Everest gathers more than climbers and headlines. In 2024, permit fees alone reach $15,000 per climber from Nepal’s side, while the 2023 data still puts summit success at about 57 percent for those who reach the South Col. At the same time, wildlife, glaciers, and weather paint a far sharper picture than the postcard view, from a Khumbu Glacier retreat of 20 to 30 meters per year to 300 km per hour jet stream winds near the summit.
Key Takeaways
- 150+ snow leopards estimated in Sagarmatha National Park around Everest
- Over 120 bird species including Himalayan monal and blood pheasant in Everest region
- Musk deer population declined 50% since 1990s due to poaching near Everest base
- Annual precipitation on Everest south slope averages 1,400 mm, mostly monsoon
- Jet stream winds at summit reach 300 km/h in pre-monsoon window May
- Temperature at summit averages -36°C year-round, dropping to -60°C in winter
- Annual summit success rate on Everest is about 57% for climbers reaching the South Col, based on 2023 data
- Reinhold Messner first solo climbed Everest without supplemental oxygen on August 20, 1980, via the North Ridge
- Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record for most Everest summits with 30 as of 2024
- Annual tourist arrivals to Everest region 50,000+, generating $30M revenue
- Permit fees for Everest $15,000 per climber from Nepal side in 2024
- Sherpa guides earn average $5,000-10,000 per season, supporting 10,000 locals
- Over 6,664 deaths attempted on Everest by 2023, with 335 confirmed fatalities
- Death rate above 8,000 meters is 6.5% per climb attempt from 2000-2020
- Avalanche on April 18, 2014 killed 16 Sherpas on Khumbu Icefall, worst single disaster
Everest region is shaped by climate extremes, shrinking glaciers, rich wildlife, and rising human costs despite millions of visitors.
Related reading
01 · Category
Biodiversity15 stats
01
150+ snow leopards estimated in Sagarmatha National Park around Everest
02
Over 120 bird species including Himalayan monal and blood pheasant in Everest region
03
Musk deer population declined 50% since 1990s due to poaching near Everest base
04
Himalayan tahr density 15 per sq km on lower Everest slopes
05
Red panda habitat spans 20% of park area but population under 100 individuals
06
600+ plant species including 36 rhododendron types on Everest trails
07
Snow leopard prey base includes blue sheep at 800-1,200 individuals in park
08
Insect diversity peaks at 4,000m with 200+ butterfly species recorded
09
Pika population density 50/ha in alpine meadows around base camp
10
Medicinal plants like cordyceps harvested yield 1,000 tons annually from Everest region
11
Bar-headed geese migrate over Everest at 9,000m altitudes annually
12
Yak hybrids (dzo) number 5,000 in Khumbu valley supporting biodiversity grazing
13
Fungal diversity includes 1,200 species, 10% endemic to Himalayan region
14
Wolf packs sighted 5 times yearly near Everest north base camp
15
Alpine cushion plants cover 30% of ground above 5,000m
Interpretation
Biodiversity Interpretation
Biodiversity around Everest remains rich but fragile, with 600+ plant species and over 120 bird species alongside sharp declines like musk deer down by 50% since the 1990s, signaling that conservation is urgently needed to protect a wide range of life.
