How Tall Is Mount Everest

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth and its peak stands 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level. Located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas, the peak straddles the Nepal-China border.

Measuring the exact height of Mount Everest has been a source of debate since it was first measured in 1856. For a long time, most considered its height in the range of 8,840 and 8,860 meters. However, thanks to newer measurement technologies, such as GPS and laser/radar altimetry, it has been re-measured to its current height.

Using the new methods, the satellite-derived height of 8,848 meters was provided by the Government of Nepal in 2019. This height was determined by the Nepal government in collaboration with China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping. The two countries then re-affirmed their commitment to the new 8,848-meter height of Mount Everest in a joint declaration, and it has been the accepted height to this day.

The debate around the height of Mount Everest, however, is still ongoing. In 2010, several groups, including Google Earth and the Himalayan Database, indicated that the summit of Mount Everest is, in fact, 8,844.43 meters above sea level. This height is slightly lower than the 8,848 meters measured by Nepal and China, but it is yet to be verified by the two governments.

The discrepancy in measurements can be attributed to the variance in elevation due to the dynamic nature of the Earth’s surface. Even with the latest satellite mapping technologies, it is difficult to achieve absolute accuracy when measuring locations on Earth. Therefore, at least for the time being, Everest’s officially reported height is 8,848 meters above sea level, despite some ongoing debates.