Short answer
- The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest, on the border of Nepal and China. Nepal and China jointly announced its height as 8,848.86 meters, or 29,032 feet, above sea level on December 8, 2020. Many sources round that figure to 8,849 meters.
- The highest mountains in the world, plural, are the 14 peaks that rise above 8,000 meters. They are known as the eight thousanders. All 14 stand in Asia, in the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges.
- In order, the top five are Mount Everest at 8,848.86 meters, K2 at 8,611 meters, Kangchenjunga at 8,586 meters, Lhotse at 8,516 meters, and Makalu at 8,485 meters. The full ranking of all 14 appears in the table below.
- Highest does not mean the same as tallest. Highest, as used in this ranking, means the summit with the greatest elevation above sea level. Tallest, when measured from base to summit, can give a different answer, because a mountain base can sit far below sea level.
- The highest mountain outside Asia is Aconcagua in Argentina, at about 6,961 meters above sea level. That figure is rounded, and different surveys give slightly different values, as explained below. No peak outside Asia reaches 7,000 meters.
- This article ranks peaks by elevation above sea level only. It does not rank mountains by base to summit height, by prominence, or by volume. Those are useful measures, and they are explained separately, so that the three questions are not mixed up.
How to Read This Ranking
A mountain ranking looks simple until you ask what the numbers measure. Three choices shape every figure in this article, and stating them in advance prevents most confusion.
First, the reference point is mean sea level. Elevation above sea level asks how high a summit sits above the average level of the ocean. That is the standard used on maps, in climbing records, and in ordinary geography. It is not the same as measuring from the foot of a mountain, because the foot of a mountain is not always at sea level, and in some cases it is far below sea level.
Second, the figure for Everest includes the snow cap. Earlier surveys did not all use the same rule. China measured a rock height of 8,844.43 meters in 2005, without the snow cap. Nepal had used 8,848 meters, based on the Survey of India figure from 1954. The joint Nepal and China announcement in 2020 gave 8,848.86 meters. If you see 8,848 meters, 8,848.86 meters, and 8,849 meters for Everest, you are usually seeing the same mountain rounded in three ways, not three different mountains.
Third, small differences between sources are normal for the other peaks as well. Snow depth changes, survey methods improve, and reference levels for sea level are refined. A difference of one or two meters between reputable lists usually means that two surveys used slightly different conventions, or that one list rounded a figure. This article uses one consistent set of rounded figures for ranks 2 to 14, and the precise joint figure for Everest. Where a figure is known to vary, the article says so.
A related term is prominence. Prominence measures how far a summit rises above the lowest point on the ridge that connects it to a higher summit. Everest has a prominence equal to its elevation, because no higher summit exists. Lhotse, by contrast, is very high in elevation, but it stands close to Everest and is separated from Everest by the South Col, so its rise above that connecting point is much smaller than its elevation. A peak can rank high by elevation and much lower by prominence, and neither ranking is wrong.
The Full Ranking: All 14 Peaks Above 8,000 Meters
The table below is the core of this article. Every peak above 8,000 meters is included, and no peak below 8,000 meters is included. The next peak below this group sits below 8,000 meters, which is why the list stops at 14. Border peaks are listed for both sides.
| Rank | Mountain | Elevation above sea level | Range | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Everest | 8,848.86 meters (29,032 feet) | Himalaya | Nepal and China |
| 2 | K2 | 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) | Karakoram | Pakistan and China |
| 3 | Kangchenjunga | 8,586 meters (28,169 feet) | Himalaya | Nepal and India |
| 4 | Lhotse | 8,516 meters (27,940 feet) | Himalaya | Nepal and China |
| 5 | Makalu | 8,485 meters (27,838 feet) | Himalaya | Nepal and China |
| 6 | Cho Oyu | 8,188 meters (26,864 feet) | Himalaya | Nepal and China |
| 7 | Dhaulagiri I | 8,167 meters (26,795 feet) | Himalaya | Nepal |
| 8 | Manaslu | 8,163 meters (26,781 feet) | Himalaya | Nepal |
| 9 | Nanga Parbat | 8,126 meters (26,660 feet) | Himalaya | Pakistan |
| 10 | Annapurna I | 8,091 meters (26,545 feet) | Himalaya | Nepal |
| 11 | Gasherbrum I | 8,080 meters (26,509 feet) | Karakoram | Pakistan and China |
| 12 | Broad Peak | 8,051 meters (26,414 feet) | Karakoram | Pakistan and China |
| 13 | Gasherbrum II | 8,035 meters (26,362 feet) | Karakoram | Pakistan and China |
| 14 | Shishapangma | 8,027 meters (26,335 feet) | Himalaya | China |
Ten of the 14 peaks stand in the Himalaya, and four stand in the Karakoram. The Karakoram peaks in the list are K2, Gasherbrum I, Broad Peak, and Gasherbrum II. That split explains why most accounts of the highest mountains move back and forth between the same two ranges. No other range on Earth has a peak above 8,000 meters.
