37 facts you did not know about death
We help demystify death and guide people so that the passage out of life feels natural, peaceful, and integrated into the story of living.
The global average life expectancy in 2024 is about 73.4 years. (Compare this to 1950). In 1950, global life expectancy was about 46 years, meaning humans now live nearly 30 years longer on average, largely due to sanitation, antibiotics, and reduced infant mortality.
Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964) are rapidly aging, with the oldest turning 80 in 2026. They were born during a massive post–World War II birth surge caused by returning soldiers, economic expansion, housing booms, and renewed optimism about the future.
Research from hospice caregivers and palliative care shows the 5 main regrets at the end of life are: People consistently regret not living authentically, working too much, withholding emotions, losing touch with loved ones, and not allowing themselves joy—highlighting that connection and truth matter more than achievement.
In Tibetan Buddhism, some advanced practitioners are believed to remain in a meditative state after death called tukdam before decomposition begins. Tukdam is understood as a state where consciousness remains subtly present after clinical death, during which physical decay appears delayed.
Many cultures practice natural burial so bodies return to soil quickly and nourish ecosystems rather than being preserved. These practices view death as a regenerative act, allowing the body to feed land, plants, and future life rather than being chemically halted.
60 million people die worldwide every year. This equals roughly 150,000 deaths per day, making death one of the most constant and universal human experiences.
The world is experiencing the largest mass death transition in human history as Boomers age. Never before has such a large generation entered old age simultaneously, creating unprecedented strain on healthcare, caregiving, and death systems.
By 2050 deaths worldwide will outnumber births in many countries: Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Greece, South Korea, China, Poland, and Hungary are all projected to experience more deaths than births due to aging populations and low fertility rates.
Countries like Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Italy, and Spain have the highest life expectancy due to strong healthcare systems, social cohesion, nutritious diets, and active aging cultures.
The average human lifespan has doubled in the last 200 years. This increase is primarily due to clean water, vaccines, antibiotics, improved nutrition, and reductions in childhood mortality—not because human biology changed.
More people die alone than at any other point in history. Urbanization, smaller families, institutionalized dying, and geographic separation have eroded communal death support.
In 1900 most deaths happened at home. Now, over 60% of deaths happen in institutions. Death has shifted from a family- and community-held event to a medicalized process managed largely by hospitals and care facilities.
Cultures with visible death rituals report lower death anxiety. Regular exposure to rituals normalizes death, reduces fear of the unknown, and reinforces meaning and continuity.
Only 1 in 3 adults has a will. Most people avoid planning for death due to discomfort, denial, or the belief that it can be postponed.
Baby Boomers are dying at a rate of 5,000 per day in the U.S. Every 14 seconds, a Boomer dies. This reflects the sheer size of the generation reaching advanced age simultaneously.
The Boomer cohort is the largest aging generation ever. They were born during an unprecedented population surge and benefited from medical advances that allowed more of them to reach old age.
Caregiver burnout is at crisis levels. Longer lifespans, chronic illness, underfunded care systems, and unpaid family caregiving have overwhelmed emotional and physical capacity.
Green burials are rising fastest among Boomers. Many Boomers reject industrialized death and seek environmentally aligned, meaningful alternatives that reflect their values.
Grief is now a public health issue. Unprocessed grief contributes to depression, chronic illness, substance use, and lost productivity at a population level.
Hearing is often the last sense to go. The auditory system remains active late into the dying process, which is why speaking gently to the dying is meaningful.
The body releases endogenous psychedelics at death. The brain releases compounds such as DMT and endorphins, which may contribute to vivid inner experiences and reduced fear.
Dying is often less painful than feared when supported. With proper palliative care, pain is usually manageable, and emotional suffering often decreases as the body naturally lets go.
The dying body conserves energy inward. Circulation and metabolism gradually redirect away from digestion and movement toward vital organs and internal processes.
The dying often withdraw socially days before death; this withdrawal is biologically programmed. Neurochemical shifts reduce external engagement, allowing attention to turn inward for emotional and physiological completion.
Relationships dominate end-of-life reflections. As survival priorities fall away, humans naturally orient toward love, reconciliation, and meaningful bonds.
Traditional burial slows decomposition by decades. Sealed coffins and embalming chemicals inhibit microbial and fungal breakdown.
Coffins prevent nutrient cycling. They isolate the body from soil organisms that would otherwise transform it into nutrients.
Embalming fluid is carcinogenic. Formaldehyde, a primary embalming chemical, is a known human carcinogen.
Natural burial returns nutrients in ~1–2 years. Without chemical barriers, the body decomposes efficiently and reintegrates into the ecosystem.
Human composting reduces carbon footprint by ~75%. It avoids cremation emissions and concrete burial materials while producing usable soil instead of waste.
Mushroom burial suits exist. They are garments infused with mycelium that accelerate decomposition and neutralize toxins in the body.
Mycelium breaks down toxins; fungi convert human tissue into soil nutrients. Fungi metabolize heavy metals and organic compounds, transforming the body into fertile soil components.
One body can nourish dozens of trees.The nutrients released during natural decomposition support extensive plant growth over time.
Green burial grounds function as conservation land. They protect undeveloped ecosystems while serving as burial spaces, preventing urban or industrial expansion.
Natural burial is legal in many countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, and South Africa.
Soil from human compost is fertile and safe. Rigorous testing shows it is pathogen-free and nutrient-rich, suitable for land restoration and conservation use.