Learn · The numbers
Cremation Statistics
How common cremation is, how fast it's grown, and how often remains end up with nowhere to go. The data behind why RetURN.org exists.
CANA & The Harris Poll · May 2022
21.9 million cremated remains are sitting in U.S. homes
21.9M
cremated remains in U.S. homes
1.6M
cremated remains in Canadian homes
68%
keep remains in an urn
19%
still use the temporary container
The say-do gap
About half of consumers say they want to be scattered. The volume of remains sitting in homes shows that scattering is routinely delayed, or never happens at all.
Source: Cremation Association of North America & The Harris Poll, May 2022. Online survey of 3,010 U.S. and Canadian adults who had either made a cremation decision or currently keep a loved one's remains at home. Statistics provided by CANA.