Boom in cremation hides surprising truths about what Americans really want when they die

A new study suggests that the decades-long march toward cremation may not last forever – particularly if Gen Z’s preferences pan out.

By: Tanya D. Marsh, Wake Forest University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 24, 2026

Words: 1,350

Last Updated: 3 months ago

By Tanya D. Marsh, Wake Forest University

Nearly two-thirds of Americans now opt for cremation – a figure that has been steadily increasing over five decades.

On the surface, that proportion tells a simple story: The nation has embraced cremation, while its preference for casket burials has fallen off.

But as a scholar of funeral and cemetery law, I decided to dig deeper into this trend.

I wanted to know whether people were embracing …

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