According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the heatwave experienced in late June 2026 led to approximately 5,100 deaths directly attributed to heat in Germany. However, the Institute noted that this figure could be higher, as the Federal Statistical Office estimates the total number of excess deaths to be around 6,800 during the calendar week of June 22 to 28.
Excess mortality is defined as the number of deaths recorded over a specific period that are greater than what would normally be expected. The RKI stated that while the temperatures measured in Germany during that week are relatively common during the summer in Southern Europe, temperatures of this magnitude have not been experienced in Germany previously.
The Institute also offered context by reviewing past years, noting that heat periods and temperature extremes have varied widely. The highest heat-related death tolls in the last decade occurred in 2018 and 2019, accounting for 8,400 and 6,900 deaths, respectively. In contrast, the RKI estimates that during the period 2022 to 2025, the number of heat-related fatalities typically fell between 2,600 and 4,900.
