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Summary of our market study
In France, the funeral services market will be worth around €3 billion in 2022.
The global funeral services market was valued at $62.5 billion in 2023, with an expected growth rate of 6.1% per year to reach $113 billion in 2033.
In France, sales of funeral services grew by an average of 4.11% between 2015 and 2022, with the market expected to reach $3 billion in 2022 . The French market, made up mainly of national players with a high degree of local integration, is expected to experience continued growth due to structural demographic changes, including an aging population and an increased preference for cremation over burial.
In 2022, there were around 4,413 funeral service companies in France, and the number of deaths reached around 673,637, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a heat wave. The market is tending to consolidate, with major players such as Funécap and OGF (20% market share by 2022), but is also seeing the entry of mutual insurers such as La Maison des Obsèques. Funeral services are diversifying, with more ecological and digital solutions emerging as key trends.
Demand for funeral services in France against a backdrop of demographic change
The French funeral market is a sector that has continued to grow despite changing demographics, cultural practices and consumer expectations. Between 2009 and 2022, the number of deaths in France rose sharply. This represents a substantial increase of around 25% over the entire period studied.
Insee projections predict even higher annual death rates by 2050, reaching a minimum of around 770,000. This upward trend, due in part to the aging of the population and known as the "papy-boom" effect, creates a constant demand for funeral services.
A significant development in the market is the growing preference for cremation over traditional burial practices. Over a decade, the desire for burial has fallen by 10 points to 37%, while the preference for cremation has jumped by 10 points to 63%. The choice of burial or cremation is often influenced by personal beliefs and environmental considerations.
Demand for eco-certified coffins and biodegradable urns has exploded, with 52% of French people expressing a preference for these options. In line with the ecological movement, innovative practices such as humusation and the use of bicycle hearses symbolize a deeper ecological awareness in the funeral industry. Another trend we're seeing is a push towards personalization and digital integration. Consumers are seeking to ensure that their funerals faithfully reflect their identity and personal ties. For example, customizable caskets and digital obituaries are gaining ground, meeting the needs of a population that has integrated technology into its daily life.
In addition, end-of-life care for pets has become a booming sector, mirroring the human funeral market. With over 50% of French households owning a pet, specialized funeral services for pet owners are on the increase, including undertakers specializing in pet burials.
Despite changing preferences and trends, small local funeral operators retain a competitive edge over larger groups, often offering more affordable options.
Main market players
- OGF - Pompes Funèbres Générales: OGF, short for "Organisation Générale des Funérailles", is one of the oldest and largest players in the French funeral market.
- Funécap: A relative newcomer to the market compared to OGF, Funécap has rapidly developed into a significant market force. Thanks to aggressive growth strategies involving mergers and acquisitions, Funécap has steadily increased its market share.
- La Maison des Obsèques: The entry of mutual insurer La Maison des Obsèques, a spin-off from the mutual insurance sector, represents a new angle of attack on the funeral market.
- Independent local players: Beyond the national giants, the market is also teeming with local, independent companies serving families in their own communities. These players are known for their personalized touch and in-depth knowledge of local traditions and sentiments. While they may not have the financial clout of the big competitors, they often win the loyalty of their customers thanks to their tailor-made services.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of study
The funeral market is the market linked to funerals organized following the death of a person. Formerly handled in France by public players and in particular La Société des Pompes funèbres générales in the XIXᵉ century, the sector has been liberalized since 1993. Numerous companies are now investing in the market.
The funeral market is made up of two main players:
- Funeral services (organization of the funeral, provision of the coffin or urn (depending on the choice of cremation or burial), transfer of the body and hygienic care of the deceased)
- Marble services (making headstones and monuments, flowers and cemetery fees)
On a global scale, the funeral sector is experiencing significant growth, and is expected to grow by 6.1% annually between 2023 and 2033.
The French market has seen average growth of 3.6% between 2015 and 2023. This market is made up of a multitude of small and medium-sized private players with highly developed territorial roots. However, the market is tending to concentrate around major national players such as Funécap and OGF, following multiple mergers and acquisitions.
The funeral market is also facing the arrival of new players: mutual insurance companies. Formerly organized through partnerships with the historic players in the funeral industry, their offer is evolving. They want to be able to support their members as closely as possible right up to the end of their lives. La Maison des Obsèques, created by mutual insurers, is one example. In addition, funeral insurance products are on the rise, making it easier to organize a funeral following a death.
