How Many People Have Climbed Mount Everest? Over 6,000 Summits Since 1953

Cumulative Statistics

• Total successful summits: >6,000 individuals (as of 2023)
• Total summit events: >11,000 (many climbers summitted multiple times)
• First ascent: May 29, 1953 — Edmund Hillary (NZ) & Tenzing Norgay (Nepal)
• Annual rate: 500–800+ in recent pre-COVID seasons; dropped 2020, rebounded 2021+

Demographics

• Nationalities: Nepal (Sherpas) most frequent; USA, China, India, UK, Japan top foreign
• Gender: ~15% women (growing)
• Age range: 13 (Jordan Romero) to 80 (Yuichiro Miura)
• Disabilities: Amputees, blind, MS patients have summited

Deaths

• ~310+ fatalities (1922–present)
• Death rate ~1–2% of attempts (improving with weather forecasting, gear, Sherpa support)

Commercialization

Guided expeditions ($30K–$100K+) dominate; fixed ropes, oxygen, Sherpa support standard. Crowding on "death zone" summit ridge a major safety issue.