At least 12,500 people die from heat in Germany in 2026
At least 12,500 premature heat-related deaths occurred in Germany by early August, according to the Robert Koch Institute, marking the highest figure in a decade.
Germany has recorded at least 12,500 premature deaths linked to heat this year as of early August, according to the latest weekly report from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Researchers noted that the estimate is conservative and the actual number of heat-related fatalities is likely higher. This is the highest figure in the last ten years.
Previous peak years were 2018, when around 9,400 people died from heat in Germany, and 2019, when the number was about 7,700.
Hardest-hit regions and age groups
The statistics show that extremely high temperatures have hit residents of the federal states of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate the hardest, with 43.4 and 38.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. The national average stands at 15 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Looking at age groups, people aged 85 and older accounted for the largest share of heat-related deaths this year, with about 6,300 cases. More than 3,100 victims were between 75 and 84 years old.
New heat wave and climate records
A new heat wave has now arrived in Germany, although it is weaker than the one in late June, when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in many regions. According to RKI estimates, about 5,100 people died from the June heat. In total, at least 12,000 excess deaths may have occurred across Europe in June, according to the AFP news agency.
June and July 2026 were the hottest months on record in Western Europe. The European climate service Copernicus reported that the average temperature during this period was 2.79 degrees Celsius higher than the 1991–2020 average.
