Iran war driving up funeral costs in United Kingdom

The war in Iran is pushing up the cost of living in the United Kingdom, but it is also driving up the ‘cost of dying’ as higher gas prices feed through to funerals.

A report has found the average cost of a funeral in Britain is running ahead of inflation, with the war seemingly partly to blame as it has pushed up the price of gas used in crematoriums.

The average traditional funeral now costs £4 623 (about N$104 000), which is up 1.3% since January, according to the study of more than 270 funeral directors across England, Scotland and Wales.

This is estimated to be well above the rate of inflation for the same period, funeral provider Pure Cremation, which published the research, says.

The data shows the cost of a cremation funeral “has risen more sharply than a burial funeral”, which the study says was “likely [to be] linked to the rising cost of fuel as a result of the Iran war”.

The average cremation is now £4 293 (about N$96 000) – up 1.4% on January’s figure. Meanwhile, the average burial is up by 1% to £6 129 (about N$138 000).

The Bank of England says between December 2025 and February this year (the most recent month available), UK prices increased by 0.1% overall. Meanwhile, the most recent official data showed annual UK inflation running at 3%.

Most cremators in the UK are fuelled using gas – either natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

However, there are a small number of electric cremators, and the government recently said more were expected to be installed in the next few years.

Global gas prices have soared in the past few weeks as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. In some countries, such as India, fuel shortages resulting from the war have meant gas-fired cremations have been halted in some areas.

Pure Cremation’s research found that while the overall average increase in funeral costs between January and late March was 1.3%, this disguised regional variations. In London, the average figure increased by almost 2%, or £116 (about N$2 600).

In Scotland, the increase was just over 2%.

The most popular type of funeral now is an attended cremation – these made up 53% of the total last year, according to the insurer SunLife.

However, ‘direct cremations’ have grown in popularity since the pandemic and now make up more than a fifth of all funerals. This is a cheaper, no-frills option with, typically, no service – so no mourners, flowers, limos or hymns – leaving families free to organise a more personal sendoff later.

That leaves burials with a 26% share of the market.

Pure Cremation’s study is described as “the biggest ever study of funeral costs across Great Britain”.

It says a traditional funeral includes the funeral director’s fees, the cost of the burial and plot or crematorium fees, plus other costs – dependent on the funeral type – such as an additional limousine, a celebrant, embalming and returning the ashes. – The Guardian

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.