Germany heatwave kills nearly 10,000 people

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported that, as of 19 July, an estimated 9,800 deaths in Germany were linked to the extreme summer heat. The fatalities are heavily concentrated among the elderly, with 5,420 deaths among those aged 85 and over, 2,460 among ages 75‑84, 1,260 among ages 65‑74, and 630 among those under 65. In the 85+ group, 3,230 were women and 2,190 were men. The surge follows a heatwave that saw temperatures exceed 40 °C nationwide and reach record highs of over 41 °C for three consecutive days in June, the highest ever recorded in the country.

RKI’s estimate combines weekly mortality data with temperature readings from the German Weather Service (DWD). The institute notes that heat rarely causes death directly; instead, it aggravates pre‑existing cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney conditions, which is reflected in the excess mortality figures. Epidemiologist Alexandra Schneider of the Helmholtz Centre Munich explained that the calculation is a statistical association between mortality and temperature trends. RKI projects 2,600‑4,900 heat‑related deaths annually for 2022‑2025, while past years saw 2,550 deaths in 2025, about 3,000 in 2024‑2023, and 4,700 in 2022, with the highest recorded totals of 6,900 in 2019 and 8,400 in 2018.