A searing heatwave that swept across 60 regions of France between June 19 and July 6, 2025, has led to 480 excess deaths compared to seasonal norms — a 5.5% increase, according to France’s Ministry of Public Health.
This preliminary toll is expected to be refined in a forthcoming mortality report that will attribute deaths specifically to heat, scheduled for release after September 15, health authorities stated.
“Nearly all excess deaths involved individuals aged 75 and older,” said the ministry. In total, 410 deaths (+6.7%) were recorded among elderly populations in the areas affected by the intense heat episode — marked by its duration, early onset, and wide reach across nearly three-quarters (74%) of the country’s population.
The excess mortality estimate is based on civil registry data and figures from INSEE (France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies), compared against an expected death count calculated from the previous six years, excluding extreme events.
Among the worst-hit regions was Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, which recorded at least 140 excess deaths (+9.2%). However, three administrative regions — Corsica, Hauts-de-France, and Île-de-France — reported no significant increase in mortality during the heatwave.
“These health impacts underscore the urgent need to implement preventive measures to mitigate the effects of extreme heat — not only during heatwaves but throughout the summer — and to adopt a long-term climate adaptation strategy at both national and regional levels,” emphasized Santé publique France during a press briefing.
