France recorded 1.243 more deaths than expected between July 3 and 22, when extremely high temperatures hit the country, the country's Health Ministry said.
The data includes all deaths, regardless of cause, and is an estimate based on death certificates issued during that period.
People aged 75 and over accounted for about three-quarters of the excess deaths, Reuters reports.
July was the hottest month ever recorded in France and one of the driest, the national meteorological service said earlier this month.
Meteorologists said that Europe as a whole has experienced more extreme warming this year, linked to human-induced climate change, than any other continent.
The National Health Agency last month recorded 5.764 deaths between June 17 and July 2.
The data is preliminary, and final data for the entire summer will be available in October or November, the Ministry said.
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