02 · Category
Climate14 stats
01
Annual precipitation on Everest south slope averages 1,400 mm, mostly monsoon
02
Jet stream winds at summit reach 300 km/h in pre-monsoon window May
03
Temperature at summit averages -36°C year-round, dropping to -60°C in winter
04
Khumbu Glacier retreat rate 20-30 meters per year since 1960s
05
Snow accumulation on summit 1-2 meters annually, with 70% sublimation loss
06
Ozone levels at base camp 30% lower than sea level due to pollution
07
Monsoon starts June 13 average, bringing 80% yearly precipitation
08
UV index at 5,000m reaches 15+, highest globally
09
Ice melt contributes 0.5 Gt water yearly to Ganges basin from Everest glaciers
10
Wind chill at Hillary Step -50°C during climbing season
11
Post-monsoon climbing window October sees 175 km/h gusts average
12
Relative humidity at base camp 60-80% during day, dropping to 20% night
13
Black carbon deposition from India pollution shortens glacier life by 30 years
14
Summit oxygen saturation 33% of sea level
Interpretation
Climate Interpretation
In Everest’s climate, the combination of a 1,400 mm mostly monsoon precipitation pattern, a summit temperature averaging -36°C with winter lows near -60°C, and the Khumbu Glacier retreat of 20 to 30 meters per year underscores how rapidly shifting conditions are intensifying even at the cold, high altitude where the weather stays extreme year round.
03 · Category
Climbing Records15 stats
01
Annual summit success rate on Everest is about 57% for climbers reaching the South Col, based on 2023 data
02
Reinhold Messner first solo climbed Everest without supplemental oxygen on August 20, 1980, via the North Ridge
03
Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record for most Everest summits with 30 as of 2024
04
Fastest ascent record is held by Kilian Jornet with 26 hours from base camp to summit in 2017
05
First winter ascent was by Andrzej Zawada's team on February 17, 1980, via the South Pillar
06
Over 11,346 summits recorded by end of 2023, with 65% via South Col route
07
Youngest summiteer is Jordan Romero at 13 years, 10 months in 2010
08
Oldest summiteer is Yuichiro Miura at 80 years in 2013
09
First American ascent by James Whittaker on May 1, 1963, via South West Face
10
Women's speed record by Lhakpa Sherpa in 10 hours 43 minutes from base camp in 2013
11
First ski descent from summit by Davo Karničar on May 7, 2000
12
Blind climber Erik Weihenmayer summited on May 25, 2001
13
Most summits in one season: 8 by Kami Rita in 2019
14
First GPS-tracked ascent in 1999 by 8-person team averaging 12.5 days round trip
15
Paraplegic ascent to base camp by Jamie Andrew in 2008
Interpretation
Climbing Records Interpretation
For climbing records on Everest, the numbers show both depth and dominance with over 11,346 total summits by end of 2023 and about 65% achieved via the South Col route, while individual milestones still stand out such as Kami Rita Sherpa’s 30 summits as of 2024 and a fastest ascent of 26 hours in 2017.
More related reading
04 · Category
Economy15 stats
01
Annual tourist arrivals to Everest region 50,000+, generating $30M revenue
02
Permit fees for Everest $15,000per climber from Nepal side in 2024
03
Sherpa guides earn average $5,000-10,000 per season, supporting 10,000 locals
04
Helicopter evacuations cost $50,000+ per rescue operation
05
Oxygen bottle supply 4,000 units yearly at $550each wholesale
06
Teahouse lodges number 1,500 in Khumbu, occupancy 90% peak season
07
Expedition operator revenue $100M+ annually from 400+ teams
08
Waste management levy $4,000per team for cleanup
09
Souvenir sales from yak wool crafts $2M yearly in Namche Bazaar
10
Insurance premiums for climbers average $15,000covering death/rescue
11
Domestic flights to Lukla generate $10M revenue yearly
12
Carbon footprint of one Everest climb equals 7 tons CO2
13
Job creation: 12,000 employed in trekking/portering
14
Luxury camps add $20,000premium per client for heated tents
15
Remittances from Everest workers 20% of Solukhumbu GDP
Interpretation
Economy Interpretation
With 50,000 plus tourists bringing in about $30 million each year, Everest’s economy is highly revenue driven, and the costs of climbing and rescue like $15,000 permits and $50,000 plus helicopter evacuations show how much of that money is tied directly to operations and essential supplies such as 4,000 oxygen bottles sold at about $550 each wholesale.
