…
World
Germany estimates about 15,800 heat-related deaths in 2026
Herz — World Desk · · 30s summary · 2 min read
The essentials
Germany recorded an estimated 15,800 heat-related deaths between April 6 and August 16, 2026, according to Robert Koch Institute figures reported by Die Zeit. About 9,600 deaths were attributed to extreme heat in late June, when temperatures exceeded 41°C in some areas. A further 4,000 were associated with unusually high temperatures during the first two weeks of August. People aged 75 and older were affected most. The 2026 estimate is the highest of the past decade, exceeding the previous peak of about 8,900 deaths in 2018.
- Germany recorded an estimated 15,800 heat-related deaths.
- Extreme heat in late June was associated with about 9,600 deaths.
- People aged 75 and older were affected most.
- The estimate exceeds the previous peak recorded in 2018.
What the figures show
An estimated 15,800 people died from heat-related causes in Germany between April 6 and August 16, 2026, according to Robert Koch Institute figures reported by Die Zeit.
The Robert Koch Institute, or RKI, is Germany's federal public health agency, with responsibilities including disease monitoring and control.
People aged 75 and older were affected most. About 1,500 of those who died were younger than 65.
More women than men died from heat-related causes. The RKI attributed the difference to the higher proportion of women among older people.
Two periods accounted for most deaths
- Late June 2026About 9,600 deaths were attributed to a period of extreme heat, when temperatures exceeded 41°C in some areas.
- First two weeks of August 2026A further 4,000 deaths were attributed to unusually high temperatures.
Late June9600
First two weeks of August4000
Estimate exceeds the previous peak
The 2026 estimate is Germany's highest heat-related death toll of the past decade. The previous peak was about 8,900 deaths in 2018.
Topics
Source
Related articles
Latest articles
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to react.
