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 of deaths increased from 1,156 a year between 1989 and 1991 to 1,730 between 2023 and 2025, which is an increase of around 50%.
Since 1988, 42,132 deaths across England and Wales have been associated with periods of extreme heat.
The 2025 total was 148 times higher than the 19 deaths recorded in 1988, highlighting the growing health impacts associated with rising temperatures and more frequent heat extremes.
With the prolonged extreme heat this country has experienced over the summer, similar figures may be seen following this year.
Copyright © 2026 Energy Live News LtdELN