The funeral insurance market in France

In France, a capital funeral contract pays a sum to the named beneficiary, who is free to use it for the funeral, whereas a services contract funds a funeral described in advance with a funeral operator. According to France Assureurs, capital contracts account for 4.6 million contracts and €1,513 million in premiums in 2025, or 76% of the total (calculation based on France Assureurs). Services contracts, at 1.3 million, are growing faster: +9.9% in number and +8.0% in premiums.

According to France Assureurs, 550,800 funeral insurance contracts were taken out in France in 2024, the highest level since 2009, up 2.2% after +15.3% in 2023. Capital contracts account for 79% of new business. The average age at subscription is 65, and 98% of contracts in force are whole-life contracts. Limited-term periodic premiums dominate (59%), ahead of lifetime premiums (22%) and single premiums (18%).

The bank is the leading channel for funeral insurance in France: according to France Assureurs, 59% of whole-life contracts taken out in 2024 were sold at the bank counter, 30% by agents, brokers or salaried staff and 10% by funeral operators. Channels differ by contract type: bancassurance makes 70% of capital sales, funeral operators 48% of services sales. According to L’Argus de l’assurance (an insurance trade publication), mutual insurers are also diversifying into funeral cover.

According to France Assureurs, the average payout on a funeral insurance contract in France reaches €3,670 in 2024, against €3,570 in 2023, across 211,975 paid claims. The average guaranteed capital on whole-life contracts is €4,350, higher for services contracts (€4,960) than for capital contracts (€4,210). Guaranteed capital in the portfolio reaches €24.8bn at the end of 2024, up 11.5%. In 2025, benefits paid total €824 million.

Fees and some clauses of funeral insurance contracts in France are the subject of recurring criticism: according to Soixante millions de consommateurs (a French consumer magazine), in April 2025, many contracts are loaded with fees and with legal but borderline clauses, and changes towards greater clarity were under consideration from summer 2025. According to L’Argus de l’assurance, in July 2026, the ACPR (the French insurance supervisor) and the DGCCRF (the French consumer protection authority) jointly oversee insurance products sold to consumers, notably at a distance.

A PDF report in French, 2026 edition, organised in six chapters: definition and scope, market size and dynamics, demand and policyholders, distribution, players, regulation and outlook.

France Assureurs and Insee statistics, public texts governing funeral contracts, and trade press articles from the IndexPresse database. Every figure comes with its source and period.

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