ONS: 42,132 Heat-Linked Deaths in England, Wales Since 1988

More than 40,000 excess deaths in England and Wales have been linked to extreme heat over the past 38 years, according to new analysis from the Office for National Statistics, which also indicates that the gap between heat and cold-related mortality is narrowing as temperatures rise. The data, published on August 26, 2026, covers the period from 1988 to 2025 and does not include the current summer, which is on track to become the deadliest for heat-related deaths on record. The ONS found that an estimated 42,132 deaths across England and Wales were associated with the hottest 2.5% of days between 1988 and 2025.