Germany sees more than 5,000 heat-related deaths this year

According to estimates by public health officials at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), extreme hot weather in Germany contributed to the deaths of around 5,120 people. 

The report recently published by the RKI states that there were 4,310 heat-related deaths in the week of particularly hot weather from June 22nd to 28th alone.

Even at the halfway point of the year, this figure already significantly exceeds the totals for entire previous years. Last year as a whole around 2,600 people died as a result of high temperatures.

In 2024, the figure was around 2,900, and in 2023, around 3,200.

According to the RKI report, people aged over 75 account for over 80 percent of heat-related deaths. Furthermore, more women than men are dying due to the extreme heat. Scientists say this can be explained by the higher proportion of women in the older age groups.

The Cologne-based Science Media Centre (SMC) points out that there are several unknown factors involved in estimating the number of heat-related deaths.

For example, high temperatures can lead to death from heatstroke. But the SMC said people often die as a result of a combination of factors such as pre-existing conditions that get worse in the heat. Consequently, heat is rarely recorded as the clear cause of death, meaning that exact data cannot be collected.

Global warming changes

In Europe, cold weather still causes more deaths than heat, according to Alexandra Schneider, head of the Environmental Risks Research Group at the Helmholtz Centre Munich.

"However, this is changing with global warming," she said. In addition to deaths, Schneider said heat-related illnesses, hospital admissions, the strain on the healthcare system and the associated costs need to be included in the conversation.

Debates about Germany not being prepared enough for heat have come to the forefront in recent weeks following the high temperatures. 

In the run up to June's heatwave, the German Medical Association urged the country to take action to make sure that hospitals, care homes and doctors’ practices can remain operational – and keep patients cool. 

Talk has also turned to whether air conditioning should be installed in more buildings, particularly social, health and educational facilities.