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The month of June 2025 was the hottest on record in at least 12 countries, according to an AFP analysis of Copernicus climate data, with 26 other nations experiencing their second-hottest June ever.
Experts attribute these extreme temperatures to the intensifying impact of global warming.
From Pakistan to Spain, and Japan to Nigeria, more than 790 million people across Europe, Asia, and Africa endured record-breaking heat last month.
Notably, Britain, China, France, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia all recorded their second-hottest June.
In Central Asia, countries such as Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan faced the hottest spring (April–June) ever documented. Pakistan, home to 250 million people, and Tajikistan both hit record high June temperatures.
Europe saw temperatures surge up to 3°C above average, especially in southern and western regions. Spain, Bosnia, and Montenegro recorded their hottest June ever. Unprecedented heat also affected the Paris region, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
In the Asia-Pacific, Japan experienced its hottest June since records began in 1898, with 14 cities logging all-time highs. Coastal waters near Japan were 1.2°C warmer, tying with June 2024. South Korea and North Korea both reported their hottest June, with temperatures 2°C above normal. In China, over 100 weather stations recorded new highs above 40°C.
Nigeria, the sixth most populous country, matched its June 2024 heat levels, while Central African nations such as South Sudan, Cameroon, and DR Congo saw June become their second hottest month on record. South Sudan, where temperatures exceeded the average by 2.1°C, struggled with infrastructure challenges and closed schools to prevent heat-related health issues.
The UN World Meteorological Organization warned in May that climate change is worsening hunger, displacement, and insecurity across Africa. As extreme heat continues to grip nations globally, calls for climate resilience and mitigation have become more urgent than ever.
