Mount Everest at a glance
Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level. The summit lies on the border between Nepal and China, where Tibet is the Chinese autonomous region on the north side. Nepal and China announced the current height together on 8 December 2020: 8,848.86 m.
This page collects the numbers people ask for most often. Where a fact is a record or a count, it has a date, because these figures change from season to season. For deeper topics, see the pages on the trek to Base Camp on our sister site and our own guides on height, climbing and risks.
Key facts compared
The figures people look up most, with their dates.
| Topic | Fact | Date or note |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 8,848.86 m | Announced 8 December 2020, measured to the snow surface |
| Location | Border of Nepal and China | Tibet is the Chinese autonomous region on the north side |
| Names | Sagarmatha, Chomolungma, Qomolangma | All three name the same mountain |
| First ascent | Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay | 29 May 1953, by the South Col and the southeast ridge |
| Most summits | Kami Rita, 32 | 17 May 2026, according to Guinness |
| Most summits by a woman | Lhakpa Sherpa, 11 | Latest summit 17 May 2026, according to Guinness |
| Nepal permit for foreigners, normal route | $15,000 in spring | Since 1 September 2025 |
| Protected area, Nepal side | Sagarmatha National Park | UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 |
| Protected area, Tibet side | Mount Qomolangma National Nature Reserve | Name used by China's environment ministry |
The permit is a government fee for a place on the normal route in Nepal. It is not the price of a full expedition.
Mount Everest tours and flights
Mountain flights, helicopter trips and treks in the Everest region, with live prices and availability.
Names, height and records in more detail
What the numbers mean.
Three names, one mountain
Sagarmatha and Chomolungma are two names for the same mountain. Qomolangma is a further transcription used in Chinese official publications. If you see any of the three on a map or in a news report, it is the same summit.
Why 8,848.86 m is the number to use
Older guides print 8,848 m or 8,850 m. Those are older figures, not new measurements. The 2020 figure includes the snow on top of the rock, so do not compare it with earlier numbers for the rock surface without saying so. Nepal's team reached the summit for its survey on 22 May 2019 and the Chinese team on 27 May 2020, and the result was announced jointly in December 2020.
How the height was measured →The first ascent
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay stood on the summit on 29 May 1953. The British expedition used the South Col and the southeast ridge, the line that is now the normal route in Nepal.
Records that change
Kami Rita reached the summit for the 32nd time on 17 May 2026, according to Guinness. Lhakpa Sherpa holds the women's record with 11 ascents, also with her latest on 17 May 2026. Both figures can change with the next season. Counts of 30 or 31 for Kami Rita are out of date.
The Hillary Step
After the 2015 earthquake, some reports said the Hillary Step had collapsed. Other assessments said snow only hid its shape. A report from 2017 describes both views, so treat any claim about the step's current state with care.
Climbing in numbers
Nepal reported 1,008 successful ascents in spring 2026, according to the Kathmandu Post at 29 May 2026. Ascents are not the same as clients: guides and high-altitude workers climb too, and many people go up more than once. You cannot divide the figure by the number of permits to get a personal success rate.
The same applies to deaths. One database-based count lists 339 deaths on Everest up to December 2025, while another public table shows 344. The definitions differ, so neither number is a precise total. A page on risks and deaths explains what the numbers can and cannot tell you.
For costs, the pages on permits and expedition prices separate the government fee from operator packages. Operators advertise from tens of thousands of dollars, and an April 2026 report puts typical spending for foreign climbers at $45,000 to $100,000.
Keep exploring Everest
Places and topics that go with these facts.
Mount Everest facts: frequently asked questions
How tall is Mount Everest?
8,848.86 m, announced jointly by Nepal and China on 8 December 2020. The figure includes the snow on the summit.
Who first climbed Mount Everest?
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, on 29 May 1953. It is recognised as the first confirmed successful ascent.
What are the other names of Mount Everest?
Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolungma in Tibet. Qomolangma is a transcription used in Chinese official publications.
Who has climbed Everest the most times?
Kami Rita, with 32 ascents according to Guinness at 17 May 2026. Lhakpa Sherpa has the most for a woman, with 11.
Is Mount Everest in Nepal or Tibet?
The summit sits on the border between Nepal and China. Climbers approach from the south in Nepal or from the north in Tibet, which is the Chinese autonomous region.
Does Mount Everest grow?
Differences between old height figures do not show a particular yearly change. Use the 2020 measurement as the current figure.