ONS Data Links 40,000 Heat Related Deaths in England Between 1988 and 2025

More than 40,000 extra people died on the hottest days in England between 1988 and 2025 than would be expected in normal temperatures, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday. The analysis found that in nearly all English regions and Wales, the risk of death increased by at least 50 percent when temperatures exceeded 24C. London was identified as the area with the highest number of deaths attributable to the hottest temperatures. While cold related deaths have historically been more frequent, with 139,000 associated with the coldest days in England during the same period, the ONS noted that the gap between heat and cold related deaths has narrowed in recent years. In the most recent year of the data, heat related deaths in England and Wales reached 2,805, surpassing the 2,244 cold related deaths. These figures do not include the current summer, which has seen a succession of heatwaves and is on track to record its highest ever number of heat related deaths. The UK Health Security Agency estimated that 2,877 people died during the May and June heatwaves alone. Center left sources framed these findings as a national scandal and a direct consequence of the climate crisis caused by fossil fuels. They highlighted the strain on emergency departments and criticized Prime Minister Andy Burnham for his response to the climate crisis. Center sources focused more narrowly on the geographic and statistical risks, emphasizing that London is the worst affected area in England and Wales.