CHINA

Heat Waves Linked to Nearly 20,000 Deaths in China in 2025

Published: Nov. 5, 2026 10:19 a.m. GMT+8

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A tower crane sprays water to lower temperatures during hot weather in Huzhou, in China’s Zhejiang province. Photo: VCG

Heat waves were linked to 19,338 deaths in China in 2025, 70% above the annual average for 1986 through 2005, according to a new report that found mounting health risks from climate change despite an expansion of early-warning systems.

The findings, published recently in The Lancet Public Health, show how rising temperatures are cutting working hours, limiting safe outdoor exercise and disrupting sleep. The 2026 China report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change is the project’s seventh annual assessment of the country.

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Heat caused 19,338 deaths in China in 2025, 70% above the 1986–2005 average.
Outdoor workers lost 104.4 hours each; sleep loss averaged 1,361 minutes annually (2015–2025).
Early warnings now cover 770 million people, but regional and sector preparedness gaps remain.

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What Happened When

2004-2024：: Risk of dengue transmission expanded inland and toward higher latitudes; more cities in Yellow/Huai river region and North China Plain became conducive to transmission.

2015-2025：: Rising nighttime temperatures associated with average annual loss of 1,361 minutes of sleep per person; largest losses in Hainan (2,654), Macau (2,609), Hong Kong (2,580).

2016-2025：: Annual excess risk of infectious diarrhea associated with extreme rainfall 54.4% higher than 1986–2005 baseline; western China recorded largest increases.

2024：: Guangzhou and Chongqing recorded greatest total losses of working hours; climate-health early-warning systems reached about 590 million people.

2025：: Heat waves linked to 19,338 deaths in China, 70% above the 1986–2005 annual average; workers lost average 47.7 working hours each to heat (4.4 hours more than baseline); outdoor workers lost 104.4 hours each; heat burden 7.3 times indoor workers; exposure to extreme rainfall 3.8 events, drought 5.3 events (rainfall down 10.6% from 2024, drought up 34.9%).

2025：: Beihai ranked first in per-worker losses (140.6 hours), followed by Qinzhou (133.2) and Nanning (126.8); heat waves reduced safe physical activity window by average 2.6 hours per person (87.1% larger than baseline).

By early 2026：: Half of China’s cities completed, conducting, or planned city-level climate-risk assessments; heat-health early warnings covered 20 provinces and 141 cities; climate-health early-warning systems reached 770 million people (up 30.5% from ~590 million in 2024).

AI generated, for reference only