Germany recorded an estimated 16,300 heat-related deaths during Europe’s severe summer heatwaves, according to official data released Thursday, marking the highest figure recorded by the country’s public health authorities.
Across Europe, more than 30,000 excess deaths have been recorded during successive heatwaves and droughts, which scientists have linked to human-caused climate change.
Germany’s Heat Death Toll Rises
The latest estimate from Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) increased from the 15,800 deaths reported by the government last week. The new figures cover the period from June 1 through August 23, extending the previous reporting period by one week.
People aged over 75 accounted for the largest share of heat-related deaths in Germany, according to the country’s public health authority.
The institute estimated that approximately 9,600 heat-related deaths occurred during the week of June 22–28 alone, highlighting the severity of the heatwave during that period.
Highest Level Recorded in a Decade
The Robert Koch Institute has been tracking heat-related mortality in Germany for roughly a decade. Its previous highest estimate was 8,900 heat-related deaths in 2018.
A separate report published by a medical journal had previously estimated that heat was responsible for around 10,000 deaths in Germany in 1994, although the methodology differed from that used by the Robert Koch Institute.
The latest figures underscore the growing health impact of extreme heat across Europe, particularly among older people and other vulnerable groups, as scientists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves.
