The funeral market - Spain

Funeral services include all the services and products offered to relatives at the time of an individual's death. This is a very sensitive subject for relatives, and the services offered are often extremely regulated by the States, with cultural specificities specific to each country. A distinction is made between services directly related to the deceased (choice of coffin, grave, hygienic care, etc.) and external services such as decorations or flowers. At the global level, the North American market dominates: the United States is worth more than 16 billion dollars. In Europe, France is the largest market, ahead of the United Kingdom and Germany. Globally, the funeral market has seen a surge in sales due to the emergence of covid-19. The rise in deaths has driven the increase in sales, while public attention has focused on funeral practices, although the increase in volumes remains relatively small and has been concentrated in the second quarter of 2020 in Europe. In Spain, approximately 1,100 companies operate in the peninsula and the funeral market employs over 11,000 people in the peninsula. The practice of cremation is growing and is chosen by around 45% of Spaniards today, with clear disparities depending on the area. This practice is much more important in urban areas than in rural areas, and in the South of the country than in the North. In 2023, new trends are emerging, with the digitalization of the sector, the need for more transparency and, above all, the desire of Spaniards for more sustainable and environmentally friendlyceremonies. In fact, the PSOE has recently proposed measures to reduce the environmental impact of the funeral sector.[Niusdiario]