Cremation Worldwide
These number are the most recent we have, dating by and large from 2008, and derive from a number of different sources, including the Internet.
- Japan (99%)
- Cremation in Switzerland (75%)
- Hong Kong (83%)
- Czech Republic (77%)
- Singapore (77 %)
- United Kingdom (72 %)
- New Zealand (70%)
- Canada (68%)
- Australia (65%)
Note: The rates vary greatly among the provinces with the most recent (1999) province level statistics showing that British Columbia had the highest rate at 74% while Prince Edward Island had the lowest rate at 8.5%.
- China (48%)
- Argentina (14 %)
- Ireland (6 %)
- Italy (7 %)
- South Africa (6 %)
Cremation in the United States
The cremation rate in the United States has been increasing steadily with the national average rate rising from 24.10% in 1998 to 36.86% in 2009 and projections from the National Funeral Directors Association forecasting a rate of 46.04% in 2015 and 58.85% in 2025. However, the rates vary considerably among the states with the highest rates (over 60%) being reported in the western states with the lowest rates (under 25%) being reported in the southern states.