Mount Everest – Official Height, Location, and Key Facts

Mount Everest rises to 8,848.86 metres (29,031.69 ft) above sea level, the highest point on Earth. The official figure was announced jointly by Nepal and China in December 2020 and is confirmed across international references such as Wikipedia. The summit marks the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas.

Everest is far more than a number on a map. Every spring, teams gather at its base camps with logistics planned months or years in advance. The mountain has produced legendary first ascents, deadly accidents, and a trekking route that pulls thousands of visitors each year.

Anyone checking the facts, planning a climb, or weighing the Base Camp trek needs reliable answers on height, location, cost, and risk. The details below cover each in full.

How Tall is Mount Everest?

The official height of Mount Everest is 8,848.86 m (29,031.69 ft), roughly 8.85 km. The quick-reference overview below summarises the core facts.

• Height: 8,849 m (29,032 ft) — nearest official measurement, 2020 joint Nepali–Chinese survey.
• Location: Himalayas, China–Nepal border — Mahalangur Himal sub-range.
• First Ascent: May 29, 1953 — Edmund Hillary (NZ) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal/India).
• Fatalities: 330+ — deaths recorded since 1922; roughly 200 bodies remain (exact count varies).

Guinness World Records lists Everest as the highest mountain on Earth, and the figure has become the standard benchmark for global elevation records.

• The official height of 8,848.86 m was jointly re-measured by Nepal and China in 2020, reconciling their separate data sets.
• The death zone begins above 8,000 m, where low oxygen forces the body to deteriorate rapidly.
• Climbing costs range from roughly $35,000 to more than $100,000 depending on route, operator, and services.
• Most Everest deaths happen during descents from the summit, inside the death zone.
• The Base Camp trek is achievable for fit beginners, though altitude sickness and weather remain the main threats.
• More than 300 people have died on Everest, and many bodies remain where they fell because recovery is extremely difficult.

The height of Everest has been revised more than once. Early surveys placed the mountain near 8,848 m (29,028 ft), a figure documented in Britannica’s measurement history. A major U.S.-led survey in 1999 reported about 29,035 ft (8,850 m), which National Geographic used for some maps before the 2020 agreement.

In December 2020, Nepal and China resolved years of disagreement by jointly announcing 8,848.86 m as the official elevation. Scientists continue to study the mountain’s growth, and the BBC has explored how much taller Everest could become. Britannica notes that the official elevation may vary slightly because of snow level, gravity deviation, and light refraction.

Where is Mount Everest Located?

Everest stands in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas on the international border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The summit itself marks the boundary line, so the mountain’s highest point belongs to both countries. National Geographic’s education resource places the mountain squarely in this border context.

Which Country is Mount Everest In?

The answer is two countries. Nepal lies to the south, while China’s Tibet Autonomous Region lies to the north. Because the summit sits on the border, both governments share a direct stake in the mountain’s official measurement, which is why the 2020 height announcement was a joint effort.

Where is Mount Everest on the Map?

Britannica places the coordinates at approximately 27°59′ N 86°56′ E. The mountain sits within the greater Himalayan arc, with the Mahalangur Himal sub-range as its immediate geological home. For a wider view of the region, this contextual geographic article covers the Himalayan system beyond Everest itself.

How Much Does It Cost to Climb Mount Everest?

There is no single official price for an Everest expedition. Most climbers pay somewhere between $35,000 and more than $100,000, depending on the route, the operator, and the level of support. Commercial outfitters such as Adventure Peaks publish their own itineraries and prices, and those numbers shift season to season.

Costs largely reflect permit fees, Sherpa support, bottled oxygen, logistics, and commercial operator margins. Permit fees alone can run from roughly $11,000 to $25,000 depending on the side of the mountain and the route selected. The final total depends on what level of service the expedition includes.

How Many People Have Died on Mount Everest?

Everest has claimed lives in almost every climbing era since the 1920s. Fatalities are associated with altitude, weather, avalanches, falls, and exhaustion. Public totals vary because sources count differently and new incidents occur each season. Reference sources such as the British Mountaineering Council track key figures for the climbing community.

What is the Death Zone on Mount Everest?

