving the rise in UK cremation?
The shift from burial to cremation has been one of the most consistent demographic trends in modern British history. Several factors are driving it:
- Cost. A direct cremation typically costs £900–£1,500. A traditional burial in the UK averages £4,500–£6,000 once the plot, headstone, interment and ceremony are factored in.
- Environmental concerns. Many UK families now choose biodegradable urns or natural burial alternatives that leave a smaller footprint than a full cemetery plot.
- Burial space pressure. Many UK cemeteries - particularly in London and the South East - are at or near capacity, with new plots increasingly hard to find.
- Flexibility for families. Cremated remains can be kept in an urn at home, scattered, divided between family members, kept close as ashes jewellery, or buried later.
- Secularisation. As fewer UK adults identify with an organised religion, traditional burial conventions hold less weight.
What happens to the ashes after cremation?
Once a cremation is complete, the family receives the cremated remains - typically 4–6 pounds of fine, sand-like material commonly called "ashes". UK families today take a wide range of approaches:
- Keeping them at home in a cremation urn - still the most common choice
- Scattering at a meaningful location across the UK
- Burying the ashes in a cemetery plot, garden of remembrance, or the family garden
- Dividing between family members in keepsake urns
- Memorial jewellery - keeping a small portion of ashes close, in ashes pendants, rings or bracelets
- Biodegradable burial - using a biodegradable urn that returns the ashes to the earth or sea
Frequently asked questions
What is the current cremation rate in the UK?
The UK cremation rate in 2024 is 80.25%. This means just over four in every five UK funerals end in cremation rather than burial - the highest rate ever recorded since cremation was legalised in 1885.
How many cremations take place in the UK each year?
522,733 cremations were recorded across the British Isles in 2024, according to The Cremation Society of Great Britain.
When did cremation overtake burial as the most common UK funeral?
Cremation became the majority UK funeral choice in the mid-1960s, when the rate first crossed 50%. By 1975 it had reached 61% and it has continued to rise every decade since.
Which UK nation has the highest cremation rate?
England and Wales has the highest cremation rate at 82.4%. Scotland follows at 71.7%. Northern Ireland has by far the lowest rate at around 23%, reflecting its Catholic religious heritage.
Why is cremation more popular than burial in the UK?
The main drivers are cost (cremation is typically a third of the price of burial), environmental concerns, pressure on burial space in UK cemeteries, the flexibility cremation offers families to scatter, divide or keep ashes, and gradual secularisation.
How long has cremation been legal in the UK?
The first legal UK cremation was carried out on 26 March 1885 at Woking Crematorium. The Cremation Act 1902 gave cremation a clear statutory framework. The first person cremated was Mrs Jeannette C. Pickersgill.
Sources & methodology
All figures on this page are drawn from publicly available data published by:
- The Cremation Society of Great Britain - Annual Cremation Statistics
- The Cremation Society - Progress of Cremation in the British Islands
- The Office of the General Register of Scotland
- The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
The Cremation Society of Great Britain is the only organisation that systematically collects UK cremation data. Statistics are collated from individual crematoria via their cremation registers and published annually.
Last updated: 9 May 2026. We refresh this page each year as new annual data is published.
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