Daikin World Air Survey 2026: Living in a Hotter World

Brussels, 11 August 2026 – Daikin Europe N.V. today announced the results of the second Daikin World Air Survey, which gathered responses from 1,200 air conditioner owners across 12 cities worldwide. The survey explores perceptions of heat, changes in daily behaviour due to rising temperatures, and air-conditioning usage patterns. The findings highlight the growing impact of heat on daily life around the world, including across Europe. Across all cities surveyed, 86.5% of respondents said their area has become hotter compared with five years ago, while 89.9% reported experiencing some form of heat-related physical discomfort. In addition, 84.1% said the period during which they use air conditioning has become longer. The findings indicate that rising temperatures are increasingly affecting daily routines, health, and cooling needs in many regions around the world.

Key findings

• 86.5% feel their area has become hotter compared with five years ago.
• 59.1% have avoided going out or participating in outdoor activities because of the heat.
• 89.9% have experienced some form of heat-related physical discomfort.
• 84.1% say the period during which they use air conditioning has become longer.
• 64.4% report being unable to use air conditioning as much as they would like at certain times because of factors such as energy costs or power supply constraints.

Living with heat in Europe

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), Europe is the fastest-warming continent globally. June 2026 was also recorded as the hottest June on record in western Europe*¹.

Although the survey was conducted between 29 May and 5 June 2026, before the major heatwaves that affected Europe later in the summer, respondents in both Paris and Madrid already reported noticeable changes in their experience of heat and cooling needs.

In Madrid, 93% of respondents said their area had become hotter compared with five years ago, while 89% of respondents in Paris shared the same view. The survey also found that 87% of respondents in Madrid and 75% in Paris believe the period during which they use air conditioning has become longer. These findings reflect the growing impact of heat on daily life across Europe and suggest that cooling is becoming an increasingly important aspect of adapting to higher temperatures.

*1: Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), European State of the Climate 2025 –
https://climate.copernicus.eu/esotc/2025
Copernicus Climate Bulletin, June 2026 Highlights - https://climate.copernicus.eu/climate-bulletin

Globally, the same trend can be observed across the cities surveyed. The survey found that 84.1% of respondents believe that the period during which they use air conditioning has become longer compared with five years ago.

Areas feel hotter around the world

Across the 12 cities surveyed, 86.5% of respondents reported that their area had become hotter compared with five years ago. The highest percentages were recorded in Bangkok (97%), Delhi (94%), and Tokyo (94%). Overall, the results indicate a widespread perception that temperatures are rising and that heat is becoming a more significant part of everyday life.

Heat is changing daily life

Heat is increasingly affecting the way people live and organise their daily routines. When asked how heat had affected their behaviour over the past year, 59.1% of respondents said they had avoided going outdoors or participating in outdoor activities during hot periods. Other frequently reported changes included spending more time indoors, adjusting clothing choices, changing the timing of daily activities, and seeking air-conditioned environments. The results suggest that the effects of rising temperatures extend beyond physical comfort and are increasingly influencing daily behaviour.

Heat-related physical discomfort is widespread

Across all cities surveyed, 89.9% of respondents reported experiencing physical discomfort because of heat. The most commonly reported effects were:

• Reduced sleep quality (58.3%)
• Fatigue or sluggishness (50.9%)
• Headaches (36.1%)

The findings underline the broad impact that heat can have on health and wellbeing.

Access to cooling remains a challenge

Despite increasing cooling needs, many respondents reported barriers to using air conditioning as much as they would like. Across all cities surveyed, 64.4% said that they sometimes limit air-conditioner use because of factors such as electricity costs or power supply concerns. The findings highlight the growing importance of access to efficient and affordable cooling solutions.

About the Daikin World Air Survey

The Daikin World Air Survey examines how people around the world perceive changes in temperature, indoor environments, and air conditioning use.

The second Daikin World Air Survey was conducted amid growing global interest in heat. It surveyed people living in 12 cities across 11 countries about their perceptions of recent heat, changes in daily life and behavior caused by heat, actual use of air conditioning, impacts on sleep and health, energy-saving awareness, and challenges related to using cooling. As the world becomes hotter, air conditioning is becoming increasingly important not only as a home appliance that creates a comfortable indoor environment, but also as something that supports daily life and health. Through this survey, Daikin aims to shed light on how air environments, air-conditioning usage, and approaches to heat differ by country and region, and to provide an opportunity to think about air environments that help people around the world live comfortably and healthily.

Survey methodology

• Survey sponsor: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
• Survey method: Internet-based questionnaire
• Respondents: 1,200 air-conditioner owners aged 20 to 69 (100 respondents in each city)
• Survey period: 29 May to 5 June 2026 (Tokyo: 29 May to 3 June 2026)
• Survey locations: Houston, New York, Paris, Madrid, Istanbul, Lagos, São Paulo, Dubai, Delhi, Bangkok, Shanghai and Tokyo