The death zone begins above 8,000 m (26,247 ft). At that altitude, the air holds roughly 30% of the oxygen found at sea level. The human body cannot acclimatise to these conditions, which is why most climbers depend on supplementary oxygen above that point.

Most deaths occur during descents from the summit, when climbers are exhausted and still inside the death zone. Rapid weather changes and crowding at high altitudes add further risk to the return to camp.

How Many Bodies Are Still on Mount Everest?

The number of bodies remaining on Everest is not known with precision. Estimates range from 150 to 300 depending on the source. Recovery operations are rare because they are physically demanding and extremely expensive, so many bodies stay where they fell. Some have become well-known landmarks along the climbing routes.

What is Everest Base Camp?

Everest Base Camp sits at roughly 5,400 m (17,700 ft). It is the main staging area for expeditions on the Nepalese side, where teams acclimatise, store supplies, and prepare for the route above. The mountain’s camp structure above Base Camp follows a standard progression:

• Base Camp: 5,400 m
• Camp 1: 6,100 m
• Camp 2: 6,400 m
• Camp 3: 6,800 m
• Camp 4: 8,000 m

What is the Everest Base Camp Trek?

The Base Camp trek is a major trekking route running roughly 130 km round trip, typically covering 12 to 16 days. Fit beginners can complete it, but altitude sickness and changing weather are the main threats along the way.

For practical planning details on the route, this related trekking guide walks through what to expect on the ground.

What Are the Key Milestones in Everest’s History?

1. 1921 – First British reconnaissance expedition to Everest; reaches 7,000 m.
2. 1924 – George Mallory and Andrew Irvine vanish near the summit; the mystery remains unresolved.
3. 1953 – Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay make the first confirmed summit via the South Col.
4. 1980 – First winter ascent by Krzysztof Wielicki and Leszek Cichy (Polish expedition).
5. 1996 – Storm claims eight lives in a single day, later chronicled in Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air”.
6. 2014 – Sherpa avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall kills 16; the deadliest accident on the mountain up to that point.
7. 2015 – April 25 earthquake triggers an avalanche at Base Camp, killing 19; the summit season is cancelled.
8. 2019 – Overcrowding leads to 11 deaths in one season; photos of summit traffic jams go viral.
9. 2020 – Nepal and China jointly announce the new official height of 8,848.86 m (Kathmandu Post, BBC News).
10. 2024 – A record 478 climbing permits are issued; debates over overcrowding and waste continue.

What Is Known for Certain — and What Remains Unclear?

These distinctions matter because older data still circulates online. When Nepal and China agreed on the revised elevation, The Guardian and NPR both covered the update as a significant correction to the historical record.

What Does Everest’s Popularity Mean for the Mountain Today?

Everest’s extreme popularity has turned high-altitude climbing into a commercial industry. Crowds form on busy summit days, and safety concerns have grown alongside demand. The 2019 season put the problem on full display, with queues near the summit and multiple fatalities linked to delays.

The death zone’s lethality is directly tied to atmospheric pressure. At 8,000 m and above, air holds only about 30% of sea-level oxygen, and the body cannot sustain itself without help. Bodies remain on the mountain not from neglect alone but because recovery is physically dangerous and extremely costly; some have become grim reference points along the established routes.

The mountain itself is also changing. The official height has shifted over time as GPS technology improved and as tectonic uplift continues to push the Himalayas upward. Snow level, gravity deviation, and light refraction can all influence measurements, which is why the 2020 joint survey was seen as a milestone in accurate mapping.

What Have Climbers and Explorers Said About Everest?

Over the decades, those who have faced the mountain have put its pull into words. A handful of quotes capture both the beauty and the danger.

It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.

Sir Edmund Hillary (often paraphrased)

Everest is a beautiful humanitarian vision. It’s also a brute and a tyrant.

Chris Bonington, British mountaineer

I remember being told by an old Tibetan lama, “The mountain is not for you. It is not a place for a human being.”

Reinhold Messner, first to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen

What Should You Remember About Everest?

Everest remains the world’s highest point above sea level, officially measured at 8,848.86 m since 2020. It sits on the border of Nepal and China, carries documented and serious risks, and draws both climbers and trekkers in rising numbers each year. Anyone planning an expedition needs current data, because costs, conditions, and regulations change from season to season.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mount Everest