Climbing Everest is the dream of many climbers and adventurers. Not only is it quenching your thirst for mountaineering, but also pride. The stories of climbers who have submitted the tallest mountain are pioneers to many upcoming mountaineers. Since they have their struggle, preparations, and years of training to carry out the Everest expedition, climbing becomes one of the fantasized aspects.
So, you want to climb Mount Everest? The world’s tallest mountain, at 29,029 feet above sea level, has been a summit sought by climbers worldwide for over a century. You might think Everest would be an easy task after all these years. But the mountain has repeatedly proven that it’s still a formidable force to be reckoned with. For every climber who has reached the summit, many more have met with tragedy. So how many people have reached the top of Mount Everest? You will get detailed information in the blog below.
The most dangerous part of the climb is the so-called Death Zone. This is the section of the mountain above 26,000 feet, where oxygen levels are so low that they can barely support human life. Climbers who make it to this point are already pushing their bodies to the limit, and any further ascent is exceptionally hazardous.
In this article, we’ll look at how many people have climbed since 1953, when the first successful ascent of Mount Everest was made. Spoiler alert: the number is a lot. Keep reading to find out more.
Climbers of Mount Everest: Who and How Many?
Since 1953, when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first climbed Mount Everest, over 6,338 people have reached the summit. The total number of summits made at the top of Mount Everest is 11,346 times. The peak is considered one of the most significant challenges in the world, and every year, more and more climbers attempt to reach the top of the tallest mountain.
Only 11% of climbers have been women, while most climbers (74%) are from the United States. Six hundred seventy-eight women individuals have made the summit by 2023.
Besides, countries with the highest number of climbers relative to their population are Switzerland, Norway, and South Korea. Reports show that between 1990 and 2005, out of 214 women, only 32% reached the summit. Similarly, out of 1702 men, only 32.9% reached the top of Everest.
Likewise, between 2006 and 2019, only 68.2% of 548 women conquered the mountain, while 64.4% of 2860 men reached the summit.
Jordan Romero was the youngest person to climb Mount Everest; he was 13 when he first summited the peak. Throughout his expedition, three outstanding Sherpas, Ang Pasang Sherpa, Lama Dawa Sherpa, and Lama Karma Sherpa, accompanied him to the top while Romero’s father, Paul, and stepmother Karen Lundgren also were beside him during the climb.
Before that, the record was set by a Nepalese teenager named Namgyal Wangdi Sherpa. He reached the summit at just 16 years old.
The oldest person to climb Mount Everest was Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura, who was 80 when he reached the top in 2022. Kami Rita Sherpa, a Nepali mountaineer, has reached the zenith of Everest a record-breaking 26 times.
A total of 7,646 climbs was achieved by 4,469 climbers by the end of 2016, despite all the catastrophic happenings of 2014 and 2015. However, there was a slight boost in 2018 as approximately 800 climbers reached the summit, beating the previous record of 667 climbers in 2013.
Early Years of Mount Everest Expeditions (1953-1974)
From the time it was first summited in 1953 until 1974, only about 38 climbers successfully ascended Mount Everest’s summit and were equipped with oxygen supplements.
Despite that, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1974 were null with no climbers on Everest.
The first successful summit of Everest was by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. They successfully reached the top of Everest on May 29, 1953.
The early years of Mount Everest expeditions were filled with danger and peril as climbers battled harsh weather and treacherous conditions. But despite the risks, these climbers continued to push the boundaries, paving the way for future generations.
New Summits On Mountain (1975-1989)
In 1975, Junko Tabei of Japan led an expedition and became the first woman to conquer the peak. Tabei and her supporter Sherpa Ang Tshering I was the 38th/39th individual to summit Everest successfully. Similarly, in 1976, the British and Nepal Army made their way to the top, led by Tony Streather.
Besides that, the expedition of Reinhold Messner (Italy) and Peter Habeler (Austria) in 1978, Andrej Štremfelj and Nejc Zaplotnik in 1979, and the Soviet team in 1982 made their succession.
Until 1989, many expedition teams from Bulgaria, Italy, Japan, Catalonia, and others ascended to the top of Everest.
Summits Between 1990-2002
The 1990s guided in a new era of climbing Everest, which saw the hype of commercialized guided tours and further professionalization of the mountaineering industry. Commercial operators began offering “adventure tourism” trips to Everest during this time, providing all the necessary gear and expertise to summit the mountain.
