The number of people training to become funeral directors in Germany reached a record high in 2025, according to official statistical agency Destatis.
Figures reported by news agency RIA Novosti show that 900 people were undergoing vocational training in funeral services across the country by the end of the year. That total represents more than double the 430 apprentices who were studying in the specialty ten years earlier.
The career has proved especially popular among women, who now make up a substantial majority of the country's mortuary trainees. In 2015, women accounted for 46 percent of those studying to work in funeral homes, but that share has since surged to 61 percent.
Expansion of the German funeral sector
The influx of trainees comes alongside steady growth across the wider bereavement industry in Germany, the most populous nation in the European Union. Destatis records show that in 2024, 32,000 people were employed across 4,200 funeral industry enterprises, generating a combined national turnover of 2.4 billion euros.
Destatis, formally known as the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, is the federal government agency responsible for collecting, processing, and publishing economic and demographic statistics. In Germany, undertakers and morticians traditionally complete certified vocational training through the country's dual apprenticeship system, which combines practical employment at a licensed funeral parlour with structured classroom instruction at a specialized vocational college.
Aging demographics and rising death rates
Statistical analysts attribute the rising demand for funeral staff directly to Germany's aging population. The country has one of the highest median ages in Europe, with long-term demographic shifts steadily translating into higher annual mortality.
Around one million people died in Germany in 2025, according to Destatis. That figure represents an increase of 9 percent compared with the annual death toll recorded ten years earlier.
At the same time, the cost of bereavement has continued to climb for German households. The average cost of funeral services and the municipal fees charged for cemetery plots increased by 3.2 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. In Germany, cemetery plots are typically leased from local municipal or religious authorities for designated periods rather than purchased outright, making local cemetery tariff revisions a regular component of overall funeral bills.
Despite these increasing prices, financial support from public authorities has fallen. State spending allocated to assist low-income residents who cannot afford to cover the full cost of a relative's funeral dropped from 61.7 million euros to 51.6 million euros within a year, representing a 16.3 percent decrease.
Surging funeral expenses in Russia
Funeral price inflation has also emerged in Russia, where the price of funeral services has increased by 30 to 45 percent over the past three years.
Industry experts said the rapid escalation in Russian prices was driven by several overlapping factors. These include substantial price hikes for essential raw materials, increased transportation costs, and higher utility charges for maintaining and operating cemeteries.
The cost of organising a funeral in Russia now ranges between 150,000 and 400,000 roubles, depending on the region. In light of the sharp price increases, financial analysts have advised citizens to put money aside in advance to prepare for future funeral expenses.
