Record number of heat-related deaths in Austria: 995 fatalities in summer 2026

According to AGES, the heat burden was concentrated in phases with several consecutive very hot days. Recurring heat waves in various parts of the country strained the number of vulnerable people – especially older and chronically ill individuals – throughout the entire summer period. Data in previous years had already shown that Austria is particularly frequently affected by prolonged heat phases.

Lower Austria recorded the highest number of heat-related deaths according to the authority, followed by Vienna. In other federal states as well, figures were above the multi-year average. The authority noted that the actual number of those affected could be regionally even higher, because many heat-associated deaths cannot be clearly attributed in the statistics.

Lower Austria and Vienna hardest hit

Geosphere Austria repeatedly measured temperature records in summer 2026. At the Bad Deutsch-Altenburg site in Lower Austria, one of the highest values ever recorded in Austria was measured. The measurement history of the weather station goes far back; earlier peak values were recorded in the summers of the 2000s and 2010s. The current record continues this series and fits into a succession of increasingly hot summers.

AGES experts emphasize that the estimates are based on a comparison between expected and actually observed deaths. In weeks with several days of extreme heat, mortality rises measurably. The share of these weeks supports the assumption that a significant portion of these additional deaths can be attributed directly or indirectly to the temperatures.

The results are published annually as part of heat mortality monitoring. The aim is to make the health burden from heat visible and to create the basis for public health measures. The authority calls particularly on relatives of risk groups to pay attention to sufficient fluid intake, cool rooms, and regular contact during heat waves.

International context

International studies had previously demonstrated that heat waves are increasing in Europe. According to these, Austria is among the countries where summers have been warmer than average for years. According to the preliminary evaluations, summer 2026 continues this development.

The term heat mortality encompasses deaths that occur during or shortly after a heat wave and are statistically attributed to the temperatures. This includes circulatory failure, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory problems that can worsen under heat stress. Individual attribution remains difficult, which is why the figures cited are estimates.

Reactions and measures

AGES announced that it would continue analyzing the data in the coming weeks and compare them with international partners. Geosphere Austria is also preparing a detailed climatological report on summer 2026. Initial evaluations indicate that the number of hot days in several federal states was significantly above the average of the reference period.

The development underscores the urgency of adaptation measures to climate change. According to health experts, these include greening dense urban areas, expanding cool public spaces, and targeted warning systems for risk groups. Climate-adapted construction and better public information are also considered key building blocks.

With the publication of the figures, the question of how Austria will deal with more frequent and intense heat waves in the future also comes into focus. The data base from heat mortality monitoring provides an empirical foundation that, according to the authority, is unique on the European continent.