Cemeteries serve as solemn reminders of our mortality, reflecting history, culture, and social customs. While many are small, some span vast areas, accommodating millions of graves and becoming landmarks in their own right. Here, we explore the 10 largest cemeteries in the world, highlighting their scale, significance, and unique features, including the estimated number of people buried at each.

1. Wadi-us-Salaam Cemetery – Najaf, Iraq

Area: Approximately 1,485 acres
Burials: Over 5 million
Notable Facts:
Wadi-us-Salaam, meaning “Valley of Peace”, is the largest cemetery in the world. Located in Najaf, Iraq, it holds over 5 million bodies, with burials dating back over 1,400 years. The cemetery is sacred to Shia Muslims due to its proximity to the Imam Ali Shrine, attracting pilgrims who maintain graves across generations.

2. Béthune Cemetery – France

Area: Approximately 1,300 acres
Burials: Estimated 1 million
Notable Facts:
This massive cemetery in northern France is historically significant, containing graves from both World Wars. Its landscaped gardens, mausoleums, and memorials offer a reflective environment, commemorating soldiers and civilians alike.

3. Rookwood Cemetery – Sydney, Australia

Area: Around 1,012 acres
Burials: Over 1 million
Notable Facts:
Rookwood Necropolis, established in 1867, is Australia’s largest cemetery and one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest. It serves diverse religious and ethnic communities, with chapels, monuments, and serene walking paths.

4. Calverton National Cemetery – New York, USA

Area: Approximately 1,045 acres
Burials: Over 260,000
Notable Facts:
Calverton is the largest national cemetery in the United States, primarily for military personnel and veterans. Established in 1978, it features memorials honouring those who served in conflicts from World War II to modern deployments.

5. Brookwood Cemetery – Surrey, UK

Area: Around 500 acres
Burials: Over 200,000
Notable Facts:
Founded in 1852, Brookwood Cemetery, or the London Necropolis, was created to relieve overcrowded London burial grounds. It includes Gothic-style chapels, family mausoleums, and Commonwealth war graves, highlighting its historical importance.

6. Ohlsdorf Cemetery – Hamburg, Germany

Area: Approximately 391 hectares (966 acres)
Burials: Over 1.5 million
Notable Facts:
Ohlsdorf Cemetery is the largest rural cemetery in the world, blending parkland and burial grounds. Established in 1877, it contains thousands of monuments, fountains, and sculptures, combining the serenity of a botanical garden with historical memorials.

7. La Recoleta Cemetery – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Area: Around 14 hectares (35 acres)
Burials: Estimated 4,400+ notable graves (millions of interments in total are less documented)
Notable Facts:
La Recoleta Cemetery is famous for its architectural splendour and high-profile burials, including Eva Perón. Ornate mausoleums, statues, and labyrinthine pathways make it a major tourist destination and a cultural landmark.

8. Père Lachaise Cemetery – Paris, France

Area: Approximately 44 hectares (108 acres)
Burials: Over 1 million
Notable Facts:
Established in 1804, Père Lachaise Cemetery is France’s largest and most famous cemetery, hosting the graves of cultural icons like Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Édith Piaf. Its monumental tombs and gardens make it a significant historical and artistic site.

9. Forest Lawn Memorial Park – California, USA

Area: Roughly 298 acres
Burials: Over 250,000
Notable Facts:
Forest Lawn in Glendale, California, is known for its Hollywood connections, housing the graves of actors, musicians, and artists. Established in 1906, it blends burial grounds with landscaped gardens, chapels, and public art.

10. Kensal Green Cemetery – London, UK

Area: About 72 acres
Burials: Over 165,000
Notable Facts:
Kensal Green Cemetery, founded in 1832, is one of London’s oldest public cemeteries. A model for Victorian garden cemeteries, it features catacombs, historic monuments, and graves of notable figures, including authors, engineers, and artists.

Conclusion

The world’s largest cemeteries are more than burial grounds; they are cultural landmarks, historical repositories, and places of reflection. From Wadi-us-Salaam in Iraq, home to over 5 million souls, to the iconic Père Lachaise in Paris, these cemeteries reflect the diverse ways societies honour their dead. Whether for history, architecture, or sheer scale, these sites remain fascinating destinations that tell stories spanning centuries.