Heatwaves in Germany have claimed around 12,500 lives this year

Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Thursday that heatwaves have caused an estimated 12,500 deaths in the country so far this year. This figure exceeds totals from previous years, including 2018, when 9,400 people died from heat-related causes, and 2019, when the toll was 7,700.

The estimates are based on data collected between April 6 and August 2. The institute cautions that these figures are preliminary and that the total number of heat-related deaths this year could turn out to be even higher.

Regions and age groups

A disproportionately high number of heat-related deaths were recorded in the states of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, where the rate reached 43.4 and 38.7 deaths per 100,000 residents respectively — far above the national average of 15 deaths per 100,000. Hesse and Baden-Württemberg also saw disproportionately high numbers of heat victims.

Elderly people were affected most severely: around 6,300 of the deaths were among people aged 85 or older, while more than 3,100 deaths occurred among those aged 75 to 84.

Late-June heatwave

The heatwave that struck Germany in late June had especially severe consequences, as air temperatures in many parts of the country reached around 40 degrees Celsius. The RKI estimates that in the single week of June 22-28 alone, about 9,600 people died from heat-related causes.