RKI: Already 12,500 Heat-Related Deaths in Germany in 2026

Heat-related deaths are recorded in RKI statistics as fatalities attributable to direct or indirect consequences of high temperatures. According to the Institute, these include, among others, cardiovascular stress, respiratory problems, and kidney damage during extreme heat. The newly upward-revised figure makes clear that such consequences can cluster during a hot summer and affect many people simultaneously within just a few weeks.

In earlier RKI evaluations, the number of heat-related deaths in Germany had already risen significantly. The Institute analyzes incoming death data weekly for its estimates and continuously adjusts its projections. Since reports arrive with a delay, the actual figure at the end of the summer could still exceed the value now cited.

Risk Groups and Protective Measures

In international comparison, experts have for years classified heatwaves as one of the most consequential weather hazards. Other European countries have also recorded rising numbers of heat-related deaths in recent summers. The RKI's current revision fits into this trend and shows how strongly individual heat phases can influence mortality in the population.

According to expert assessments, those particularly affected include older people, the chronically ill, and individuals who work outdoors or in poorly cooled spaces. In this context, the RKI points to the importance of adequate fluid intake, reducing physical exertion during the hottest hours, and mutual attentiveness among family and acquaintances. Municipalities and institutions are increasingly called upon to prepare heat protection plans for vulnerable groups.

Political Reactions and Heat Protection

The public debate over adaptation measures to climate change is receiving fresh impetus from the new figures. The federal government, states, and municipalities are discussing the expansion of warning systems, cooler public spaces, and the heat-suitability of buildings. The RKI survey provides a quantitative basis against which political measures must be measured.

With the renewed revision, the RKI simultaneously emphasizes that the statistics are subject to uncertainties. The final figures for a year are only determined on the basis of the ultimately available death certificates. Until then, the current projection of at least 12,500 heat-related deaths remains the Institute's best possible estimate.

The coming weeks could further change the tally, as the meteorological summer season has not yet concluded. Observers expect that the RKI will continue to adjust the figures in upcoming evaluations as more complete data become available.