Data last verified: 13 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The number of UK funeral businesses rose 60.6% between 2010 and 2026, from 1,410 to 2,265.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/funeral-directors/uk-funeral-industry, 2026-11-13. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 13, 2026
Read a short summary
General summary
The UK had 2,265 funeral businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 60.6% up on 2010 (1,410) and 9.4% up on 2021 (2,070). 77.9% employ fewer than ten people. Wales has the most per head, 5.2 per 100,000 residents. London has the fewest, 1.7.
Bullet points
- 2,265 UK funeral businesses in March 2026 (ONS).
- Compared with 2010: 60.6% up on 2010 (1,410).
- Compared with 2021: 9.4% up on 2021 (2,070).
- 77.9% employ fewer than ten people.
- Most per head: Wales, 5.2 per 100,000 residents. Fewest: London, 1.7.
Basic explainer
A funeral business arranges or carries out funerals. This page counts how many of these businesses there are in the UK, using official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It shows how the number has changed since 2010, how big the businesses are and where they are based. It also sets out the price list rules made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK competition regulator. A business with several branches is counted once.
These summaries were written with AI from this page only. The full page below is the record.
Short answer: the UK had 2,265 funeral businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 60.6% up on 2010 (1,410) and 9.4% up on 2021 (2,070). 77.9% employ fewer than ten people. Wales has the most per head, 5.2 per 100,000 residents; London has the fewest, 1.7.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations. The official category is “Funeral and related activities”, so it includes funeral directors and other funeral-related businesses. A business with several branches is counted once.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral businesses (UK, SIC 96030) | 2,265 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +60.6% (from 1,410) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | +9.4% (from 2,070) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 1,765 (77.9%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 5 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | Wales, 5.2 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | London, 1.7 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
The count year by year
| Year | Businesses (UK) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,410 |
| 2011 | 1,415 |
| 2012 | 1,480 |
| 2013 | 1,475 |
| 2014 | 1,555 |
| 2015 | 1,710 |
| 2016 | 1,745 |
| 2017 | 1,795 |
| 2018 | 1,855 |
| 2019 | 1,935 |
| 2020 | 1,990 |
| 2021 | 2,070 |
| 2022 | 2,180 |
| 2023 | 2,210 |
| 2024 | 2,190 |
| 2025 | 2,220 |
| 2026 | 2,265 |
The highest count in this period was 2,265 in 2026. The lowest was 1,410 in 2010. Each count is a snapshot taken in March of that year.
How big are funeral businesses?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 1,765 | 77.9% |
| 10 to 49 | 460 | 20.3% |
| 50 to 249 | 35 | 1.5% |
| 250 or more | 5 | 0.2% |
| Total | 2,265 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 96030 “Funeral and related activities”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where funeral businesses are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 95 | 155 | 165 | 5.2 | +73.7% | +6.5% |
| Northern Ireland | 65 | 90 | 100 | 5.2 | +53.8% | +11.1% |
| South West | 150 | 215 | 230 | 3.9 | +53.3% | +7.0% |
| North West | 200 | 265 | 290 | 3.7 | +45.0% | +9.4% |
| East Midlands | 95 | 150 | 185 | 3.6 | +94.7% | +23.3% |
| North East | 55 | 95 | 100 | 3.6 | +81.8% | +5.3% |
| Scotland | 135 | 200 | 200 | 3.6 | +48.1% | 0.0% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 130 | 190 | 185 | 3.3 | +42.3% | -2.6% |
| West Midlands | 120 | 165 | 195 | 3.1 | +62.5% | +18.2% |
| East of England | 115 | 165 | 195 | 2.9 | +69.6% | +18.2% |
| South East | 155 | 245 | 275 | 2.8 | +77.4% | +12.2% |
| London | 100 | 130 | 155 | 1.7 | +55.0% | +19.2% |
| United Kingdom | 1,410 | 2,070 | 2,265 | 3.3 | +60.6% | +9.4% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- Wales has about 3.1 times as many per head as London (5.2 against 1.7 per 100,000 residents).
- Fastest growth since 2010: East Midlands (+94.7%). Slowest: Yorkshire and The Humber (+42.3%).
- 10 of the 12 regions and nations have more businesses than in 2021. 1 have fewer and 1 has the same count.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
Since 16 September 2021, all funeral directors must display a Standardised Price List at their premises and on their website. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) made this a legal duty in the Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021.
The list must show the headline price of a funeral, the price of the individual items that make up the funeral, and the price of certain additional products and services.
Since 17 June 2021, funeral directors may not pay hospitals, hospices, care homes or similar institutions to refer customers to them. Crematorium operators must also give set price information to funeral directors and customers. Source: CMA press release, 16 June 2021.
What Whito’s research adds
Whito’s other funeral pages: We Checked 56 UK Funeral Directors’ Websites for the Price List the Law Requires, Funeral Cost Transparency UK 2026: The Figures and the Rules, How Families Find a Funeral Director Now. This page adds the official business counts, by size, by region and by year.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the industry. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 96030, all legal statuses, March snapshots for 2010 to 2026, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 13 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Compare with other industries: see how funeral directors compare with eleven other UK industries by number of businesses, growth since 2010 and business size, in one table: UK industries compared 2026.
Common questions
How many funeral businesses are there in the UK?
2,265 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 96030). A business with several branches is counted once.
Is the number of funeral businesses growing?
It rose 9.4% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 60.6% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most funeral businesses?
By number, North West (290). Per head, Wales, with 5.2 per 100,000 residents.
Are most funeral businesses small?
Yes. 1,765 of 2,265 (77.9%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 13 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- Competition and Markets Authority, CMA requires clearer prices and information from funeral providers (16 June 2021): GOV.UK
