Mobile Menu

Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Kathrina Gonzales Kathrina Gonzales Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: May 2024 ANZSIC S9520NZ

Revenue

$306.1m

2024-25

$306.1m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

1,114

Businesses

207

Wages

$XX.Xm

Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand industry analysis

Funeral, crematorium and cemetery service providers have been facing challenging operating conditions. Their revenue is closely tied to the number of annual deaths, which has seen an increase because of a growing population, specifically among those aged 70 and older. This has somewhat boosted funeral and other death-related service revenue. Rising disposable household income has provided clients additional funds for higher-priced burial options. However, the industry faces growing competition, contributing to a decline in revenue. In addition, although a larger aging population suggests more frequent use of funeral services, the potential increase in demand could be mitigated by trends like rising health consciousness and medical advancements that extend life expectancy. Revenue is projected to fall by an annualised rate of 2.0% over the five years through 2024-25, amounting to $306.1 million. The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially affected the industry, fuelling a surge in demand for more cost-efficient cremations. This trend has reduced the expenditure on other death-related services, further limiting industry revenue growth, resulting in a projected 2.1% drop in revenue in 2024-25.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry faces declining revenues despite an aging population and higher disposable income. Increased competition and a shift towards cheaper cremation options, alongside improved health and longevity trends, contribute to this decline.
  • The cost-effectiveness of cremation services compared to traditional burials has sustained their popularity. This affordability has led to substantial revenue growth within this segment as more mourners opt for lower-cost options like direct cremation.
  • Auckland's large and aging demographic drives a significant demand for the industry. This underscores the importance of Auckland as a key market for funeral service providers.
  • Funerals and other death-related service providers compete based on the price and the quality of their services. Providers can also attract clients by offering various funeral, crematorium and cemetery services and products.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $306.1m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Cost-efficient funeral services have become more popular, cutting into revenue

  • Although the number of deaths may rise, the industry still faces a decrease in overall service demand because of a stronger preference for simpler, more cost-effective funeral options.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Religious affiliations and environmental concerns will continue influencing death-related services

  • Cremation is forbidden in many religions, like Islam, Judaism and a range of Christian denominations. More and more individuals are identifying as agnostic or atheist, resulting in more requests for lower-cost cremations and limiting revenue.

Biggest companies in the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
InvoCare New Zealand
53.0
PFP (NZ)
42.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Professional services, Coffins, caskets and other purchases and Burial services. Professional services is the largest segment of the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

Low-cost cremation services prove popular among mourners

  • Cremation is the process of disintegrating a deceased person's body into ashes through furnaces.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry participants operate funeral homes, cemeteries and crematoria. Services provided include managing and conducting funerals, cremations and burials, and undertaking and embalming services.

What's included in this industry?

Cremation servicesCoffins, caskets and other purchasesBurial servicesProfessional servicesOther disbursements

Companies

InvoCare New ZealandPFP (NZ)

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CASKET CREMATIONEMBALMINGGREEN BURIALS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 9520 - Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The industry faces declining revenues despite an aging population and higher disposable income. Increased competition and a shift towards cheaper cremation options, alongside...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The cost-effectiveness of cremation services compared to traditional burials has sustained their popularity. This affordability has led to substantial revenue growth within t...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Auckland's large and aging demographic drives a significant demand for the industry. This underscores the importance of Auckland as a key market for funeral service providers...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Funerals and other death-related service providers compete based on the price and the quality of their services. Providers can also attract clients by offering various funera...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Major funeral and death-related service providers' parent companies have been engaging in acquisitions. This strategic move has consolidated providers and leveraged resources...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of InvoCare New Zealand's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of PFP (NZ)'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for InvoCare New Zealand, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for PFP (NZ), and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Mandated by the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 and additional regulations, funeral service providers ensure appropriate death certification, burial land management and complian...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry is experiencing higher profit margins influenced by price markups on products like coffins and increased cemetery regulations, raising service costs. These promp...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand in 2024?

The market size of the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand is $306.1m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand industry in 2024?

There are 207 businesses in the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services market in New Zealand?

The biggest companies operating in the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services market in New Zealand are InvoCare New Zealand and PFP (NZ)

What does the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand include?

Cremation services and Coffins, caskets and other purchases are part of the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services in New Zealand?

The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is InvoCare New Zealand.

How competitive is the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Funeral, Crematorium and Cemetery Services industry in New Zealand.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in New Zealand

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in New Zealand include:

  • Statistics New Zealand
  • New Zealand Company Register
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.