Summer 2024 Report: 3,711 Heat-Related Deaths, a Lower Impact Than in 2023

According to France’s public health agency (Santé publique France, SpF), high temperatures during the summer of 2024 caused 3,711 deaths between June 1 and September 15, accounting for over 2% of all-cause mortality during this period. Although this toll remains heavy, it is lower than in summer 2023, which recorded 5,167 heat-related deaths.

A Particularly Strong Impact on the Elderly

More than three-quarters of the deaths involved people aged 75 and older, a demographic more vulnerable due to a less efficient thermoregulation system. This population also accounted for 52% of emergency room visits and 24% of SOS Médecins consultations related to extreme heat.

Marked Heatwaves and Geographical Disparities

Summer 2024 was the eighth hottest since 1900, with an average temperature 0.7°C above normal. The main heatwave lasted from July 28 to August 14, with two successive peaks affecting 43 departments, primarily in the southeast and Corsica, exposing 40% of the French population. The Alpes-Maritimes and Pyrénées-Orientales were particularly affected, with 14 and 13 days of heatwave, respectively.

During these heatwave episodes, over 600 deaths were directly attributed to heat exposure, representing more than 10% of observed mortality during those periods. Additionally, seven fatal work-related accidents linked to heat were reported by the Directorate General of Labor.

A Phenomenon Intensified by Climate Change

“Since 2015, we have observed increasingly hot summers, marked by recurring heatwaves and prolonged heat exposure across the entire territory,” explains Guillaume Boulanger, a researcher at Santé publique France. While some regions, such as the Atlantic coast and Île-de-France, were relatively spared, the southeastern quarter remains the most exposed area.

In light of this trend, prevention and adaptation are becoming crucial issues to protect vulnerable populations and limit the impact of heatwaves on public health.