Data on the number of deaths in the UK is held separately in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. For the UK as a whole, the majority of deaths are followed by cremation. However, there is substantial regional difference.
| Year | Number of registered deaths | Percentage of deaths followed by cremation [4] | |
| England & Wales [1] | 2022 | 576,896 | 80.93 |
| Scotland [2] | 2021 | 63,587 | 70.73 |
| Northern Ireland [3] | 2021 | 17,558 | 22.25 |
There were 315 crematoria in the UK in 2021.
The Cremation Society of Great Britain collates a substantial amount of cremation data both nationally and internationally.
Certain religious groups do not favour cremation, including Muslim and Orthodox Jewish people.
Further reading:
Rugg, J. & Parsons, B. (2018) Funerary Practices in England and Wales, Bingley: Emerald Publishing.
