There’s a reason Mount Everest has held the human imagination for over a century — it’s the highest point on Earth, a place where the air is thin and the stakes are life-and-death. This guide pulls together the official 2020 height measurement, real-world costs, fatality data, and the practical realities of standing on the summit.
Height: 8,848.86 m (29,031.7 ft) ·
Location: Nepal / China (Tibet) ·
First Ascent: 29 May 1953 by Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay ·
Deaths (2025): over 340 recorded ·
Cost per climb: $30,000 – $160,000 ·
Typical climbing season: April–June (spring)
Quick snapshot
- April–June primary window (Wikipedia)
- September–November secondary (Wikipedia)
- 4 windows per year (Wikipedia)
- Over 340 total (Wikipedia)
- Avalanche (2014, 2015) (EBC Trek Guide)
- Fall, altitude illness (EBC Trek Guide)
- Crowding contributes (EBC Trek Guide)
- Permit $11,000 (Nepal) (The Straits Times)
- Guides, oxygen, gear (Tourism Info Nepal)
- Total $30,000–$160,000 (Tourism Info Nepal)
Eight key facts, one pattern: the mountain’s extremes — height, temperature, cost, and risk — define every aspect of climbing it.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Official Height | 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) |
| First Ascent | 29 May 1953 – Edmund Hillary (NZ) & Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) |
| Countries | Nepal (south) and China/Tibet (north) |
| Annual Climbers | ~600–800 summits per year (spring) |
| Deadliest Year | 1996 (15 deaths), 2014 (16 deaths due to avalanche), 2015 (22 deaths due to earthquake); 2023 (18 deaths) |
| Average Summit Temperature (January) | -36°C (-33°F) |
| Average Summit Temperature (July) | -19°C (-2°F) |
| Cost Range (guided expedition) | $30,000 – $160,000 (Nepal side) |
What is the peak of Mount Everest?
Official height 2020
In December 2020, Nepal and China jointly announced a new official height for Mount Everest: 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet). This measurement, conducted by survey teams from both countries, settled a long-standing discrepancy between Nepal’s previous figure of 8,848 m and China’s 8,844.43 m. The new height accounts for the 2015 earthquake’s effect on the mountain and uses GPS, gravity, and snow-depth radar (Wikipedia).
Location and continent
Mount Everest sits on the border of Nepal (south side) and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China (north side). It is part of the Himalayan range in Asia, which formed roughly 50 million years ago when the Indian tectonic plate collided with the Eurasian plate. The mountain continues to rise at about 4 mm per year due to ongoing tectonic activity (Wikipedia).
The 2020 joint survey ended a decades-long measurement dispute, but the mountain’s height is not static — climbers in 2025 are standing on a peak that is measurably taller than when Hillary and Norgay first summited.
The implication: the mountain’s height is both a fixed record and a moving target, shaped by tectonic forces that continue to push it skyward.
How cold is it at the peak of Mount Everest?
Temperature ranges
Summit temperatures on Everest are brutal year-round. In January, the average temperature at the peak is -36°C (-33°F). Even in July, the warmest month, the average is only -19°C (-2°F). The warmest temperature ever recorded on the summit was -20°C (-4°F), according to Nepal Mother House Treks (Nepal Mother House Treks).
Wind chill factor
Wind makes the cold far more dangerous. At the summit, wind speeds can exceed 160 km/h (100 mph), driving the wind chill down to -60°C (-76°F). Above 8,000 meters — the so-called “death zone” — the air is so thin that the body cannot acclimatize, and exposure to these temperatures for more than a few hours can be fatal (TravellersQuest).
A climber in the death zone at -60°C wind chill faces frostbite in under 5 minutes on exposed skin. That’s not a discomfort — it’s a timer.
What this means: temperature alone would make Everest lethal; wind chill removes the margin for error entirely.
Why do planes not fly over Everest?
Altitude limitations
Commercial aircraft typically cruise at 30,000–40,000 feet (9,144–12,192 meters). Everest’s summit at 29,031.7 feet is within that range, but the problem is not the peak itself — it’s the surrounding terrain. If an engine fails or cabin pressure drops, a plane must descend to 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) for safe breathing. Over Everest, that descent would put the aircraft into the mountain (Wikipedia).
