Germany Records Around 14,000 Heat-Related Deaths as Europe Endures Extreme Summer
Germany has recorded an estimated 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer, as repeated heatwaves pushed temperatures above 40°C and placed the country’s elderly population at particular risk.
The latest estimate from Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) makes the summer of 2026 the country’s deadliest heat season in recent years, surpassing the previous annual high of about 8,900 heat-related deaths recorded in 2018.
The most striking figure came during the extreme heat of 22–28 June, when around 9,600 heat-related deaths were estimated to have occurred in a single week. Temperatures exceeded 40°C in many parts of the country, with Germany recording 41.7°C in Brandenburg on June 28.
The RKI says the over-75 age group accounted for the largest share of the estimated deaths.
Heat-related mortality is often not recorded directly on death certificates because extreme temperatures can worsen existing conditions, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The RKI therefore estimates heat-related deaths statistically by comparing observed mortality with the number of deaths normally expected under cooler conditions.
Earlier RKI estimates illustrate how rapidly the toll increased. By the end of June, the institute had estimated about 5,120 heat-related deaths, already exceeding the annual average of roughly 2,900 recorded between 2023 and 2025.
Germany’s experience is part of a broader European pattern.
A scientific analysis estimated that almost 14,000 people across Europe died during the major June heatwave, with France, Germany, Spain and other countries experiencing substantial excess mortality.
The World Health Organization has warned that extreme heat is becoming an increasingly serious public-health threat across Europe. It estimates that heat has caused more than 200,000 deaths across the EU and associated countries over the past four years, with most of those deaths considered preventable through effective heat-health measures.
Germany’s 2026 figures therefore provide another stark indication of how extreme temperatures can translate into a significant mortality burden, particularly among older people and those with existing health conditions.
