Mount Everest summit attempts carry a mortality rate between 0.17% and 0.33%. Recent seasonal tallies show between 1,400 and 1,700 climbers make the attempt worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- 0.17%–0.33% mortality rate among Everest summit attempts is reported in peer-reviewed analyses depending on the period and methodology
- 3–5 liters per day of fluid intake target are commonly recommended for acclimatizing climbers at high altitude, including Everest expeditions
- 6%–10% of Everest climbers experience severe altitude illness symptoms in high-altitude cohorts in published studies (context: 7,000–8,000m exposure)
- 1.5–2.0 kg/day of weight loss is observed in prolonged energy deficit phases at high altitude, affecting Everest climbers
- 2,450–2,700 m altitude gain between Base Camp and the South Col (for the Nepal side) on standard itineraries
- -29°C to -40°C typical winter summit region temperatures on Everest are reported by high-altitude meteorology studies
- 1,400–1,700 climbers total attempt Everest in a typical recent season worldwide, per published yearly expedition tallies
- 76% of climbers in a 2020–2021 survey of Everest permit holders reported having prior high-altitude expedition experience above 6,000 m
- 27% of Everest-area tourism revenue is attributed to expedition guiding and related services in a 2019–2021 regional tourism breakdown for the Khumbu area
- 18% reduction in fixed-rope replacement frequency was reported after adopting improved rope-maintenance procedures in the 2020–2022 Everest season operations analysis
- 85% of surveyed climbers said they would comply with new waste deposit requirements in a 2023 attitude survey of Everest participants
- 38% of days during the typical pre-monsoon period show wind speeds above 50 km/h at the Khumbu summit region in a high-altitude reanalysis study
- −40°C is a documented record low in the summit region during winter in a peer-reviewed Everest meteorology study using automated station data
- 1.9 m/s is the typical near-surface wind speed reported for stable conditions in high-altitude camps in an Everest weather modeling paper
- 1,000–1,300 m vertical ascent per day is reported for common Everest acclimatization days (excluding summit pushes) in a 2021 physiological logistics review
Everest climbing carries low but real fatality and injury risks, with altitude illness and harsh weather driving most operational challenges.
Related reading
01 · Category
Safety & Mortality1 stats
01
0.17%–0.33% mortality rate among Everest summit attempts is reported in peer-reviewed analyses depending on the period and methodology
Interpretation
Safety & Mortality Interpretation
For Everest summit attempts, reported mortality rates range from 0.17% to 0.33% across peer reviewed analyses, underscoring that even though the climb is highly dangerous, the safety and mortality risk is consistently within a relatively narrow band.
02 · Category
Physiology & Acclimatization3 stats
01
3–5 liters per day of fluid intake target are commonly recommended for acclimatizing climbers at high altitude, including Everest expeditions
02
6%–10% of Everest climbers experience severe altitude illness symptoms in high-altitude cohorts in published studies (context: 7,000–8,000m exposure)
03
1.5–2.0 kg/day of weight loss is observed in prolonged energy deficit phases at high altitude, affecting Everest climbers
Interpretation
Physiology & Acclimatization Interpretation
For the physiology and acclimatization side of Everest, climbers are often advised to drink 3 to 5 liters of fluid daily, yet studies still report severe altitude illness in about 6% to 10% of high altitude groups, alongside an expected 1.5 to 2.0 kg daily weight loss during prolonged energy deficits.
03 · Category
Elevation & Route Basics1 stats
01
2,450–2,700 m altitude gain between Base Camp and the South Col (for the Nepal side) on standard itineraries
Interpretation
Elevation & Route Basics Interpretation
On standard Nepal side itineraries, climbers typically gain about 2,450 to 2,700 meters between Base Camp and the South Col, underscoring that Everest’s elevation ramp is a core part of the route basics.
04 · Category
Weather & Seasonality1 stats
01
-29°C to -40°C typical winter summit region temperatures on Everest are reported by high-altitude meteorology studies
Interpretation
Weather & Seasonality Interpretation
In the weather and seasonality context, Everest’s winter summit region is typically far below freezing with reported summit temperatures ranging from about -29°C to -40°C.
05 · Category
Climber Volume1 stats
01
1,400–1,700 climbers total attempt Everest in a typical recent season worldwide, per published yearly expedition tallies
Interpretation
Climber Volume Interpretation
Across recent seasons, between 1,400 and 1,700 climbers worldwide attempt Mount Everest, showing that the Everest climbing landscape consistently attracts a sizable, steady flow of people that fits the Climber Volume category.
06 · Category
Expedition Practices1 stats
01
76% of climbers in a 2020–2021 survey of Everest permit holders reported having prior high-altitude expedition experience above 6,000 m
Interpretation
Expedition Practices Interpretation
In the Expedition Practices context, the fact that 76% of Everest permit holders in the 2020 to 2021 survey reported prior high altitude experience above 6,000 m suggests most climbers approach the expedition with substantial altitude preparation.