Weather patterns
The jet stream over Everest can reach speeds of 200 mph (322 km/h), creating extreme turbulence. Combined with the lack of feasible diversion airports in the region, airlines route flights around the Himalayas rather than over them. The standard flight path from Bangkok to Kathmandu, for example, skirts south of the range.
The implication: the same thin air that makes Everest deadly for climbers also makes it a no-fly zone for commercial aviation.
How many climbers died on Everest?
Total recorded deaths
As of 2025, at least 346 people have died attempting to climb Mount Everest, according to Wikipedia’s list of fatalities (Wikipedia). Climbing-community estimates suggest the true number may be higher, with roughly 200 bodies still remaining on the mountain due to the difficulty and danger of retrieval (Climbing Kilimanjaro).
Leading causes
Avalanches, falls, and altitude sickness account for the majority of deaths. The deadliest single events include the 2014 Khumbu Icefall avalanche (16 Sherpas killed) and the 2015 Nepal earthquake avalanche at Base Camp (22 deaths). In 2023, 18 climbers died — the highest single-season toll in years (EBC Trek Guide).
What is the biggest killer on Everest?
Avalanches account for the largest single-event death tolls, but falls and altitude sickness remain the most consistent cause of death year after year. The Khumbu Icefall, a constantly shifting glacier, has killed more climbers than any other single feature on the mountain (EBC Trek Guide).
Crowding in the death zone has become a contributing factor. In 2019, a “traffic jam” near the summit forced climbers to wait in lethal conditions for hours, contributing to 11 deaths that season.
The pattern: the deadliest threats shift — from avalanche to altitude to overcrowding — but the outcome is consistent: Everest kills in clusters.
Why does it cost $40,000 to climb Mount Everest?
Permit fees
The single biggest line item is the climbing permit. Nepal charges $11,000 per person for a standard Everest permit, a figure set in 2015. However, effective September 1, 2025, the Nepal government raised the fee to $15,000 per person — a $4,000 increase (The Straits Times).
Logistics and guides
Beyond the permit, climbers pay for Sherpa guidance, bottled oxygen, base camp support, food, gear, and insurance. A full guided expedition from a reputable operator runs $30,000 to $160,000 on the Nepal side, depending on the level of support and the operator’s reputation (Tourism Info Nepal). Nepalese climbers pay significantly less — roughly $5,000 to $30,000 — because they do not need permits or guides from foreign agencies (Namaste Nepal Trekking).
The trade-off: the price gap between foreign and Nepalese climbers reflects the economics of a market where demand far exceeds supply of permits, and where safety infrastructure comes at a premium.
Why does it take 2 months to climb Everest?
Acclimatization rotas
The two-month timeline is not about the climb itself — it’s about the body’s need to adapt to altitude. Climbers spend the first week trekking to Base Camp at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet). Then they make a series of rotations: climbing to Camp 1 (6,065 m), Camp 2 (6,400 m), and Camp 3 (7,200 m), then descending to sleep lower. Each rotation builds red blood cell count and acclimatization (Wikipedia).
Weather windows
The summit push itself takes 3–5 days from Base Camp, but climbers must wait for a weather window — a period of calm winds and clear skies in May. These windows are narrow, often only 2–4 days long. If the window closes, climbers descend and wait for the next one, or abandon the attempt entirely.
The pattern: the mountain dictates the schedule, not the climber. Two months is the minimum to safely manage the physiological and meteorological constraints.
What is the oldest body still on Mount Everest?
Known remains
The most famous body on Everest belongs to George Mallory, the British climber who disappeared near the summit in 1924. His body was discovered in 1999 at 8,155 meters (26,755 feet) by an expedition searching for clues to whether he and his partner Andrew Irvine reached the summit before dying. Mallory’s body remains on the mountain, as do an estimated 200 others (Climbing Kilimanjaro).
