ARTICLE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barbara Kemmis Phone: (312) 245-1077 499 Northgate Parkway Wheeling, IL 60090-2646 Barbara@cremationassociation.org
Snapshot: Cremation Statistics from the U.S. Pandemic
WHEELING, IL—How fast is cremation growing? Reporters and practitioners alike frequently contact CANA with this question. CANA has tracked cremation rates since the first mechanized cremation in 1867. It took nearly 100 years for the national cremation rate to hit 5%; it grew steadily and predictably at about 1-2% annually for the next 45 years, eventually exceeding 50% in 2016.
A few years ago, CANA worked with its consultant to better understand this growth pattern. A key insight from this research was that while some states’ rates grow faster than others, the national annual growth rate has remained steady and predictable through good times and bad. Recessions have impacted single states or regions over time, but never the entire country. (Figure 1)
Then came 2020. Everything has changed, including cremation growth. Anecdotally, members are reporting that they have seen increased cremations in their businesses. Not only that death rates have increased, but more families are requesting cremation than before.
What have you experienced over the past six months? Does it seem as though death calls and cremations have increased in your business? If you track your own case data, you can verify it for yourself, but even without taking that step, you likely can feel it in your gut. And you are right.
Methodology
CANA collected data from 15 states for the period from March-August 2020. We chose this six-month period intentionally to examine the beginning of the pandemic. Staff followed methodologies from CANA’s Annual Cremation Statistics Reports published each year. Data was gathered from the vital statistics department of each state.
Please note that most states, as a matter of policy, do not release provisional data, but all states will be included in the next CANA Annual Statistics Report scheduled for publication in May 2021. The data reported here is provisional, subject to change, and collected from what was available at the time of publication.
Change in cremation count
The average annual cremation growth rate has been around 1.5% for the last decade, but the rate has jumped in these reporting states to an average of 2.74%. That average rate may be higher in your state or region. This is important as a benchmark for your own business and to plan for the immediate future. (Figure 2)
Change in Death Count
Looking at Figure 3, we see an estimate for the increased numbers of deaths and cremations in these states. Percentages are one way to measure change, but another sobering metric is to estimate the increased number of deaths and cremations in each of these states based on the principle of annualization. At the time of publication, coronavirus infections have surged across the country, so these estimates may be conservative. Annualization allows us to take six months of data, divide by six, and multiply by twelve to apply the percentage increase across a year. This is helpful to compare similar periods. (Figure 3)
For further consideration and discussion:
* Data received from Michigan differs from data reported by the CDC.
Please note: The CDC also reports weekly excess deaths by state and nationally. If your state is not included in CANA’s research, you may find it here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm. Scroll down to Options and Select “Total Excess Deaths” and click update dashboard to find your state.
This data is not representative of all of 2020 or the country as a whole. It is merely a snapshot of six months in time, which demonstrates a sharp increase in deaths this year from only 15 states.
Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,300 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.