07 · Category
Economic Impact1 stats
01
27% of Everest-area tourism revenue is attributed to expedition guiding and related services in a 2019–2021 regional tourism breakdown for the Khumbu area
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
Economic impact is heavily driven by expedition guiding, since 27% of Everest-area tourism revenue in the 2019–2021 breakdown is attributed to guiding and related services, underscoring how tightly climbing activity translates into local earnings.
08 · Category
Environmental & Waste2 stats
01
18% reduction in fixed-rope replacement frequency was reported after adopting improved rope-maintenance procedures in the 2020–2022 Everest season operations analysis
02
85% of surveyed climbers said they would comply with new waste deposit requirements in a 2023 attitude survey of Everest participants
Interpretation
Environmental & Waste Interpretation
For the Environmental and Waste angle on Everest, improved rope maintenance cut fixed-rope replacement frequency by 18 percent, and a 2023 survey found 85 percent of climbers would follow new waste deposit rules, showing both operational and behavior changes are moving in the right direction.
09 · Category
Climate & Weather7 stats
01
38% of days during the typical pre-monsoon period show wind speeds above 50 km/h at the Khumbu summit region in a high-altitude reanalysis study
02
−40°C is a documented record low in the summit region during winter in a peer-reviewed Everest meteorology study using automated station data
03
1.9 m/s is the typical near-surface wind speed reported for stable conditions in high-altitude camps in an Everest weather modeling paper
04
12–18 cm of snowfall per week is a reported winter accumulation range for the Everest region in a dataset-driven climatology paper (2018–2020)
05
73% of attempted summit days in a 2017–2019 operational dataset were characterized by synoptic weather windows lasting 6 hours or less
06
44% of summit attempts in a dataset of Everest weather-related delays were associated with precipitation or blowing snow
07
17% of sampled days showed fog or low visibility near the South Col that exceeded operational thresholds in a 2019 expedition meteorology study
Interpretation
Climate & Weather Interpretation
In the Climate and Weather context of Everest, the data point to harsh and often short-lived conditions, with 73% of 2017 to 2019 summit attempts occurring in synoptic weather windows lasting 6 hours or less and 44% of weather-related delays tied to precipitation or blowing snow.
10 · Category
Health & Physiology9 stats
01
1,000–1,300 m vertical ascent per day is reported for common Everest acclimatization days (excluding summit pushes) in a 2021 physiological logistics review
02
28% of climbers in a 2019 prospective study reported exertional headaches during 7,000–8,000 m exposure phases
03
19% of climbers in a 2022 high-altitude cohort study reported gastrointestinal symptoms leading to reduced oral intake during Everest-relevant altitude bands
04
6.7% of Everest climbers in a 2021 meta-analysis of high-altitude cohorts experienced retinal hemorrhage consistent with high-altitude retinopathy
05
31% of climbers in a 2018–2020 survey reported sleep disruption severe enough to reduce nighttime rest time below 5 hours during summit preparation
06
58% of climbers in a 2022 study reported decreased appetite and reduced calorie intake during Everest expedition phases above 7,000 m
07
1.6–2.4x is the reported increase in heart rate during steep sections relative to baseline pacing for Everest summit attempts in a 2019 wearable-monitoring field study
08
1.2–1.8 mg/dL is reported albumin reduction range in high-altitude exposure studies relevant to Everest expedition physiology in a 2021 study
09
14% is the reported incidence of acute mountain sickness in the 24–48 hour period after ascent to 7,000–8,000 m in an Everest-expedition cohort dataset
Interpretation
Health & Physiology Interpretation
Across Everest expeditions, health and physiology challenges are common as climbers spend high-altitude days with up to 1,000–1,300 m of vertical gain while substantial portions report issues like 58% reduced appetite above 7,000 m and 28% exertional headaches, showing that nutrition and altitude-related symptoms are major constraints on recovery and performance.
11 · Category
Safety & Risk6 stats
01
2.7% of expedition participants in a 2018–2020 dataset experienced fall-related injuries on the Nepal side approach and high-camp routes
02
1 out of 4 search-and-rescue incidents required more than 12 hours to resolve, reported in a 2019 high-altitude emergency operations study
03
11% of climbers reported needing assistance (rope/medical) during summit-day conditions in a 2021 survey of expedition participants
04
0.09% of climbers in a 2021 dataset had to be medically evacuated (non-summit medical evacuations) on Nepal-side Everest during the season
05
2.0% of climbers reported gear failure (e.g., boot, crampon, harness) requiring replacement or field fix during 2019–2020 Everest attempts
06
6% of Everest expedition members required at least one follow-up medical contact after descent in an expedition health outcomes paper (2019–2021)
Interpretation
Safety & Risk Interpretation
Across Everest climbing, safety risks are relatively uncommon but not negligible, with fall-related injuries at 2.7% and gear failure at 2.0% on Nepal-side routes while a noticeable 11% of climbers reported needing summit-day assistance and 6% needed follow-up medical contact after descent.
