Heat linked to an estimated 1,260 deaths in Switzerland this summer

Swiss authorities estimate heat caused about 1,260 deaths between May and August 2026.

The deaths occurred during Switzerland’s hottest summer since records began.

The estimate equals 14 deaths per 100,000 people and 5.5% of all deaths during that period.

About 85% of those who died were over 75, and seven in ten heat-linked deaths occurred on days with an average temperature of at least 25°C.

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute produced the estimate for federal agencies using provisional death records.

The final figure may change because some death reports arrive late.

Authorities plan to update the estimate in spring 2027 using final data that also cover September.