According to an expert in death studies at the University of Bath, there will be an expected 17% rise in the UK death rate by the year 2030 as baby boomers - the generation born between 1946-1964 - enter their twilight years. This means an additional 100,000 deaths per year, which could ultimately cause strain on the UK’s funeral industry.

As the post-war “baby boomer” generation are also living longer than previous generations there are additional concerns about the rising costs of funerals and end of life care, both of which currently outpace the rate of inflation.

In this article we will look at:

• How much funerals and end of life care will cost in coming years.

• How do people pay for their funerals?

• Why you should start thinking about planning your funeral and end of life care now.

• How you can plan ahead to have the funeral you want.

How much will funerals and end of life care cost in coming years?

The average cost of a funeral in the UK in 2025

According to SunLife’s Cost of Dying report, the average cost for an attended funeral in the UK is £4,285, a 3.5% increase from 2023. The most expensive type of funeral is an  attended burial at £5,198, and the most affordable option is a direct burial with no service (and excluding burial plot costs) at £1,527.

If we assume funeral costs will rise at the same rate of 3.5% each year, by the year 2030 the average funeral may cost approximately £5,090.

The average cost of end of life care in the UK in 2025

End of life care, which may include palliative care, care homes, or home-based care can cost between £700-£2,000 per week. These costs are also expected to increase as people are living longer and the costs of services like senior care increase over time.

There is financial assistance available, but this may depend on whether you qualify or not.

How are people paying for their funerals?

Most people pay for their funerals in these ways:

• Prepaid funeral plans.

• Savings.

• Current account.

• Over 50s life insurance plans.

• Other life insurance plans.

SunLife’s report shows that only about half of people have put aside enough money to pay for their funeral in full. The remaining costs may be paid by their family or next of kin with savings, credit cards, loans, government assistance or crowdfunding.

The cost of living crisis has also impacted how much people are able to put aside for their funeral, and around 35% of people in Britain have no savings, according to the Office for National Statistics.

If an individual cannot pay for their funeral, the costs and responsibility will be taken up by the local council or Trust. Public Health Funerals (PHF) have risen by 47% in the last 7 years, as lack of funds appears to be the biggest factor. These funerals are usually very basic as councils must keep costs down.

1. Lock in the price you want.

2. Plan for the funeral you want.

3. Avoid financial burden on loved ones.

4. Avoid delays as funeral directors become overburdened.

5. Book your burial plot in advance to protect from space shortage.

Some areas of the UK are experiencing space shortages for burial plots which could increase in coming years. Arranging your funeral now and booking your burial plot well in advance is advisable if burial is your choice.

6. A State-funded funeral may not be what you want.

Public Health Funerals (PHF) or state-funded funerals have risen dramatically in the last few years as more people are dying without assets. These funerals tend to be very basic, usually direct cremation by default. If it is a burial there will be no grave marker. These funerals also tend to take longer to arrange which may result in being kept in a mortuary for weeks or even months.

How To Have The Funeral You Want By Planning Ahead

The “cost of dying” in the UK has never been higher than it is right now and it is only expected to increase. The rise in annual deaths by 2030 may also contribute to critical burial space shortages and overwhelmed funeral directors and mortuaries. Recording your funeral wishes now and planning ahead will allow you and your loved ones to focus on the important things when the time comes - making memories and celebrating your life.

Plan your funeral now to beat rising costs and shortages

1. Get started by recording your funeral wishes using our free funeral planning tool where you can opt to plan a funeral now or a funeral for the future.

2. You can plan a funeral for yourself or for someone else.

3. Enter your choices including type of funeral, type of burial or cremation, attended or unattended, plus extras like flowers, music, or specialist coffin.

4. Compare trusted funeral directors on our database to find one that matches your requirements and budget.

5. Create a funeral plan or choose a prepaid funeral plan and store all the details in your The Farewell Guide account. All your data is secure and encrypted.

6. Add special photos and important documents.

7. Share your funeral plan with your loved ones so they know what you want.

Suggested Reading

Important documents: https://www.thefarewellguide.co.uk/view-document-downloads

Prepaid Funeral Plans: How They Are Regulated and How We Help You Stay Safe

The Ultimate Guide to Prepaid Funeral Plans in the UK

How To Find A Loved One’s Prepaid Funeral Plan

Getting help from the Government for your funeral costs