Mount Everest: The Highest Point on Earth
Mount Everest stands on the border of Nepal and China, in the Himalaya. Its Nepali name is Sagarmatha, and its Tibetan name is Chomolungma. The English name honors Sir George Everest, a British surveyor general of India in the 19th century. The mountain was formally classified as the highest peak in 1856, as part of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, after earlier survey work had measured it from a distance.
The first confirmed ascent was made in 1953 by Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa climber from Nepal, as part of a British expedition. That date is one of the best known in mountaineering history, and it came after many earlier attempts, including the 1924 attempt by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, from which neither climber returned. Whether Mallory and Irvine reached the summit in 1924 remains unresolved, because no conclusive proof has been found. The 1953 ascent is therefore described as the first confirmed ascent, not simply the first ascent, and that wording matters.
Everest is also a place of living cultural meaning, not only a climbing objective. The names Sagarmatha and Chomolungma reflect that meaning for Nepali and Tibetan communities. Visitors who travel to Everest base camp or to viewpoints in the Khumbu region should treat local customs, monasteries, and Sherpa communities with respect, and should follow local guidance on ceremonies and access. A viewpoint trip is a very different undertaking from a summit attempt, and the two should not be confused in planning or in cost.
At extreme altitude, the air holds only about a third as much oxygen as at sea level. Climbers face cold, storms, avalanches, exhaustion, and altitude sickness, even on established routes. Everest is the most climbed of the eight thousanders, and that popularity can make it look routine. It is not routine, and rescue options above base camp are limited.
K2: The Second Highest and the Most Feared
K2, at 8,611 meters, is the second highest mountain in the world and the highest peak in the Karakoram. It stands on the border of Pakistan and China. Its name comes from survey work, not from a traditional local name. It was the second peak of the Karakoram to be cataloged in the Great Trigonometrical Survey, and the short survey label stuck. K2 is also known as Mount Godwin Austen, after an early surveyor, but K2 is the name most readers will recognize.
K2 is widely described as the Savage Mountain, because of its steep slopes, severe weather, technical climbing, and difficult approach. Unlike Everest, K2 has no well established commercial route with the same level of fixed support, and weather windows are shorter and less predictable. The first successful ascent was made in 1954 by an Italian team, led by Ardito Desio, with Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni reaching the summit. K2 has remained far less climbed than Everest, and its reputation for difficulty has not faded with time.
For a reader who only wants the ranking, the important point is simple. K2 is 238 meters lower than Everest, a gap large enough that no rounding dispute changes the order of the top two. For a reader interested in climbing history, the important point is different. K2 is often treated as the harder climb, even though it is lower, because height above sea level is not a measure of technical difficulty.
Kangchenjunga: The Third Highest
Kangchenjunga, at 8,586 meters, is the third highest mountain in the world. It stands on the border of Nepal and India, in the eastern Himalaya. Its name is often translated as Five Treasures of Snow, a reference to its five major peaks. The mountain is significant to Hindu and Buddhist communities in the region, and it sits at the center of conservation areas on both sides of the border, including Khangchendzonga National Park in India.
Kangchenjunga was once thought by some early surveyors to be the highest mountain in the world, before more accurate measurements placed Everest above it. The first ascent was made in 1955 by British climbers Joe Brown and George Band. Kangchenjunga is remote, and its approaches pass through forests, valleys, and high passes before reaching base camp.
Lhotse and Makalu: The Fourth and Fifth Peaks
Lhotse, at 8,516 meters, is the fourth highest mountain in the world. It stands close to Everest, on the border of Nepal and China, and the two peaks are separated by the South Col. Its Tibetan name means South Peak, which describes its position relative to Everest. Lhotse was first climbed by a Swiss team in 1956. Because Lhotse shares part of the Everest approach, it is sometimes climbed by mountaineers who are already acclimatized on Everest expeditions, but it remains a serious eight thousander in its own right, with its own steep face and weather risks.
