Germany has registered a record 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer, the national public health institute said on Thursday, as a series of punishing heatwaves gripped much of Europe.
Last updated: 2026-08-27 · Published: 2026-08-27
Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) says the country recorded about 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer, an all-time high in its decade of data. The toll includes roughly 9,600 deaths in a single week in late June, when temperatures passed 40 degrees Celsius, and a further 4,000 deaths between late July and mid-August. People aged over 75 were by far the worst hit.
Key facts at a glance
| Record deaths listed | 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer (RKI) |
| Deadliest single period | About 9,600 deaths in one week in late June above 40C |
| Second period | 4,000 deaths between late July and mid-August |
| Hardest-hit group | People aged over 75 |
| Previous record | 8,900 deaths in 2018 |
| Source institute | Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s disease-control body |
How the heat has hit Europe
The heatwaves have spiked mortality across the continent, fuelled wildfire risk and crop damage, and dropped water levels in major rivers. France, Britain and Spain have all reported thousands of excess summer deaths. The RKI models heat mortality statistically, comparing summer weeks with and without heatwaves, and notes that extreme heat usually proves fatal when combined with underlying cardiovascular, lung or kidney conditions.
Watch: What the videos show
Europe’s deadly heatwave breaks German record — BBC News
As shown in the video, Germany’s weather service recorded temperatures above 41C, while event cancellations spread across the continent, including Paris Pride and limits on public alcohol sales in the French capital. The Netherlands partially suspended public transport in the southeast after electric buses could not be charged, and issued its first red heat alert on record.
‘Brutal’ heatwave breaks Germany temperature record — France 24
The broadcast details a run of national records: 41.9C in the Czech Republic, an all-time high of 40.5C in Poland, and a preliminary German record of 41.7C. Scientists cited in the report described the heatwave, which began on June 20, as the worst recorded in Europe.
What is Germany doing about it
Heat adaptation was on the agenda of a two-day cabinet retreat this week led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, but no new measures were announced. Merz said the country’s 16 states are primarily responsible for heat protection and are already set to receive 100 billion euros ($116 billion) over the next 12 years from a special infrastructure and climate protection fund. Environmental Action Germany called the government “irresponsible,” saying it had failed to adopt a single effective heat-protection measure after a summer that saw thousands die.
Confirmed vs not confirmed
| Confirmed | Not confirmed |
| RKI reports 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer | Exact cause-of-death attribution for every case (RKI figures are statistically modelled) |
| 9,600 deaths in one late-June week above 40C | Final full-season death totals for France, Britain and Spain |
| People over 75 the worst-affected group | Whether new government measures will follow the cabinet retreat |
Extreme heat alone is rarely a listed cause of death. The RKI counts deaths that would not have occurred without heat stress, and its statistical method carries uncertainty.
Frequently asked questions
What caused the record number of deaths?
Sustained, unusually hot weeks combined with underlying cardiovascular, lung or kidney conditions are the main factors behind most heat-related deaths.
How does the RKI count heat deaths?
It uses statistical models that compare death rates in summer weeks with heatwaves against comparable weeks without them, rather than relying on individual cause-of-death records.
Which group was most affected?
People aged over 75, who made up the largest share of the deaths.
How many deaths came in the June heatwave?
Roughly 9,600 deaths were recorded in one week in late June, when temperatures exceeded 40C across parts of Germany.
Is climate change a factor?
Scientists cited in the reports describe the summer as part of a broader trend of more frequent and intense European heatwaves.
What action has the government taken?
States are set to receive 100 billion euros over 12 years for infrastructure and climate protection, but no new heat-protection measures were announced at this week’s cabinet retreat.
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Sources: Yahoo News (AFP), France 24, BBC News
