Why are more families choosing cremation in Greece?
Until 2019 families seeking cremation had to travel abroad, mainly to Bulgaria. The opening of the Ritsona facility that year removed the need for foreign travel. Data from the Hellenic Cremation Society show steady growth since then. The 2020 national share stood at 2.2 percent. By 2025 the figure had climbed to 5.71 percent, and 2026 projections point to more than 6.3 percent. The increase follows broader European trends, although Greek rates remain lower than those recorded in central and northern Europe. Antonis Alakiotis, president of the Hellenic Cremation Society and of the Ritsona facility, observed that cremation has moved from taboo to carrying elements of normality. He noted that many families, especially younger ones, do not wish to repeat the emotional loss through exhumation. Nikos Angeletos, president of the Association of Funeral Directors of Greece, added that the option allows ashes to be scattered at sea or another chosen place, kept at home, or turned into jewellery or diamonds in rare cases. About 75 percent of Ritsona clients come from Athens and Piraeus. The source does not provide a breakdown of motivations by age or region beyond these statements, leaving open how preferences may differ outside the capital. The same data also show that the shift is driven by practical considerations rather than ideology, as both Alakiotis and Angeletos explicitly state that cremation carries no religious or ideological content. What follows from the figures is a slow but measurable change in daily funeral practice, yet the source leaves unsettled whether the pace will accelerate once additional capacity becomes available closer to the capital.
How has the market structure changed since 2025?
Ritsona operated as a monopoly for six years. In November 2025 a second facility opened in Alexandria Imathia, serving northern Greece. The new operator, Spyros Zervos, described the project as a cultural investment. Early indications show rising local interest, although statistical confirmation is not yet available. The two sites now form an oligopoly rather than a single-provider market. Zervos reported some mild reactions from the church but said the local community quickly accepted the process as respectful and environmentally neutral. The source leaves unsettled whether demand in northern Greece will grow at the same pace as in Attica, where the majority of Ritsona clients reside. The transition from monopoly to oligopoly also raises questions about future pricing and service differentiation that the source does not address.
What financial results have been recorded?
Crem Services SA, which runs the Ritsona site, reported turnover of nearly 5 million euros in 2025, an increase of 9.76 percent over 2024. After-tax profits rose to 2.1 million euros from 1.95 million euros the previous year. The company attributes part of the growth to higher volumes and part to operational efficiencies developed over several years of sole operation. No corresponding financial figures are available for the new facility in Alexandria Imathia, so the overall market profitability after the end of the monopoly cannot yet be assessed from the source. The profit increase of 0.15 million euros occurred while turnover grew by roughly 0.44 million euros, indicating improved margins during the final year of monopoly conditions.
Which European countries record the highest cremation shares?
According to 2024 data compiled by the Hellenic Cremation Society, Slovenia recorded 87.19 percent and Denmark 87.94 percent. Spain stood at 50.11 percent, Italy at 38.94 percent and Bulgaria at 6.63 percent. Greek rates remain closer to the lower end of the range, yet the direction of change aligns with the pattern observed further north. The source provides no updated 2025 or 2026 European comparisons, leaving the relative position of Greece within the continent unconfirmed for the most recent period. The north-south gradient documented for 2024 suggests that Greek percentages may continue to rise without reaching the levels seen in Slovenia or Denmark in the near term.
What practical reasons do families cite?
Antonis Alakiotis stated that cremation now carries elements of normality rather than taboo. Nikos Angeletos noted that many families wish to avoid the second emotional and financial burden of exhumation. Ashes can be scattered at sea or another chosen location, kept at home, or incorporated into jewellery or diamonds in a small number of cases. About 75 percent of Ritsona clients come from Athens and Piraeus. The source records no quantitative survey of family motivations, so the relative weight of cost, emotion or scattering preferences remains unmeasured beyond the statements of the two association presidents. The absence of such data means the source cannot confirm whether scattering or home storage is chosen by a majority or only a minority of families.
Why have additional public and private projects stalled?
Earlier plans for municipal crematoria in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and Crete did not advance because of planning, political and economic obstacles. A proposed private facility in Aspropyrgos remains on hold pending court rulings after objections from environmental groups, residents and local authorities. Zervos observed that provincial locations face lower demand and more complex permitting, making further investment less attractive at present. Alakiotis added that another site closer to Athens would reduce travel time for families. The source indicates that existing private facilities currently meet national demand, yet notes that further growth would require additional capacity once cremation becomes more common. The stalled Aspropyrgos project illustrates how environmental and municipal objections can delay new capacity even when demand is concentrated in the capital region.
Frequently asked questions
What share of deaths in Greece now involve cremation?
The share rose from 2.2 percent in 2020 to 5.71 percent in 2025 and is expected to surpass 6.3 percent in 2026, according to Hellenic Cremation Society figures.
Where are the two operating crematoria located?
One is in Ritsona and the second opened in November 2025 in Alexandria Imathia to serve northern Greece.
Which company manages the Ritsona facility and what were its 2025 results?
Crem Services SA recorded turnover of nearly 5 million euros and after-tax profits of 2.1 million euros in 2025.
Do religious or ideological motives drive the choice?
Alakiotis stated that cremation carries no ideological or religious content; families mainly seek to avoid exhumation and associated costs.
Have municipal crematoria been built?
Plans for public facilities in several cities did not materialise. Existing private sites currently meet national demand.
