More deaths during the Covid-19 episode in the spring of 2020 than during the 2003 heat wave

Over the last twenty years, in France, two events have led to sharp increases in deaths: the heat wave in the summer of 2003 and the Covid-19 in the spring of 2020. In both cases, the increase in deaths, from all causes, has mainly concerned the oldest people. During the Covid-19 episode, the increase in deaths was 12,000 more than observed during the heat wave (about 27,000 deaths between 10 March and 8 May 2020 compared with 15,000 between 1 and 24 August 2003). This difference can be explained by the increase and ageing of the population between 2003 and 2020, as well as by the duration of the epidemic (60 days compared to 24 days for the heat wave). However, the number of deaths per day was much higher in 2003.

The region of Île-de-France is the most strongly affected by both phenomena. The 2003 heat wave also generated a significant increase in deaths in the region of Centre-Val-de-Loire and Covid-19 in the region of Grand Est.