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full screen Sweden has the world’s longest average time between death and burial, states Ulf Lernéus, director of the association of Sweden’s Authorized Funeral Directors. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT
The time between death and burial is increasing, according to new figures from Sweden’s Authorized Funeral Agencies.
After a change in the law in 2012 with the aim of shortening the time, the national average dropped from 21.6 days to 19 days, but twelve years later it has instead increased to 26.4 days.
The longest time was reported in Stockholm – 29.7 days. Instead, Jämtland has the shortest time with 24.1 days in a compilation of 6,340 burials in October and November 2024.
“Sweden still has the world’s longest average time between death and burial. It raises questions about how we as a society prioritize the treatment of our deceased,” says union director Ulf Lernéus in a press release.
In 2012, the funeral law was changed so that the time between death and burial, or cremation, may be one month instead of two.