--- title: "Nearly half of people in the UK say they are likely to choose a humanist funeral" date: "2026-10-28T14:29:43+00:00" modified: "2026-10-28T15:31:27+00:00" url: "https://humanists.uk/2026/10/28/nearly-half-of-people-in-the-uk-likely-to-choose-a-humanist-funeral/" post_id: 201010 categories: ["Ceremonies", "News"] --- # Nearly half of people in the UK say they are likely to choose a humanist funeral ![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Funerals-patchwork-1200%C3%97628.png?resize=1200%2C628&ssl=1)**Nearly half of people in the UK, 48%, say they would be likely to choose a [humanist funeral](https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/non-religious-funerals/) for themselves, according to the latest Savanta polling.** The idea of a humanist funeral is even more popular with younger adults. Fifty-seven percent of people aged 16-34 say they would be likely to choose one. That compares with 48% of 35-54 year-olds and 41% of people aged 55 and over. That is a big rise since 2016, when a poll found that [one in seven people](https://humanists.uk/2016/12/08/14-of-britons-would-opt-for-a-humanist-funeral-as-new-figures-show-bha-ceremonies-more-popular-than-ever/) would choose a humanist funeral. Humanists UK says the result shows how normal humanist funerals have become in daily life. More than a quarter of the public, 28%, have been to at least one humanist ceremony. A third, 33%, have heard of them but never attended one. The findings come as a new book, *An Honest Death* by researcher Matthew Engelke, looks at the meaning of humanist funerals and the work of Humanists UK celebrants. ![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/GFG-Inspirational-Funerals-0035-2-1-1200x798.webp?resize=1200%2C798&ssl=1)#### **Why are people choosing humanist funerals?** The rise reflects how much Britain has changed. Humanists UK’s latest analysis of the British Social Attitudes survey found that [49% of people in the UK now have no religion](https://humanists.uk/2026/04/02/non-religion-is-the-new-normal-six-in-ten-under-35s-have-no-religion-new-analysis-finds/), rising to 61% of 16-34 year-olds. For many people who grew up without religion, or leave a religion in later life, a funeral that fits the way the person lived feels like the most respectful choice. At the heart of every humanist funeral is a simple idea: this is the one life we have. Humanists do not believe in an afterlife, so the funeral is not about what happens next. It is about the life that was lived: the person, the people they loved, what they cared about, and the mark they left behind. That is why no two humanist funerals are the same. Before the ceremony, a humanist funeral celebrant spends time with the family, often for several hours, to learn about the person who has died. They ask about the person’s story, personality, sense of humour, and dislikes. Humanist funerals can be formal or informal, upbeat or solemn. They can take place at a crematory, a cemetery, a woodland burial site, or a place that mattered to the person, such as a home or a favourite outdoor spot. ![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/An-Honest-Death-on-an-Oak-Desk.png?resize=1200%2C628&ssl=1)#### **A new book on humanist funerals** *An Honest Death* is an [intimate account of funerals](https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691280097/an-honest-death) for people who do not believe in god or an afterlife. Engelke trained as a humanist celebrant as part of his research, and he followed celebrants as they worked with bereaved families to create meaningful ceremonies. The book explores the core idea behind humanist funerals: if this is the only life we have, then it matters all the more to remember a person’s life honestly and well. #### **More than a century of humanist funerals** Humanists have been holding non-religious funerals in the UK for well over a century, and Humanists UK’s members helped pioneer the earliest humanist funerals in the [19th century](https://heritage.humanists.uk/humanist-ceremonies/). Today, Humanist Ceremonies celebrants are trained, accredited, insured, and quality assured by Humanists UK. Because the heart of every humanist funeral is the tribute – the story of the person’s life – we also created the [Humanist Funeral Tribute Archive](https://humanisttributearchive.uk/), the first national online archive of its kind. First launched in 2018, it now holds more than 400 tributes to people from all walks of life, often alongside photographs and orders of ceremony. It preserves the stories of loved ones for family and friends, and offers historians and researchers a unique record of ordinary lives and of how we remember those who have died. Anyone who has had a funeral led by a Humanist Ceremonies celebrant can have their story added, and the archive is free for anyone to explore. #### Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK, said: > ‘These findings show just how mainstream humanist funerals have become. Nearly half of people would now consider choosing one for themselves, rising to a clear majority among younger adults. More and more people want a funeral that reflects how they actually lived, celebrating the person, the relationships they formed, and the life they led, without introducing religious beliefs they didn’t hold. Humanist funerals offer exactly that: a meaningful way to say goodbye.’ #### Matthew Engelke, anthropologist and author of *An Honest Death*, said: > ‘Humanist funerals have become a vital part of the wider cultural landscape of death, grief, and mourning in contemporary Britain. In all the work they do, humanist celebrants centre a vision of secular life, a vision that is appealing to an ever greater cross-section of people. Like all good rituals, the funerals provided by Humanists UK provide a window into the values and worldviews that shape modern society.’ #### Notes Savanta interviewed 2,213 UK adults online between 11 and 14 September 2026. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade. [Full tables](https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026-10-22-NS-Humanist-Funeral-Polling.xlsx). For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at or phone 0203 675 0959 (media only). Order [*An Honest Death: Life’s End and Humanist Funerals*](https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691280097/an-honest-death) by Matthew Engelke. Read more about our work on [humanist funerals](https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/funerals/blog/what-is-a-humanist-funeral/). Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.