Makalu, at 8,485 meters, is the fifth highest mountain in the world. It stands about 23 kilometers east of Everest, on the border of Nepal and China, and it is known for its striking four sided pyramid shape. Unlike Everest and Lhotse, Makalu stands alone, rather than as part of a shared massif. Its name is linked to the Sanskrit term Maha Kala, meaning Big Black, and to the Hindu god Shiva. Makalu was first climbed in 1955 by a French team. It is considered one of the more challenging eight thousanders, because of its isolated position, steep ridges, and exposed terrain.
Together, Lhotse and Makalu complete the top five. All five peaks exceed 8,400 meters. The full group of 14 is what defines the eight thousander category.
Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri I, Manaslu, Nanga Parbat, and Annapurna I
Cho Oyu, at 8,188 meters, is the sixth highest mountain in the world. It stands on the border of Nepal and China, about 20 kilometers west of Everest. Its Tibetan name is often translated as Turquoise Goddess. Cho Oyu was first climbed in 1954 by an Austrian team. It is often described as the least technical of the eight thousanders, which does not mean that it is safe. It still requires acclimatization, glacier travel, and judgment in storms, and its altitude alone places it in the death zone above 8,000 meters, where the human body cannot acclimatize fully over time.
Dhaulagiri I, at 8,167 meters, is the seventh highest mountain in the world. It stands entirely in Nepal, and its name comes from Sanskrit words meaning white mountain. Dhaulagiri I was first climbed in 1960 by a Swiss Austrian team. It is separated from Annapurna I by the Kali Gandaki gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world. The contrast between a river valley and peaks above 8,000 meters on both sides is one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Himalaya.
Manaslu, at 8,163 meters, is the eighth highest mountain in the world. It stands in central Nepal, and its name is linked to the Sanskrit word Manasa, meaning spirit or soul, which gives it the common translation Mountain of the Spirit. Manaslu was first climbed in 1956 by a Japanese team. It has twin summits and a long approach through villages and forests, which makes the region popular for trekking as well as for climbing.
Nanga Parbat, at 8,126 meters, is the ninth highest mountain in the world. It stands in Pakistan, in the westernmost Himalaya, rather than in the Karakoram. Its name means Naked Mountain, and it is also known as Diamer, meaning King of the Mountains. Nanga Parbat is widely considered one of the hardest eight thousanders after K2, because of its steep faces and long, exposed routes. Its first ascent was a solo effort by Hermann Buhl in 1953, after a German Austrian expedition. The south face rises about 4,000 meters above base camp.
Annapurna I, at 8,091 meters, is the tenth highest mountain in the world. It stands in Nepal, east of Dhaulagiri I. Annapurna I was the first eight thousander to be climbed, in 1950, by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal of France, three years before Everest. Annapurna I is also known for its high risk. Its steep rock and ice, avalanche prone slopes, and limited rescue options have given it one of the highest death rates among the eight thousanders in historical records. Historical death rates should be read with care, because they depend on how many climbs are counted and over which years.
Gasherbrum I, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum II, and Shishapangma
The last four eight thousanders all stand in the Karakoram or in the Himalaya of China, and they complete the group of 14. Gasherbrum I, at 8,080 meters, is the 11th highest mountain in the world. It stands on the border of Pakistan and China, in the Karakoram, and it is also known as Hidden Peak and as K5, another survey label. Gasherbrum I was first climbed in 1958.
Broad Peak, at 8,051 meters, is the 12th highest mountain in the world. It also stands on the border of Pakistan and China, in the Karakoram. Its name describes its broad summit ridge. Broad Peak was first climbed in 1957. Climbers in the Baltoro region often see Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, and K2 from the same approach.
Gasherbrum II, at 8,035 meters, is the 13th highest mountain in the world. It stands on the border of Pakistan and China, in the Karakoram, and it is also known as K4. Gasherbrum II was first climbed in 1956. It is sometimes described as one of the more accessible Karakoram eight thousanders, but accessible in this context still means a remote glacier approach, high altitude, and serious technical sections.