As a result, climbing Everest became less of a whole adventure and more of a mainstream tourist activity. By 2002, it was estimated that more than 1400 people had successfully summited Mount Everest since 1953. With the accessibility and professionalism that commercial tours offered, those numbers were sure to only increase in years to come.
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Summits Between 2003-2020
Between 2003 and 2020, more than 50 expedition campaigns were launched on Everest from different countries. It was the same year, in 2003, when Yuichiro Miura first made his record for the oldest man to climb Everest – he was 70. Later, he returned 2013 to the summit again and broke his record.
Later on May 15, 2006, Mark Inglis kept the record of being the first man to conquer a mountain with artificial legs. Apa Sherpa’s record-breaking climb to the top came in 2008, 2009, and 2011. Similarly, Arunima Sinha was the first female amputee climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
The Ongoing Influence and Popularity of Mount Everest (2021-2023)
The influence and popularity of Mount Everest indeed have remained strong in the 21st century. In 2021 alone, hundreds of climbers have attempted to scale the world’s highest mountain.
This is even though bad weather in 2021 led to fewer climbers reaching the summit compared to previous years. Even then, one study found that the number of successful ascents from the Nepal side still grew from 2020 to 2021.
More climbers are also taking advantage of the climbing season and more advanced equipment, such as GPS tracking devices, to reach the summit than ever before. This is evident in the record number of climbers who attempted to summit via Nepal’s south side in 2021 – with over 800 people registering for a permit!
At this rate, it looks as though Mount Everest will keep its popularity alive into 2022 and beyond – as long as the weather permits!
What Has the Nepalese Government Done For The Safety?
To ensure climbers have the best chance of success, the Nepalese government imposed strict restrictions on Mount Everest expeditions in 2003. For example, they introduced an oxygen cylinder requirement to help prevent altitude sickness and an emergency insurance policy.
They also increased the overall cost of permits for climbing expeditions, which was intended to discourage inexperienced climbers from attempting the mountain. In addition, they established legal liability compensation claims for damage or injury caused by climbing activities.
These regulations were introduced to protect not only climbers but also the environment as a whole. Rules were introduced, preventing people from littering on Everest and restricting the waste climbers could leave behind. This has significantly reduced pollution on the mountain and helped maintain its pristine beauty. To mitigate overpopulation and the possibility of accidents on the mountain, the government has implemented more stringent rules regarding the number of climbers permitted on the mountain at any given moment.
Mount Everest is a favorite destination for adventure since the number of people attempting to climb the mountain is rising.
We’ll undoubtedly see an uprising of people’s attempt to summit Everest.
People Also Asked For
Who Is The First Woman To Reach The Top of Mount Everest?
Junko Tabei, a Japanese female mountaineer, is the first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest. She successfully climbed Everest on May 16, 1975.
How Many People Have Reached The Summit of Mount Everest?
Till 2021, around 6,338 people have already reached the summit of Mount Everest. Coming to the current year, marks the skyrocketed number of mountaineers who have climbed Mount Everest Successfully.
Who Are The First People To Reach The Top of Mount Everest?
Sir Edmund Hillary of Switzerland and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal were the first to reach Mount Everest. They climbed the peak on May 29, 1953.
Can A Helicopter Reach Mount Everest?
Of course, yes, helicopters can reach Mount Everest. Several packages of Helicopter tours take you through the Everest area(KalaPathhar), allowing you to see the snow-capped peaks in a bird-eye view. While, reaching the Eveerst summit on a Heli is impracticable with current mechanics of a Helicopter.
Is It Safe To Climb Mount Everest?
Climbing Everest is physically and mentally challenging – you also need technical skills to climb the rugged ridge and landscapes around the peak. However, with proper preparations and instructions from your guide, you can safely climb Mount Everest.
Who First Climbed Everest Without Oxygen?
Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler first climbed Mount Everest without any oxygen supplement. They successfully ascended to the top of the peak on 8 May 1978.
Who Is The First Female Climber To Climb Everest Without Oxygen?
The first female climber to climb Everest without oxygen is Lydia Pounamu Bradey ONZM. She climbed the peak in 1988.
Who Is The Youngest Person To Reach The Top of Mount Everest?
The youngest person to climb Mount Everest is Jordan Romero – he was 13 when he reached the top of Mount Everest.
Who Is The Oldest Person To Reach The Top of Mount Everest?
Yuichiro Miura is the oldest person to reach the top of Mount Everest – he was 80 when he stepped on the summit.
