Germany has recorded nearly 10,000 heat-related deaths by July, with the number expected to rise further as the country continues to experience extreme temperatures.
According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the death toll has already exceeded the total annual figures recorded in every year since 2016. The highest annual total over the past decade was approximately 9,000 heat-related deaths in 2018.
The final figure for the summer is expected to increase, as the current assessment only covers data through July 19 and will be updated once the season concludes.
What the Data Shows
More than 5,000 of the estimated heat-related deaths occurred during the intense heatwave in the second half of June, when temperatures in some parts of Germany approached 42°C (107.6°F).
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe.
Germany’s Federal Statistical Office also reported that the number of registered deaths during the week of June 22–28 was 32% higher than the average for the same period in previous years.
Older Adults Most Affected
The Robert Koch Institute attributes at least 5,100 deaths during that period directly to extreme heat and estimates that around 7,900 of the total heat-related deaths involved people aged 75 and older.
Extreme heat can directly cause fatal conditions such as heatstroke, but it also worsens existing cardiovascular, respiratory, and kidney diseases.
For this reason, heat is often not listed as the official cause of death on death certificates and is frequently described as a “silent killer” because it contributes to fatalities indirectly.
