Portugal records 680 excess deaths during summer heatwaves
The Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health (Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge or INSA) reported 680 excess deaths in Portugal during three periods this summer. The highest mortality spike occurred between July 2 and July 8, coinciding with an extreme heatwave that health authorities say aggravated pre-existing conditions, particularly among those aged 75 and older. Separately, data shows that road mortality has remained stagnant over the last decade, with 589 road deaths recorded in 2025.
Excess mortality is the number of deaths above what would be expected based on historical averages (commonly a multi‑year baseline), and it captures deaths directly and indirectly caused by events like epidemics, heatwaves or healthcare disruptions. Portugal’s public health institute INSA (Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge) monitors excess mortality to see the broader impact of seasonal illnesses and other stresses on the health system, so a drop in flu cases does not automatically mean overall mortality has returned to normal. Those following public‑health trends should note excess‑mortality figures because they show the pandemic and other factors’ continuing effect on population health.