05 · Category
Fatalities19 stats
01
Over 6,664 deaths attempted on Everest by 2023, with 335 confirmed fatalities
02
Death rate above 8,000 meters is 6.5% per climb attempt from 2000-2020
03
Avalanche on April 18, 2014 killed 16 Sherpas on Khumbu Icefall, worst single disaster
04
1996 storm killed 8 climbers, including Scott Fischer and Rob Hall
05
Chinese side has 1 death per 11 summits vs Nepal's 1 per 58 from 1970-2020
06
Hypoxia causes 40% of deaths above 8,000m, per autopsy studies
07
2015 Nepal earthquake avalanche killed 22 at base camp
08
Over 200 bodies remain on mountain, with "Rainbow Valley" section holding dozens
09
Fall is cause of 25% fatalities, followed by avalanche 20%, exposure 15%
10
Sherpa fatality rate is 1.4% vs 1.1% for foreigners 1990-2019
11
Deadliest year 2014 with 17 deaths from avalanche and ladder collapse
12
1 in 10 climbers die on North Ridge route historically
13
High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) implicated in 10% deaths
14
Rescue success rate 90% for base camp but drops to 20% above 8,000m
15
Khumbu Icefall causes 20% of all fatalities due to crevasses
16
Over 300 expeditions per year since 2010, correlating with 5-10 annual deaths
17
Oxygen depletion claims 1 life per 20 summits above balcony
18
Female death rate 13.4% vs male 9.1% from 1922-2021
19
Khumbu Glacier hosts 40% of route but 25% deaths 2000-2023
Interpretation
Fatalities Interpretation
For Everest fatalities, the key pattern is that risk climbs sharply at extreme altitude, with the death rate above 8,000 meters at 6.5% per attempt from 2000 to 2020 and hypoxia driving 40% of those deaths above 8,000 meters.
06 · Category
Topography10 stats
01
Mount Everest's height was officially measured at 8,848.86 meters above sea level in 2020 using GNSS technology by a joint Chinese-Nepalese survey team
02
The rock and ice displacement rate on Everest's summit is approximately 4 millimeters per year towards the north-east, as measured by satellite radar interferometry
03
Everest's summit is composed primarily of limestone from the Ordovician period, dating back about 450 million years
04
The mountain's base camp at 5,364 meters sits on the Khumbu Glacier, which moves at an average speed of 12 meters per day during summer melt
05
Everest forms part of the Mahalangur Himal sub-range within the Greater Himalayas, spanning a length of 10 kilometers across the border
06
The South Col route from Nepal drops 3,373 meters from the summit to the col at 7,906 meters
07
Geological thrust faults under Everest contribute to its uplift at a rate of about 10 millimeters per year
08
The Hillary Step, a 12-meter near-vertical rock face at 8,790 meters, was a key obstacle until its partial collapse in 2015
09
Everest's north face spans 3,000 meters vertically from base to summit, one of the steepest on 8,000-meter peaks
10
The mountain's prominence is 8,848.86 meters, making it the highest prominence globally
Interpretation
Topography Interpretation
From a topography perspective, Everest’s landscape shows measurable movement and scale, with its 8,848.86-meter summit shifting about 4 millimeters per year and its South Col route plunging 3,373 meters to 7,906 meters, while the Khumbu Glacier under the base camp advances around 12 meters per day in summer melt.
report visual · Key figures
Everest: Tourism & Climbing Economics
Key stats that capture Everest’s tourism scale and the main cost components climbers and operators face.
$30 M
Annual tourist arrivals to Everest region 50,000+, generating $30M revenue
$15,000
Permit fees for Everest $15,000 per climber from Nepal side in 2024
$50,000
Helicopter evacuations cost $50,000+ per rescue operation
$100 M
Expedition operator revenue $100M+ annually from 400+ teams
$10 M
Domestic flights to Lukla generate $10M revenue yearly
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Everest Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/everest-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Everest Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/everest-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Everest Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/everest-statistics.
Sources & references
60 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level