If the figure has been stable since 2018, more and more people, especially young people, believe that the human soul is reincarnated.
The mystery surrounding life after death is far from resolved. And everyone has their own theory “after”. On this All Saints’ Day, the Ifop Institute of Opinion Studies carried out a survey of more than 1,000 French people, on a representative sample of the population*.
According to this study, 31% of French people believe in life after death. A figure similar to that of 2018, but which has seen a slight decline over the last 50 years. On the other hand, the proportion of people questioned and filled with doubt has doubled over the same period: when 16% did not comment on the question in 1970, 33% do not have a clear opinion in 2023.The growing interest in paranormal and esoteric subjects may explain the progression of this uncertainty.estimates the institute.
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Moreover, young people are the most sensitive to these phenomena and are also the most numerous to believe in another possible life. 41% of those under 35 are in this case, compared to 27% of those aged 35 and over.
Reincarnation appeals more than eternal life
In 1948, nearly 6 out of 10 French people were supporters of eternal life. 75 years later, “in a context of declining influence of religion in everyday life”, explains Ifop, this figure has been halved to reach 27%.
Belief in reincarnation has increased over the last 20 years, going from 22% in 2004 to 32% in 2023. It is also the only belief measured in this study which records an increase in terms of support among the French. A progression driven by the younger generations since more than 4 out of 10 of those under 35 are in favor of this hypothesis.
The notions of paradise and hell are stable in public opinion, at around 30%. Here again young people stand out, since almost half of those under 35 adhere to this dichotomy.
Scatter his ashes in space
When it comes to funerals, again everyone has their preferences. This year, cremation was more popular than burial. For the first time, a majority of French people (50%) want to be cremated.
2/3 of French people surveyed by Ifop are very in favor of scattering ashes in nature or in a symbolic place for the missing person. On the other hand, 44% of them wish to carry out a burial outside a cemetery, which is prohibited by law. Another wish, this time legal, but not within the reach of anyone: 1 in 10 French people (11%) would like their ashes to go on a long journey into space.
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In France, the rules regarding burial and cremation are strict. Burial must be carried out in a cemetery or, under very specific conditions, on private property. For cremation, it is possible to bury the urn in a cemetery or place it in a columbarium designed for this purpose, to bury it on private property or to scatter the ashes of the deceased in nature. On the other hand, keeping the urn at home has been prohibited since 2008.
*Study carried out by IFOP for Plaquedeces.fr from September 5 to 6, 2023 by self-administered questionnaire among a sample of 1,013 people aged 18 and over, representative of the French population.