Funeral prices have reached a new high in the UK, driving nearly one in every four people to choose a straight cremation or burial with no send-off, according to a survey by insurance company SunLife. According to the survey, nearly one-fifth of persons had to sell their goods to pay for their burial last year.
According to the report, the “cost of dying” in the UK last year averaged £9,658 ($12,296), including the cost of burial or cremation, a memorial service, and legal fees. This marks a £458 increase from 2022 and is the biggest sum ever recorded by SunLife.
In 2023, the average funeral itself cost £4,141 – 4.7% more than in 2022 and up from only £1,835 in 2004. With prices rising, the report noted that more and more Britons are opting for cheaper funerals, based on interviews with more than 1,500 families and 100 funeral directors.
Last year, 20% of families chose to have their loved ones cremated directly, up from 3% in 2019. A direct cremation occurs when the deceased is carried directly to the Crematory without any religious or other commemoration service. 4% chose direct funerals, in which the deceased is buried without a service. SunLife’s report for 2023 included the first mention of this type of funeral.
According to the survey, a direct burial costs an average of £1,657, while a traditional burial costs £5,077.