George Mallory controversy
Whether Mallory and Irvine summited before dying is one of mountaineering’s greatest unanswered questions. Mallory’s body was found with no photograph of his wife (which he planned to leave on the summit), and his oxygen apparatus was missing. No camera has been recovered that could settle the debate.
What this means: the oldest body on Everest is also the most consequential unsolved mystery in climbing history.
Timeline
- 1856 – Survey of India identifies Peak XV as highest (Wikipedia)
- 1924 – George Mallory & Andrew Irvine disappear near summit (Wikipedia)
- 29 May 1953 – First ascent by Hillary and Norgay (Wikipedia)
- 1996 – Deadly season – 15 deaths, chronicled in Into Thin Air (Wikipedia)
- 2014 – 16 Sherpas killed in Khumbu Icefall avalanche (EBC Trek Guide)
- 2015 – 22 deaths from Nepal earthquake avalanche at Base Camp (EBC Trek Guide)
- 2020 – Joint Nepal-China survey establishes current official height (Wikipedia)
- 2023 – 18 deaths, highest single-season toll in years (EBC Trek Guide)
Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Height 8,848.86 m (2020 survey) (Wikipedia)
- First ascent 1953 by Hillary & Norgay (Wikipedia)
- Over 340 deaths recorded since 1922 (Wikipedia)
- Cost range $30,000–$160,000 for guided climb (Tourism Info Nepal)
What’s unclear
- Exact number of bodies remaining on mountain (estimates 200+) (Climbing Kilimanjaro)
- Whether Mallory & Irvine summited before dying (1924) (Wikipedia)
Quotes from the mountain
“Well, we knocked the bastard off.”
— Edmund Hillary, on reaching the summit, 29 May 1953
“The standard guided expedition on the Nepal side includes permit, Sherpa support, oxygen, and base camp logistics. The total cost for a foreign climber typically ranges from $45,000 to over $100,000.”
— Adventure Consultants (industry guide)
“I have summited Everest 30 times. Each time, the conditions are different. The mountain decides if you go up.”
— Kami Rita Sherpa, record 30 summits
Summary
Mount Everest is not just a mountain — it’s a system of extremes: the highest altitude, the coldest temperatures, the most expensive permits, and the deadliest terrain. For anyone considering a climb, the choice is clear: prepare for a two-month commitment, a six-figure budget, and a risk profile that includes a 1-in-40 chance of dying. For everyone else, the mountain’s story is one of human ambition measured against immutable physics — and the physics always wins.
breezeadventure.com, ecoholidaysnepal.com, nepalgatewaytrekking.com, facebook.com
For a deeper dive into the logistics and risks of reaching the summit, check out Mount Everest peak facts which covers the official height, death toll, and climbing costs in detail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the peak of Mount Everest called?
The peak is simply called the summit of Mount Everest. In Tibetan, it is known as Chomolungma (“Goddess Mother of the World”), and in Nepali, it is Sagarmatha (“Forehead in the Sky”).
How many people have climbed Mount Everest?
As of 2025, over 13,000 climbers have summited Everest since 1953, with approximately 600–800 successful summits per year during the spring season.
Is Mount Everest still growing?
Yes. The mountain rises at about 4 mm per year due to ongoing tectonic plate collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
Can you climb Everest without oxygen?
Yes, but it is extremely dangerous. Only about 200 climbers have summited without supplemental oxygen. The death zone above 8,000 meters makes it nearly impossible for most people.
What is the death zone on Everest?
The death zone is the area above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) where the air is too thin to sustain human life for extended periods. Climbers can only stay there for a few hours before risking death from hypoxia, frostbite, or altitude sickness.
How long does it take to climb Everest?
A typical expedition takes about two months: one week to trek to Base Camp, several weeks of acclimatization rotations, and a 3–5 day summit push during a weather window in May.
Are there different routes to the summit?
Yes. The two main routes are the Southeast Ridge from Nepal (the standard route used by most climbers) and the North Ridge from Tibet. The Nepal side is currently the only accessible route due to China’s closure of the north side.
Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Reef Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.