The funeral market - Germany

Since 2020, the global undertaker market has seen notable growth, largely attributed to an increase in mortality rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, industry sales rose by 6.1% worldwide in 2020. Germany has undergone a demographic shift with an aging population, the mortality rate having risen from 10.6 to 11.9 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2020, which has stimulated the funeral market. The German funeral industry is highly fragmented and dominated by small businesses; 97.4% of funeral companies will have fewer than 20 employees by 2020. Geographical price disparities exist in Germany, withservice costsvarying according to region and type of funeral.

An upward trend in the preference for cremation over traditional burial has been observed, with cremations accounting for 77% of funerals in 2021. The funeral market is expected to continue to grow, with the global market set to rise from a value of $62.5 billion in 2023 to $113 billion in 2033. The German funeral market is also expected to grow in correlation with the increasing number of deaths, as evidenced by the market's 10% growth between 2014 and 2018, and the continuation of this trend is expected as the number of deaths increases.

Trends and analysis of the German funeral services market The German funeral services market is experiencing several definitive trends that reflect broader demographic and social changes.

With a significant increase in demand fuelled by the recent coronavirus pandemic, the industry sawoverall revenue growthof 6.1% in 2020, demonstrating the market's responsiveness to unprecedented events. In addition, as Germany mirrors the global trend with an aging baby-boomer population, demand for funeral services has seen a stable incline. The country's average mortality rate rose from around 10 to 12 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants between 2011 and 2020, as reported by the World Bank. The total number of deaths in Germany rose by almost 27%, from just over 800,000 to between 1 and 1.1 million over the period 2000-2023, underlining the expansion of the funeral market. This growth is a direct consequence of an ageing population - the median age in Germany is rising, with a staggering 22% of the population expected to be over 65 in the early 2020s, and this figure could rise to around 25% in the 2030s. These structural demographic changes are not the only factors shaping the funeral market in Germany. There is a shift towards cremation, with almost 77% of funerals in 2021 opting for this method rather than traditional burial.

Consumers have become more expressive in their funeral wishes, with a notable increase in preference for tree burials and low-maintenance resting places, challenging the more conventional modes of burial. In addition, the funeral services market is taking account of the changing religious and cultural landscape, with more and more offerings tailored to Islamic burials. This trend corresponds to theincrease in the Muslim population, estimated at between 4.4 and 5.5 million in the country, which is leading to a rise in the number of funeral directors catering to Islamic rites and practices. The market is mainly made up of small players, with around 97% of undertakers employing fewer than 20 people, and around 64% of these being sole proprietorships. Despite the predominance of small entities, there is an upward trend in the number of companies providing funeral services, which increased by 18% between 1998 and 2018. Geographically, the market shows variations, with the highest average prices for direct services observed in Saxony-Anhalt, while Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania offers the most affordable options...

Profile of the main players in the German funeral market

In the diverse and evolving landscape of the German funeral market, several outstanding players have established themselves as leading figures, offering a variety of services to meet the growing demands shaped by demographic and cultural change.

• As an online comparator, BESTATTUNGEN.DE plays an essential role in offering transparency and choice to consumers looking to compare different funeral service offerings. By bringing together information from different providers, it enables individuals to make informed decisions about funeral arrangements that match their preferences and financial constraints.
• The Federal Association of German Funeral Directors represents the interests of funeral directors throughout Germany. As an industry body, it sets professional standards, offers advice and helps member organizations navigate the regulatory framework governing funeral services. The association's role is crucial in guaranteeing quality and ethical practices in the market, and thus maintaining consumer confidence in the industry's players.

These players, along with the many local and regional funeral companies, create a market structure that offers consumers a wide range of choices. From traditional burials to modern, environmentally-friendly alternatives such as tree burials, the German funeral market is characterized by its ability to respond to the diverse cultural, religious and personal preferences of people faced with the sensitive and important issue of burying their loved ones.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 26/12/2023

Summary and extracts

List of charts

• Funeral industry turnover
• Growth forecasts for the funeral industry
• Development of the proportion of people aged 67 and over
• Average life expectancy by gender
• Funeral wishes
• The ratio of coffin and urn burials
• Legal form of the funeral home
• Breakdown of funeral homes by number of employees
• Distribution of funeral homes by turnover
• Number of funeral homes
• Ratio of expenses to revenue
• Turnover of German funeral homes
• Deaths in Germany