Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth when measured above mean sea level, stands at an official height of 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet). That figure was announced jointly by Nepal and China in December 2020 after a coordinated survey of the mountain. Everest rises along the Nepal–Tibet border in the Himalayas.
For more than 150 years, surveyors have measured and remeasured the peak, each generation producing a slightly different number. The 2020 result, now widely accepted as the official height, resolved a long-running disagreement between the two countries that share the summit. Wikipedia’s Mount Everest article traces this evolution from early trigonometric surveys to modern satellite-based methods.
The mountain is also known as Sagarmāthā in Nepal and Qomolangma in Tibet. Those names, alongside the international name Mount Everest, reflect the peak’s standing as a shared natural landmark and a continuing focus of scientific attention.
What Is the Exact Height of Mount Everest?
The official height of Mount Everest is 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level, equivalent to roughly 8.85 kilometers or 5.5 miles. The figure came from a joint survey by Nepal and China, announced on . The Associated Press reported on the announcement as the product of a coordinated effort to produce a definitive elevation.
Mount Everest at a Glance
Key Insights
- The 2020 joint survey was designed to settle the long-running disagreement over Everest’s elevation, and the new figure was slightly higher than earlier official measurements. CNN covered the announcement and its scientific background.
- In 2005, the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported a height of 8,844.43 m, with a stated precision of ±0.21 m.
- The 2020 figure includes the snow cap at the summit, not just the underlying bedrock.
- Everest stands on the Nepal–Tibet border, with the summit shared by both countries although access routes differ.
- South Base Camp in Nepal is the most popular starting point for climbers and trekkers.
- Estimates suggest more than 300 deaths by 2024, with the highest number of fatalities occurring in the “death zone” above 8,000 m. The sources referenced here do not provide a single complete death count.
Key Facts About Mount Everest
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Height (feet) | 29,031.7 ft |
| Height (meters) | 8,848.86 m |
| Height (miles) | ~5.5 miles |
| Country(s) | Nepal, China (Tibet)
Additional sources
Related stories William AshbyStaff Writer William Ashby is Editor-in-Chief at Edinburgh Wire, overseeing local editorial policy, standards and publication decisions. |
