France has recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during a historic summer heatwave, making it the country’s deadliest heat-related event in more than two decades, according to figures released by Public Health France.
The national public health agency announced on Wednesday that between 17 June and 2 July, it had expected approximately 15,910 deaths based on historical mortality trends. However, 21,674 deaths were recorded during the period, representing 5,764 excess deaths, a 36 per cent increase above expected levels.
Health authorities described the episode as an unprecedented weather event, characterised by its early onset, exceptional intensity and prolonged duration, which exposed nearly the entire French population to extreme temperatures while schools and workplaces remained fully operational.
“This unprecedented event, characterised by its early onset, intensity and duration, exposed almost the entire population to extreme heat during a period that was still largely dedicated to school and work activities,” Public Health France said in a statement.
During the heatwave, temperatures exceeded 104°F (40°C) in many parts of the country, with the hottest days occurring on 24 and 25 June, when the national average temperature reached 86°F (30°C).
The agency reported a sharp increase in deaths across hospitals, private residences and nursing homes. Its analysis covered individuals aged 15 years and above, with mortality beginning to rise significantly from the age of 45.
Older adults were disproportionately affected, with people aged 75 years and above accounting for nearly two-thirds of the provisional death toll, representing at least 3,719 excess deaths.
The Paris metropolitan region recorded the highest mortality, with 1,999 excess deaths more than 80 per cent higher than would ordinarily have been expected during the period.
According to Public Health France, the 2026 heatwave has resulted in the country’s highest excess mortality associated with extreme heat since the devastating 2003 heatwave, when an estimated 15,000 additional deaths were recorded nationwide, according to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research.
More than 56 per cent of this year’s excess deaths occurred during or immediately after the most intense phase of the heatwave between 25 and 27 June, underscoring the severe impact of sustained extreme temperatures on public health.
The effects of the heatwave were also felt across Europe. French officials disclosed that more than 10,000 excess deaths had been reported across the continent during the peak of the extreme weather, although they noted that the preliminary figures remain subject to revision as further data become available.
The Associated Press reported that funeral directors in Paris struggled to cope with the surge in fatalities, with several mortuaries reaching full capacity and temporarily refusing additional bodies awaiting burial or cremation.
Public Health France emphasised that the current mortality estimates include deaths from all causes occurring during the heatwave period and cautioned that the figures remain provisional pending further epidemiological analysis.
The latest data have renewed concerns over the growing public health consequences of increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves linked to climate change, with health experts urging stronger preparedness measures to protect vulnerable populations during periods of extreme heat.
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