The funeral market is closely linked to France's structural demographic changes, which are conducive to its growth. To remain dynamic, market players are renewing and diversifying their offerings: more ecologically responsible solutions (such as eco-certified coffins) and low-cost products are emerging. We should also note the growing importance of online communication by the various networks and players in the funeral industry, who are promoting their services via digital channels.
Finally, practices are evolving, and cremation is increasingly being chosen over traditional burial. As a result, the number of cremations carried out each year is increasing, as is the number of crematoria created.
In the case of cremation, the deceased can choose the destination of the post-cremation ashes, including:
- In the countryside ;
- In a cemetery;
- On private property.
1.2 Global market
In ****, the global funeral market will be worth $**.* billion, and is expected to grow at an average annual rate of *.*% over the next ten years, reaching $*** billion in ****.
Forecast growth in funeral sales World, ****-****, in billions of dollars Source: ****
The funeral market varies widely around the world, as funeral expenses differ according to religious practices and customs. Cremation is always less expensive than burial. In the Hindu religion, for example, cremation is the norm, whereas in the Muslim religion it is forbidden, and burial takes place only in a white sheet.
1.3 The French funeral market
In France in ****, funeral sales will total just over * billion euros, up *.*% on ****. The funeral market in France is essentially made up of national players, with relatively strong local roots. **% of undertakers are independent, as are **% of funeral services (***).
Sales index trends France, ****-****, index base *** **** Source: ****
Over the period prior to Covid, we can see a steady increase in sales in the funeral services market in France, with a CAGR (***) of *.**% between **** and ****, and a higher rise of *.*% between **** and ****. Over the total period, from **** to ****, the CAGR is *.*%.
Trend in funeral services sales growth rate France, ****-****, in Source: ...
1.4 The impact of COVID-19 on the funeral market
The number of deaths in France in **** was directly affected by the COVID-** pandemic. Indeed, this virus led to a **% rise in the number of deaths in March-April **** compared with the same period in ****.
However, the deaths during this period should not be confused with the disease itself. In fact, as INSEE points out, March and April brought together a pandemic and the implementation of living conditions that were very different from everyday French life: confinement led to a reduction in the transmission of the usual viral diseases, a drop in pollution and less exposure to accidents (***). These data are difficult ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 A structural demographic trend that favors market development
Number of deaths France, ****-****, in units Source: ****
This statistic shows the number of deaths in France from **** to ****. The lowest level of deaths in France was reached in ****, when around ***,*** deaths were recorded. In contrast, the highest number of deaths is observed in ****, with around ***,*** deaths, according to Insee. This higher figure in **** than in **** is due to the continuation of the Covid** epidemic and the heatwave in the summer of ****.
The number of deaths in **** will be ***,***, down *.*% on ****. This represents an increase of **.*% over the total period studied. In ****, INSEE forecasts a minimum of ***,*** deaths. This can be ...
2.2 A change in French expectations
Burial:
People who prefer to be buried are more likely to be men (***). also, the older the respondents, the less they want to be buried, but prefer to be cremated: **% of **-** year-olds want to be buried, while only **% of those aged ** and over do.[***].
French people explain their preference for burial for **% of them by the fact that it is important for their loved ones to be able to come and pay their respects on a grave in which there is a body, and for **% of women (***) [***]
In the case of burial, the funeral operator must offer a coffin that ...
2.3 The importance of religious ceremonial
In line with the decline of religious services in France, **% of French people want a religious ceremony for their funeral, compared with **% in ****. the percentage of people not wishing a ceremony (***).
What type of ceremony do you prefer for your own funeral? France, **** - ****, in % Source: ****
Religious ceremonies vary by faith. The Fédération Française des Pompes Funèbres outlines the main differences:
The Catholic faith : In principle, Catholic funerals consist of a church service (***) followed by a time of prayer at the cemetery. Although the Catholic faith prefers burial, cremation has been authorized since ****. The costs of the ...
2.4 Demand trends
Ecology
Reduce your impact on nature, even after your death.
Planting a remembrance tree is an idea that appeals to two out of three French people (***) as an option. [***]
French people's ecological commitment after death France, ****, in Source: ****
Cardboard coffins currently account for just *% of the market, and are hampered by a poor image of cardboard (***), which are immediately burned or buried.
A new practice, humusation, aims to transform the body into biodegradable compost that can be used for the soil. This practice was authorized in Washington State in **** and is currently being tested in Brussels. The advantages of this technique ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Market organization and dynamics
Here's a simplified value chain for the funeral industry:
It should be noted that the urns containing the ashes of people who have chosen cremation are not necessarily placed in a cemetery, but can be kept with a relative or scattered in nature after prefectoral authorization.
