Extreme heat kills over 175,000 people annually in the broader WHO European region. The most severe single summer was 2022, which caused an estimated 61,672 excess deaths

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Extreme heat kills over 175,000 people annually in the broader WHO European region. Since 2018, heatwaves have proved devastatingly lethal. The most severe single summer was 2022, which caused an estimated 61,672 excess deaths. The following year, in 2023, nearly 48,000 heat-related fatalities were recorded. 

Recent years continue to see severe spikes; for instance, early-summer heatwaves in 2026 linked hundreds of additional fatalities to extreme temperatures. 

According to the World Health Organization, heat mortality has surged by 30% over the past two decades as the continent warms twice as fast as the global average. Most victims are elderly individuals for whom the extreme temperatures triggered pre-existing conditions. To explore regional health impacts and vulnerability, you can check the Climate-ADAPT platform. 

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