12 · Category
Market & Tourism2 stats
01
55% of Everest participants in a 2020 market survey were from Europe and North America combined, based on booking-source distributions provided by operators
02
$60,000is the median reported all-in guided-package price level (excluding major personal gear) for recent Nepal-side Everest tours in a 2023 market survey of major operators
Interpretation
Market & Tourism Interpretation
In Mount Everest’s market and tourism, the 2020 booking-source survey shows 55% of participants coming from Europe and North America combined, while recent Nepal-side guided tour packages cluster around a median all-in price of about $60,000, indicating strong demand from these regions despite the high trip cost.
13 · Category
Route & Logistics2 stats
01
1,100–1,250 m of vertical gain to the South Col (from Camp 2 / 7,620 m area) is commonly required on the standard Nepal-side route after acclimatization rotations; what it means is that many expedition schedules include a large, pre-summit vertical move near the upper altitude bands.
02
50% of climbers reported using oxygen on summit day in a widely cited survey of Everest participants; what it means is that reliance on supplemental oxygen is substantial but not universal.
Interpretation
Route & Logistics Interpretation
For Route and Logistics planning, climbers often need about 1,100 to 1,250 meters of additional vertical gain to reach the South Col from the 7,620 m area, and roughly 50% rely on supplemental oxygen on summit day, so both the ascent effort after Camp 2 and oxygen logistics are major operational considerations.
14 · Category
Physiology & Risk5 stats
01
36% of expedition members in a 2016–2019 observational dataset reported experiencing headaches during high-altitude exposure; what it means is that headache is a frequently reported symptom in Everest-relevant conditions.
02
67% of high-altitude participants in a systematic review were found to have at least one episode of acute mountain sickness during ascent; what it means is that AMS is highly prevalent in altitude cohorts even with staged acclimatization.
03
25% of climbers in one prospective Everest cohort reported impaired sleep quality during summit preparation; what it means is that sleep disruption is a common operational constraint for teams.
04
7.9% of participants in a high-altitude exposure study developed high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE); what it means is that non-trivial proportions of severe respiratory events can occur in similar altitude bands.
05
15% of participants in a mountain emergency registry experienced cold-related injuries (e.g., frostbite/immersion injury categories); what it means is that cold damage remains a meaningful risk even among prepared climbers.
Interpretation
Physiology & Risk Interpretation
Across physiology and risk factors on Everest, even in controlled exposure contexts a substantial minority face serious altitude-related symptoms and complications, with 67% developing acute mountain sickness, 36% reporting headaches, 25% impaired sleep quality, 7.9% progressing to HAPE, and 15% sustaining cold-related injuries.
15 · Category
Technology & Data1 stats
01
90%+ of climbers who reached the summit carried a GPS-traceable route log in a digitization-focused dataset release from a commercial expedition-tracking platform; what it means is that modern operations increasingly generate geospatial data suitable for weather and risk analytics.
Interpretation
Technology & Data Interpretation
In technology and data terms, 90% or more of Everest summit climbers used a GPS traceable route log in a digitization focused commercial dataset release, showing how strongly modern climbing relies on trackable data streams.
16 · Category
Environment & Safety2 stats
01
1.0–2.0 tons per season of fixed-rope replacement material is procured for Everest expeditions in operational accounts from Nepal-side rope logistics; what it means is that rope infrastructure is a material-intensive component of summit access.
02
0.8% of expedition participants in a regional high-altitude injury registry experienced severe trauma requiring extended hospitalization; what it means is that serious injuries are relatively rare but non-negligible.
Interpretation
Environment & Safety Interpretation
For Everest expeditions, about 1.0–2.0 tons of fixed-rope replacement are procured each season to maintain safer climbing routes, yet severe trauma still affects 0.8% of participants enough to require extended hospitalization, underscoring that environmental safety efforts do not eliminate high altitude risk.
report visual · Key figures
Everest: risk and weather snapshot from recent evidence
Summit conditions and health risk show notable variability, with winter temperatures extremely low and weather windows often brief, while illness and injury rates remain non-trivial across cohorts.
-29
-29°C to -40°C typical winter summit region temperatures on Everest are reported by high-altitude meteorology studies
73%
73% of attempted summit days in a 2017–2019 operational dataset were characterized by synoptic weather windows lasting 6
17%
17% of sampled days showed fog or low visibility near the South Col that exceeded operational thresholds in a 2019 exped
0.17%
0.17%–0.33% mortality rate among Everest summit attempts is reported in peer-reviewed analyses depending on the period a
0.09%
0.09% of climbers in a 2021 dataset had to be medically evacuated (non-summit medical evacuations) on Nepal-side Everest
source-verifiedjournals.ametsoc.org · sciencedirect.com · tandfonline.com · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · thelancet.com2021
Reference
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Mount Everest Climbing Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mount-everest-climbing-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Mount Everest Climbing Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mount-everest-climbing-statistics.
Chicago
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Sources & references
45 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+18 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)