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How Falling Birth Rates Reshape the Funeral Industry
Description
Episode 24 of The Demographics Podcast looks at an unexpected corner of the economy hit by declining birth rates: the funeral industry. With fewer people dying in countries like Japan and Germany, funeral homes face shrinking demand, price competition, and a wave of consolidations. Lucas and Luna explore how Japan's 'death industry' is adapting—from cremation-only packages to funeral subscription services—and what that signals for US markets where the baby-boomer peak is still a decade away. They also examine how changing family structures mean more unattended deaths and smaller funerals, forcing providers to rethink everything from pricing to marketing. A concrete look at how demographic shifts ripple into even the most tradition-bound industries.