5,764 additional deaths recorded during the June heatwave

Paris – 22 July 2026: during the exceptional heatwave in June, France recorded, according to an initial assessment, 5,764 more deaths than statistically expected. The national health authority Santé publique France published the figure as a provisional tally of overall mortality. At the same time, it warns against immediately attributing all additional deaths to the heat.

The analysis concerns mortality from all causes during the hot period. For the calculation, the number of deaths actually observed is compared with an expected reference value for the period in question. Such an excess may reflect both the direct consequences of high temperatures and indirect effects, such as a worsening of pre-existing conditions.

The data still need to be consolidated. Health authorities stress that the administrative registration of deaths occurs with delay and that the medical causes of death do not immediately emerge from these data. Therefore, it is currently not possible to reliably determine what share of the recorded excess is causally attributable to the heat and what other factors played a role.

As early as the week from 22 to 28 June, the available data had indicated a sharp increase in mortality. Santé publique France had then reported a particularly marked increase in several regions, including Île-de-France, Normandy, Centre-Val de Loire and Pays de la Loire. The agency expressly classified the data available at that time as incomplete.

The heatwave had affected much of metropolitan France for several days. In addition to older people, people with chronic illnesses, infants, young children, pregnant women, and people who perform physical work or live in poorly cooled homes may also be affected. In the event of prolonged and intense heat, the risk of dehydration, circulatory problems and overheating increases significantly.

For health monitoring, Santé publique France uses both data from civil registry offices and electronically transmitted death certificates. Electronic reporting allows for faster assessment, but does not cover all deaths with the same degree of completeness. For this reason, initial results are compared and refined in subsequent weeks with additional data.

The number now reported therefore constitutes an important indication of the health consequences of the June heat, but it does not yet represent a definitive tally of heat-related deaths. A separate assessment of medical causes and mortality actually attributable to the heat remains necessary. Authorities urge strict implementation of protective measures in high temperatures, especially for vulnerable family members.