Record 50,000 European heat deaths driven by climate change
A landmark study finds 50,391 heat-related deaths in European cities last summer, with two-thirds directly attributable to human-caused climate change.
Scientists confirm 50,391 people died from heat across 854 European cities last summer. This record toll, 71% higher than in 2022, is the worst in 26 years and is projected to be surpassed by the summer of 2026.
Climate change was responsible for 65% of these heat-related deaths. That figure has risen from 40% at the start of the century. Human-caused warming, driven by burning fossil fuels, directly led to 32,619 fatalities.
Vulnerable Populations at Greatest Risk
Age was a critical factor. People aged 85 and older accounted for 45% of all deaths. Nearly three-quarters of the deaths were among those aged 75 and over. Yet the heat also claimed thousands of lives among people under 65, including over 800 individuals aged 20 to 44. Loneliness was identified as a key factor worsening vulnerability among the elderly.
Geographic and Urban Hotspots
The absolute death toll was highest in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Italy recorded the largest national toll with 13,303 deaths. When adjusted for population size, the death rates per million people were most severe in Malta, Italy, and Hungary.
| Country | Heat Deaths per Million People |
|---|---|
| Malta | 716 |
| Italy | 561 |
| Hungary | 537 |
The hardest-hit city was Naples, Italy, with 815 deaths per million. The United Kingdom recorded 4,354 heat deaths across 135 cities, with 59% linked to climate change. Western Europe experienced its warmest summer on record, with temperatures 2.54°C above the 1991-2020 average. More than half of the continent endured 'very strong' heat stress, where it felt hotter than 38°C.
A Continent Warming Twice as Fast
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, heating at roughly twice the global average rate. The study modeled deaths by comparing real-world temperatures with a hypothetical climate unchanged by human activity. It covered urban areas containing about 40% of Europe's population, meaning the true continental death toll is higher. The figures do not include a deadly May heatwave and are considered underestimates, as heat is rarely listed as a cause on death certificates.
During the peak heatwave from June 17 to July 1, approximately 14,500 deaths occurred. Climate change was responsible for 57% of deaths in that period. The impact varied by region, with Finland and Estonia seeing about 80% of their heat deaths attributed to climate change. Katie White, the UK's climate transition minister, responded to the findings. "These shocking figures represent thousands of families who have lost a loved one this summer due to the climate crisis," she said.
Doctors and analysts point to urgent needs. Recommendations include reducing fossil fuel use, strengthening health systems, greening cities, and checking on vulnerable neighbours. The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority has named extreme heat the leading climate-related liability risk for life and health insurers. The study projects 2026 as the deadliest European summer for heat-related mortality on record.