Funeral services data are referenced under NAF code **.**Z.
The number of companies on the French funeral market has been rising steadily since ****. According to INSEE, in ****, there were *,*** companies on the funeral market, up *.**% on **** and *.*% on ****.
In ****, there was an increase of ** companies compared with ****, probably due to the health crisis. This increase ...
3.2 Small stores are the most competitive on the market
Small companies more competitive than large groups
Source: ****
The two cheapest estimates for burial and cremation are from local undertakers, not large groups.
Generally speaking, a quote for a burial from a franchise network (***) will cost €***.** more than a quote from a local undertaker. Similarly, to a lesser extent, for a cremation, the local company will remain €**.** cheaper than the franchise.
Prices vary between stores and the Internet
Source: ****
Internet prices are always higher than in-store prices. A burial will cost on average €*** more on the Internet than in a store, while a cremation will cost on average €*** more.
Prices vary ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Products and services
Services marked with an * are those that must be contracted with a funeral service. Other services are optional and cannot be imposed.
4.2 Prices vary by company and service
In a study by Famille Rurales in ****, investigators asked several funeral companies for the "cheapest possible" quote for a cremation or burial. The results showed significant disparities, with the most expensive quote worth up to five times that of the cheapest .
Base rate for a burial in several funeral companies France, ****, in € Source: ****
Average price of a funeral with burial, in ****
Source: ****
Basic rate for a cremation in several funeral companies France, ****, in € Source: ****
Average price of a cremation funeral, in ****
Source: ****
These price differences can be explained by the level and quality of the services offered, but are also sometimes ...
4.3 A complementary product: funeral insurance
A funeral insurance policy covers funeral expenses and guarantees your wishes after your death (***).
Every year, around ***,*** people take out a funeral policy. Their reasons are generally to finance their own funeral, and to avoid being a burden on their families when the time comes. A total of *.* million French people were covered in ****, almost ***,*** contracts more than in ****, and this number is set to rise further, as the market has been growing by * to **% a year for the past ten years. [***]
According to Annie Dillard, marketing and communications director of the Prévoir group, "senior citizens represent **% of the customer ...
4.4 An associated service: flowers
In ****, **% of French households bought a cemetery plant (***) for an average budget of **.* euros.
Evolution of the proportion of French people who bought a cemetery plant during the year France, ****-****, in % Source: ****
In ****, the volume purchased from supermarkets fell by **% compared with ****. Other plant professionals have also seen their sales volumes decline. In fact, garden centers are down *%, while growers are down **%. Florists and agricultural self-service outlets, on the other hand, saw positive growth of *% and **% respectively.
Breakdown of cemetery flower purchases by volume France, ****, in millions Source: ****
The chrysanthemum market is worth *** million euros and is mainly reserved for ...
5 Regulations
5.1 A highly regulated business
Obligations of next-of-kin following a death
In France, the use of an undertaker is compulsory, as they are the only employees authorized to perform the committal (***) and to provide a funeral vehicle. You are free to choose your own company.
The profession is highly regulated
A detailed, free, written estimate is required. Commercial canvassing is prohibited. All hearses and vehicles used to transport the deceased must pass a conformity inspection every three years (***).
Fares are set freely by companies. However, regulations governing the prices of funeral services require precise labeling indicating the total price of the coffin and accessories, as well ...
5.2 Demanding professional training
A professional qualification is required to work in funeral services.
A national diploma in thanatopraxy is required for the right to care for the deceased. This diploma is obtained after *** hours of theoretical training and ** months of practical training.
The next step is to obtain authorization from the prefecture to practice the profession. This authorization is valid for * year for companies with less than * years' experience, and for a further * years from the date of issue. Professionals must justify their qualification to practice the activity by means of a diploma obtained after *** hours of theoretical training, ** hours of additional training in ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Segmentation
- OGF
- Funécap groupe
- Pompes Funèbres Pascal Leclerc (Funecap)
- Roc Eclerc
- Le choix Funéraire
- Sérenium (OGF)
- Services Funéraires Ville de Paris
- Lassurance.obsèques.fr
- Rebillon (Funecap)
- En sa mémoire
- La Maison des Obsèques (vyv Groupe)
- Sorenir
- Comitam
- Simplifia
- Seiven
- Prestige Granit
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