Shishapangma, at 8,027 meters, is the 14th highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the eight thousanders. It stands entirely in China, in the Himalaya, and it is the only eight thousander that lies wholly within China. Shishapangma was the last eight thousander to be climbed, in 1964, by a Chinese team. Shishapangma closes the list, and any peak below it does not belong in the eight thousander group.
Beyond the 14: The Highest Peak Outside Asia
Once the 14 are listed, the next question is natural. What is the highest mountain outside Asia? The answer is Aconcagua, in the Andes of Argentina, at about 6,961 meters above sea level. Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America, in the Western Hemisphere, and in the Southern Hemisphere, and it is more than 1,000 meters lower than Shishapangma, the lowest eight thousander. That gap shows how far Asia stands above every other continent in maximum elevation.
Aconcagua figures vary slightly by source, and the variation should be stated rather than hidden. Argentina’s national geographic institute has reported an official figure of 6,960.8 meters, based on GPS and gravimetric surveys from 2011 and 2012, which rounds to 6,961 meters. Older maps and many guidebooks give 6,962 meters. Some current listings give a higher figure, around 6,967 meters. The differences reflect survey methods and reference levels, not a change in the mountain itself, and they do not affect the ranking. Aconcagua remains the highest peak outside Asia on every one of those figures.
Aconcagua is often described as a non technical climb from the normal route, because it does not require the same rock and ice climbing as many Himalayan peaks. That description should not be read as easy. The altitude is extreme, weather can be severe, and altitude sickness affects many climbers. The first recorded ascent was made in 1897 by Swiss guide Matthias Zurbriggen, as part of a British expedition. Aconcagua Provincial Park protects the mountain and its surroundings, and most climbers approach through Mendoza Province in Argentina.
Highest, Tallest, and Most Prominent: Three Different Answers
Readers often ask why some sources call a different mountain the tallest mountain in the world. The answer is that tallest can mean base to summit height, while highest means elevation above sea level. Both uses are common, and the confusion comes from using the two words as if they were the same.
The clearest example is Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Its summit sits 4,205 meters above sea level, according to the United States Geological Survey. That figure is far below Everest. But Mauna Kea is a shield volcano that extends about 6,000 meters below sea level to the deep ocean floor. Its total base to summit height is nearly 10,211 meters, which is greater than Everest’s height above sea level. On a base to summit measure, Mauna Kea is therefore taller than Everest, even though its summit is much lower above sea level.
That does not make Mauna Kea the highest mountain in the world, and it does not put Mauna Kea in the eight thousander list, because that list uses elevation above sea level, and Mauna Kea’s elevation is 4,205 meters. A mountain base is also hard to define precisely, because a broad volcano blends into neighboring volcanic material and into the ocean floor. The United States Geological Survey figure uses the adjacent ocean floor as the base. Other definitions can give a larger total for nearby Mauna Loa. Base to summit and elevation above sea level are different measures, and they give different winners.
Prominence gives a third answer again. A peak with high prominence stands out from its surroundings, even if it is not the highest peak in the world. Everest has the greatest prominence, because it is the highest peak of all. Aconcagua has the second greatest prominence among major peaks, because no higher peak exists anywhere in the Americas. A peak such as Lhotse, which is very high but close to a higher peak, has much lower prominence. When a list claims to rank mountains by prominence, it should be read as a different list, not as a correction to the elevation ranking in this article.
Seeing the Highest Mountains Without Climbing Them
Most readers will never attempt an eight thousander. Trekking routes and viewpoints still offer views of several of these peaks without a summit attempt. Everest can be seen from viewpoints in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Annapurna and Dhaulagiri can be seen from routes in central Nepal. Kangchenjunga can be seen from viewpoints in eastern Nepal and parts of India, on clear days. K2 and the Gasherbrum peaks are far more remote, and reaching their viewpoints requires a long glacier trek in Pakistan, with permits, guides, and careful planning.
Any trip to high altitude requires acclimatization, which means gaining height slowly and turning back if symptoms of altitude sickness appear. Altitude sickness can affect fit travelers. Travelers should check current permit rules, park rules, seasonal weather, and local guidance before planning, because rules and access change. Following the 14 peaks on a map is also useful at home. It shows why the Himalaya and Karakoram dominate the list, and why the next step down in elevation takes the reader to a different continent altogether.
FAQ
What is the highest mountain in the world?
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, at 8,848.86 meters, or 29,032 feet, above sea level, according to the joint Nepal and China announcement of December 8, 2020. Many sources round the figure to 8,849 meters.
