Global heat-related deaths reached record 710,000 in 2023

An international research team, including experts from University College London, reported in the medical journal The Lancet that estimated heat-related deaths reached a record high of approximately 710,000 in 2023. The analysis indicates that 71.5% of these deaths were caused by global warming.

Between 2016 and 2023, the annual average for heat-related deaths was approximately 548,000, with roughly 369,900 attributed to warming. The 2023 death toll exceeded the number of deaths caused by malaria and HIV.

In addition to health impacts, the report highlights economic and environmental consequences. By 2025, heat-related declines in labor productivity are projected to cause a global economic loss of approximately $1.07 trillion, primarily affecting the agriculture and construction sectors. Furthermore, extreme weather patterns, including droughts and heavy rainfall, continue to pose significant risks to global land stability and infectious disease control.