KATHMANDU, April 6: In the past five fiscal years, over 2,400 mountaineers and support crew successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest, according to the latest data released by the Department of Tourism. The department’s recent publication, Mountaineering in Nepal: Facts and Figures 2024, outlines climbing trends between 2019 and 2023, highlighting both the growing interest in Himalayan expeditions and the crucial contributions of Nepali support teams.
In 2019, a total of 644 individuals made it to the top of Everest. This included 280 climbers and 364 support staff, mainly Sherpas. The year 2020, however, recorded no successful climbs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global travel restrictions and temporary suspension of mountaineering activities. Climbing resumed in 2021 with 459 people reaching the summit, of whom 183 were climbers and 276 were part of the support team.
The number increased in 2022, when 240 climbers and 418 support personnel, making a total of 658, reached the peak. Similarly, in 2023, the figure stood at 659, including 268 climbers and 391 support members. These data reflect the consistent appeal of Everest, not only for international adventurers but also for the local workforce that enables each ascent.
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Since Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary first reached the summit in 1953, Everest has drawn climbers from all over the world. As of 2023, a total of 8,285 individuals have successfully climbed Everest. Out of these, 2,707 had reached the summit before 2010. The remaining 5,578 made their ascents between 2010 and 2023, showing a significant rise in mountaineering activity in the past decade.
Although male climbers continue to dominate the field, women have also made their mark. According to government records, 641 women have reached the summit of Everest so far. The first woman to do so was Junko Tabei of Japan, who achieved the feat on May 16, 1975. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa later became the first Nepali woman to climb Everest, though she tragically lost her life during the descent.
While Everest remains the most climbed mountain above 8,000 meters, other Himalayan peaks in Nepal have also gained attention. Manaslu ranks second in terms of successful ascents, with 3,023 climbers reaching the top by 2023. Lhotse follows with 1,124 summits recorded so far.
Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak at 8,586 meters, is less frequented by climbers. As of 2023, only 585 people had successfully climbed it. The first ascent was made on May 25, 1955, by British climbers George Band and Joe Brown. Despite its prominence, Kangchenjunga continues to receive fewer visitors compared to other major peaks, and the region has not seen significant growth in tourism.
The number of successful ascents on other 8,000-meter mountains remains relatively low. Makalu has seen 744 summits, Dhaulagiri 686, and Annapurna 488. Yalung has recorded only 53 successful climbs, while Cho Oyu has seen just 14.