According to provisional figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), approximately 230,428 people died in Germany in the third quarter of 2026. The office also reported temporary weekly spikes during periods of summer heatwaves.
- Provisional total for Q3 2026: approximately 230,428 deaths.
- In the final full week of June, mortality was 36% above the corresponding four-year average; the subsequent week spanning June and July saw a 28% increase.
- During calendar weeks 31 and 32 (July 27 to August 9), figures were 4% above the four-year averages for those weeks.
Quarterly Total and General Context
Destatis notes the provisional nature of the data. Although mortality exceeded averages during specific summer weeks, total deaths in Q3 were roughly 3,000 lower than comparable figures from recent years. In June alone, however, the death toll was nearly 8,000 above the four-year baseline.
Outside of peak heat periods, mortality in Q3 generally stayed below prior baseline levels. Month by month, differences compared to 2022–2025 averages were +4% in July, −2% in August, and −5% in September.
Weekly Trends During Summer Heatwaves
In the last full week of June, concluding the second quarter, deaths were 36% higher than the average of the corresponding weeks over the previous four years. In the following transition week between June and July, the excess stood at 28%. During another heatwave in calendar weeks 31 and 32—from July 27 to August 9—each weekly figure was 4% above its four-year benchmark.
These percentages compare weekly counts against the four-year averages for those specific calendar weeks. While the press release links weekly elevations to heat periods, it does not assess how many deaths were directly attributable to heat. The report describes the concluded summer period and makes no forecasts regarding ongoing health hazards.