Preliminary data released by the Statistical Federal Office (Destatis) on Wednesday indicate a significant decrease in mortality rates across Germany during the second quarter of 2025. Approximately 236,000 deaths were recorded, representing a decline compared to previous years. All three months – April, May and June – registered mortality figures below the average levels observed over the preceding four years, falling by two percent in April and three percent in both May and June.
The period following the influenza wave, which significantly impacted mortality rates in January and February, is now considered to have concluded in early April. Analysis of weekly mortality data reveals a noticeable influence from a heatwave during the transition from June to July. Mortality rates spiked by eight percent during calendar week 27 (June 20th to 26th) when compared to the same period in previous years. This correlation between elevated temperatures and increased mortality is a known phenomenon, frequently observed during warmer months.
The Euromomo network, which monitors mortality trends across Europe, incorporates its own mortality excess calculations and methodology to provide a comparative analysis. Its assessment of available data suggests that during the second quarter of 2025, most European countries experienced mortality patterns largely consistent with expected trends. Relatively minor, short-term increases in mortality – categorized as “low excess” – were observed in Estonia, Spain and Cyprus.