How many mountains are above 8,000 meters?
There are 14 mountains above 8,000 meters. They are called the eight thousanders. Ten stand in the Himalaya and four stand in the Karakoram, and all 14 stand in Asia.
What are the top 10 highest mountains in the world?
In order, the top 10 are Mount Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri I, Manaslu, Nanga Parbat, and Annapurna I. Their elevations range from 8,848.86 meters for Everest down to 8,091 meters for Annapurna I.
Is K2 higher than Everest?
No. K2, at 8,611 meters, is the second highest mountain in the world, 238 meters lower than Everest. K2 is often described as a harder climb than Everest, but harder does not mean higher.
What is the highest mountain outside Asia?
Aconcagua in Argentina is the highest mountain outside Asia, at about 6,961 meters above sea level. Different surveys give 6,960.8 meters, 6,962 meters, or a slightly higher figure, but Aconcagua holds the top position outside Asia on all of those figures.
Is Mauna Kea taller than Everest?
On a base to summit measure, yes. Mauna Kea rises nearly 10,211 meters from its base on the ocean floor to its summit, according to the United States Geological Survey. On elevation above sea level, no. Mauna Kea’s summit is 4,205 meters above sea level, far below Everest, so Mauna Kea is not in the highest mountains ranking.
Why do different sources give different heights for Everest?
Different sources use different survey years, different rules for the snow cap, and different rounding. The 2005 Chinese survey gave a rock height of 8,844.43 meters, without the snow cap. The 1954 Survey of India figure was 8,848 meters. The joint Nepal and China figure from 2020, which includes the snow cap, is 8,848.86 meters.
Which eight thousander was climbed first?
Annapurna I was the first eight thousander to be climbed, in 1950, by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal of France. Everest followed in 1953. Shishapangma was the last eight thousander to be climbed, in 1964.
Can a beginner climb an eight thousander?
No eight thousander is a beginner climb. Even Cho Oyu, often described as the least technical eight thousander, requires high altitude experience, glacier skills, and sound judgment in severe weather. A beginner who wants to see these mountains should consider trekking to viewpoints, rather than a summit attempt, and should seek qualified local guides and current advice.
Where are the highest mountains located?
All 14 peaks above 8,000 meters are located in Asia, in the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges. Nepal, Pakistan, China, and India are the countries most often named in the list, because most of the peaks stand on or near their borders.
Sources & references
- Associated Press, via Phys.org, "China, Nepal say Everest a bit higher than past measurements," December 8, 2020, reporting the joint Nepal and China announcement of 8,848.86 meters, the 2005 Chinese rock height of 8,844.43 meters, the 1954 Survey of India figure of 8,848 meters, and K2 at 8,611 meters. Opened and read October 27, 2026. Available at https://phys.org/news/2020-12-china-nepal-everest-bit-higher.html
- United States Geological Survey, "How big are the Hawaiian volcanoes?" FAQ, giving Mauna Kea at 4,205 meters above sea level, about 6,000 meters below sea level to the ocean floor, and a total height of nearly 10,211 meters, with Everest given as 8,848 meters above sea level in the same answer. Opened and read October 27, 2026. Available at https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-big-are-hawaiian-volcanoes
- WorldAtlas, "10 Highest Mountains in the World," published May 3, 2024, giving the top 10 elevations, the full top 30 list including Gasherbrum I, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum II, and Shishapangma, and first ascent details for the top 10 peaks. Opened and read October 27, 2026. Available at https://www.worldatlas.com/mountains/10-highest-mountains-in-the-world.html
- Search result tables for the literal phrase "highest mountains in the world," consulted October 27, 2026, used only to cross check the 14 peak elevations, ranges, countries, and first ascent years against the WorldAtlas list above. Where a year or figure appeared only in a search result table and not in an opened source, it is marked qualified in the writer ledger, not verified, for independent QA to confirm.
- Search results for Aconcagua elevation, consulted October 27, 2026, reporting Argentina's Instituto Geografico Nacional figure of 6,960.8 meters, the commonly rounded 6,961 meters, older figures of 6,962 meters, and some listings near 6,967 meters, with the first recorded ascent in 1897 by Matthias Zurbriggen. The article reports Aconcagua only as about 6,961 meters, with the variation disclosed, and the figure is marked qualified in the writer ledger for QA confirmation against the Instituto Geografico Nacional publication.
