The increasing number of publicly funded funerals in England has raised concerns about the prevalence of loneliness among older men. A recent study conducted by the Local Government Association and the University of Southampton reveals that the trend is primarily driven by the lack of strong family connections and financial struggles in older men, rather than the commonly cited cost-of-living pressures.
Memoria Funerals, a subsidiary of the Memoria Group which operates a network of crematoria across mainland UK, has drawn attention to the demographic behind the rise in public health funerals. While media coverage has focused on the financial aspect of the trend, the research conducted by the LGA and Southampton highlights a different aspect of the issue – older men with limited family support and inadequate income in their old age.
According to the LGA’s latest report, English councils arranged over 4,400 public health funerals in the 2022/23 fiscal year, with a total expenditure of £5.96m. This represents a significant increase of 12.8% from the previous year. However, a more comprehensive study published in 2025 by the ESRC Centre for Population Change at the University of Southampton, using direct Freedom of Information data from all English local authorities, reveals that the actual number of public health funerals in 2020/21 was closer to 7,020, a 47% increase from 2014/15 when NHS trust-led funerals are included.
Interestingly, the research also found that the rate of public health funerals per 1,000 deaths has remained relatively stable in most parts of England over the past decade, suggesting that the rise is largely due to an ageing population.
The University of Southampton study also identified a specific demographic group behind the increasing trend, with men over 60 being more likely to have a public health funeral than women or younger adults. The research also highlights that the main contributing factor is not general economic deprivation, but a specific measure – the Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index, which looks at the proportion of over-60s living on low incomes in a particular area. Areas with a higher concentration of older people living on low incomes, such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, and coastal towns like Blackpool, Hastings and Hartlepool, have seen a higher number of public health funerals.
The LGA’s survey of councils further supports this finding, with 62% of councils citing lack of family or friends to arrange or finance the funeral as the primary reason for arranging a public health funeral. This indicates that many of these funerals are being paid for by the state because there is no one else available to take responsibility.
Steve Wallis, CEO of Memoria Funerals, has commented on the research, stating that the term “pauper’s funeral” has a Victorian connotation and does not accurately represent the situation. He also points out that while funeral plans can alleviate the financial burden on families, it does not address the underlying societal and relational issues that lead to public health funerals. Wallis urges people to have open conversations with their older relatives, friends, and neighbors to avoid such situations in the future.
In conclusion, the rise in public health funerals in England sheds light on the issue of loneliness among older men and the lack of support from family and friends. While financial products such as funeral plans can help in some cases, the underlying issue is a societal and relational one that requires attention and action.
