In Russia, the number of funeral homes has sharply increased. In…
In Russia, the number of funeral homes has sharply increased. In Russia — a record rise in the number of funeral companies over five years. In the first half of 2026, the number of registrations of companies specializing in ritual services in Russia increased by 22.5% year-on-year to 995.
Consensus
- The number of new funeral service companies in Russia increased by 22.6% year-on-year in the first half of 2026.
- Total registered organizations providing funeral services in Russia reached 11,500 by mid-2026.
- 81% of market participants are individual entrepreneurs.
- The growth is attributed to formalization (‘obelenie’) of previously informal businesses and changes in tax legislation allowing business fragmentation.
- Rosstat does not publish mortality data for Russia.
- Spending on funeral services increased by 9.6% year-on-year from January to May 2026, reaching 57.8 billion rubles.
- The number of deaths in Russia rose by only 0.9% year-on-year in January–June 2025, according to Rosstat and the Ministry of Health.
Points of divergence
- One expert mentioned that war-related deaths (at least 3,600 Russian military personnel killed on the front in the first half of 2026) could be a factor, though no experts interviewed by the outlet cited this as a cause. — novaya_eu
- One expert suggested that companies are splitting into multiple individual entrepreneurs due to the reduction of the VAT exemption threshold from 60 million to 20 million rubles. — meduza
Coverage (7 sources)
- Number of new funeral companies in Russia rose by 22.5% over six months, — Kommersant — ASTRA
- Number of funeral companies in Russia grew by 22% over the year. This is a record for five years — Новая газета Европа
- Number of funeral homes in Russia has sharply increased — Московский кэш
- Number of funeral companies in Russia increased by more than 20% over the year — Meduza
- Record increase in funeral home companies in Russia over five years — Дождь
- Record increase in funeral home companies in Russia over five years — Дождь (Telegram)
- Number of funeral company registrations increased by 22.5% — Коммерсантъ