Every year more than 175,000 people in Europe die from the effects of extreme heat.

Omissions

• The 175,000 figure refers to the WHO European Region (53 member states, including non-European countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Israel), not to geographic Europe or the EU as an MEP would commonly mean by 'Europe'.
• The figure is a modelled long-term average estimate, not an observed annual count: WHO's own recent-year figures for 35 countries show about 60,000+ deaths in 2022 and about 47,500 in 2023.
• The most recent data available before the session (Lancet Countdown Europe 2026 report, covering ~33 European countries) estimates ~62,000 heat-attributable deaths in 2024 — roughly one-third of the claimed figure, although for a narrower country scope.
• The claim does not attribute the figure to the WHO or indicate its regional scope and estimation method.
• The UN News article confirming the figure dates from August 2024; no 2025/2026 source reaffirming or revising the 175,000 figure for the same scope was found.

Sources

• PrimaryWHO Regional Office for Europe — Heatwaves topic pageIn 35 countries of the Region, heat claimed more than 60 000 lives in 2022 and 47 500 lives in 2023. By 2050, with no further adaptation, this could rise to 120 000.
• AcademicLancet Countdown Europe — 2026 ReportNearly all parts of the continent (99.6% of sub-country regions) are seeing rising heat-attributable deaths – reaching an estimated 62,000 deaths in 2024.
• SecondaryUN News (citing WHO)A staggering 175,000 people die from heat-related causes every year in Europe and that figure is set to soar in line with our steadily rising global temperatures (statement attributed to WHO).