Save me a spot for the big sleep
The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released projections on the space required for South Australian cemeteries. It states:
The SA Births Deaths and Marriages Registry Office estimates that there were about 4,300 burials in South Australia in 2009. By 2056 it is projected that about 5,000-7,000 burials will be performed annually resulting in a requirement each year of at least 2 hectares of land.
So, let’s do some calculations. SA’s population was estimated to be 1,629,500 at 30 September 2009. Australia’s population at the same time was estimated to be 22,065,700. In 2009, SA buried 4,300 people. We can then estimate that in 2009 there were 58,226 people buried Australia wide (SA pop. = 7.385% of Aus. pop.; so Aus. pop. is 13.541 x SA pop.; SA burials x 13.541 = est. Aus. burials).
In 2056 SA is expecting to have 5,000-7,000 people to bury. Conservatively, that’s an increase of 16.280%; or, 0.346% per year (non-compounded). Using these figures to estimate Aus-wide burials, we’re looking at 67,705 in 2056.
Now, if in 2056 SA requires 2ha per year to bury 5,000 stiffs then Aus-wide we’re going to need 27ha. Given that Australia is 7,702,468.2km2 or 770,246,820ha in total, that means we’ll run out of space in 4,970 years at best, or in about the year 6980 (accounting for compounding in the growth of burial rates based on 2009-2056 average growth of 0.346%pa).
Lucky, given that the average life expectancy for an Australian male is 79 years, I’ll get a plot. Then again, I might opt for a cremation and save a little space for the up and comers.
Category: Commentary | Tags: big sleep 2 comments »
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:41 pm
I would have thought we would run out of space a lot sooner than that. Shows how bad the human mind can be at estimations :-p
I have never really understood the preference for burial over cremation. Maybe it is seeing your loved one intact for the last time as they are buried as opposed to having to spread their ashes.
Personally, I don’t particularly care what happens to my body once I am dead. Strip it of organs, burn it, eat it, whatever. It wouldn’t be me anymore.
Jason.
April 6th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Hi Jason,
I’ll probably opt for cryopreservation in the hope that future medical advances will allow me to live forever.
On the issue of space, I haven’t considered the area of land currently occupied by existing cemeteries or cities and other infrastructure. But, for the most part these things are concentrated on the East coast of Australia. We have a great expanse of desert that we’re yet to fill.
Now I’d be happy for a desert burial. I can just imaging large cemetery towns in the outback. You’ll transport your loved ones to one of these towns, bury them on a sweeping plain and return on anniversaries to pay your respects. Not a bad idea when we run out of space on the Eastern seaboard.
Given that we have so much outback there’s also potential for a market in international burials. Families in cramped European countries could fly their dead to Australia and give them a spacious outback burial. Just imaging the tourist dollars this would bring to the country when they came to visit on anniversaries and special occasions.
Dylan.