Growing Proportion of Deaths Associated with Hottest Days, Figures Suggest
Researchers estimate 42,133 heat-associated deaths since 1988 as more frequent hot weather narrows the gap with cold-related mortality.
- The Office for National Statistics reported on Wednesday that the proportion of deaths linked to extreme heat in England and Wales has increased in recent years, narrowing the gap between heat- and cold-related mortality.
- Between 1988 and 2025, researchers estimated 42,133 deaths in England and Wales were associated with the hottest days, while cold-related deaths remained substantially higher at 149,042 during the same 38-year period.
- People over 65 face at least a 50 per cent increased mortality risk at temperatures exceeding 24C, according to the ONS, which noted socioeconomic factors in London may limit residents' capacity to adapt to high temperatures.
- "Many of these deaths can be avoided," Mike Childs of Friends of the Earth said, urging the Government to accelerate spending on the Warm Homes programme to upgrade insulation in vulnerable areas.
- Heat-Related deaths peaked in 2022 with 4,652 fatalities, the highest figure since 1988, as more frequent and persistent periods of hot weather drive a long-term upward trend in mortality across England and Wales.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Statistics Reveal Over 40,000 Shocking Deaths Due to Extreme Heat in England Since 1988
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed on Wednesday, 26 August, that more than 40,000 excess deaths in the UK have been linked to extreme heat between 1988 and 2025. ONS's figure doesn't include the deaths recorded during this year's scorching summer, which has been closely watched and is on track to become the UK's deadliest year for heat-related deaths. According to the UK Health Security Agency, an estimated 2,877 people have died …
Heat-related deaths surge to 2,805
Heat-related deaths in England and Wales more than tripled in 2025 after reaching 2,805, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics. The figure compares with 818 deaths in 2024 and represents the fourth-highest annual total since records began in 1988. The highest number was recorded in 2022, when 4,652 deaths were associated with the hottest days. Heat-related mortality has also risen over the longer term. The average number …
The Independent
The Independent (US)40,000 climate-related deaths recorded in England over 38 years
Increasing hot weather is linked to thousands of deaths in England and Wales, new data shows
The proportion of deaths associated with warmer days has increased in recent years.
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