How Many Climbers Reached Everest's Summit in 2025?

How many people have climbed Mount Everest reached a staggering new milestone in 2025, with nearly 850 successful summits recorded during the climbing season. On May 18 and 19 alone, 722 climbers reached the summit from the Nepal side, including 272 foreign clients and 434 guides. Additionally, about 100 more climbers summited from the Tibet side during the same period.

These numbers significantly exceed the approximately 600 successful climbs recorded in 2024. Surprisingly, despite the increased traffic on the world's highest peak, the 2025 Mt Everest climbing season was marked by improved safety, with only three fatalities compared to 18 deaths in 2023. The Nepalese government issued around 468 foreign permits for Mt.Everest 2025, creating a client-to-support ratio of approximately 1:41, with 159 members supported by 210 Sherpas. In this article, we'll examine what made the 2025 season unique and put these numbers into context with historical data, considering that as of December 2024, a total of 7,269 individuals had summited Mount Everest.

How many people summited Everest in 2025?

The 2025 Everest climbing season witnessed remarkable summit numbers, establishing it as one of the most successful seasons in recent history. Let's examine the statistics behind this exceptional year.

Summit totals from Nepal and Tibet sides

The final tally for Mount Everest summits in 2025 reached an impressive total of nearly 850 successful climbs. Breaking this down by route, Nepal's Department of Tourism confirmed 722 people reached the summit from the Nepal side. This total comprised 272 foreign clients, 9 Nepali clients, 434 guides, and 7 rope fixers who successfully stood atop the world's highest peak.

Meanwhile, approximately 100 climbers conquered Everest from the Tibet side, making it a strong year for the northern route after several seasons of restricted access. Initially, experts had predicted between 700-800 total summits for the season, but the actual figures slightly exceeded these projections.

May 18-19 proved particularly productive, with at least 213 people summiting on these two days alone. Furthermore, the May 13-14 period saw another substantial wave of successful climbs, with approximately 54 people reaching the top as teams capitalized on favorable weather windows.

Comparison with previous years

The 2025 summit count represents a substantial increase over 2024, when approximately 600 climbers reached the top. Looking at the more precise 2024 figures, there were 861 summits that year, with 787 from Nepal and 74 from Tibet.

In contrast, 2025 didn't quite reach the pre-pandemic record established in 2019, when 877 total summits were recorded (661 from Nepal and 216 from Tibet). Nevertheless, 2025 firmly established itself as part of the post-pandemic recovery trend in Everest climbing.

Nepal's Department of Tourism issued 456 foreign climbing permits in 2025, just shy of the record 479 permits granted in 2023. According to another source, the figure was closer to 468 foreign permits. Either way, these numbers reflect continued high interest in climbing Everest from the Nepal side.

Breakdown by climbers and Sherpas

The balance between foreign clients and Nepali support staff remains a defining characteristic of Everest expeditions. On the busiest days of the 2025 season, the client-to-support ratio stood at approximately 1:1.41, with 159 members supported by 210 Sherpas or support climbers.

This ratio reflects a broader historical trend. Since Everest was first summited in 1953, a total of 7,269 different people have reached the top 12,884 times. Of these, 6,097 Sherpas have summited compared to 5,899 members (non-Sherpa climbers), with this gap growing wider each year.

Women continue to make their mark on the mountain as well. As of the end of 2024, there had been 962 summits by women members, a number that undoubtedly increased with the successful 2025 season.

Overall, the 2025 climbing season not only added hundreds of new names to the list of successful Everest climbers but also reflected evolving patterns in how the mountain is climbed. The growing predominance of Sherpa summits over member climbers indicates the vital role these local experts play in making Everest accessible to international climbers.

The key summit days and weather windows

Weather played a decisive role in the 2025 Mt. Everest climbing season, creating both opportunities and challenges for climbers seeking to reach the world's highest peak. Unlike previous years, the 2025 season featured condensed summit windows, requiring precise timing and careful planning from expedition teams.

May 18–19: The main summit window

The 2025 climbing season saw most successful ascents concentrated in a few key days, with May 18-19 emerging as the primary summit window. On May 18 alone, 165 climbers reached the summit, followed by 104 the next day. In total, at least 213 people summited Everest on these two days across both the Nepal and Tibet sides.

Several expedition companies reported significant success during this narrow window:

·         Climbing The Seven Summits: 30 summits on May 15

·         Seven Summit Treks: 22 summits (10 clients with 12 Sherpas)

·         Elite Expeditions: 39 summits (12 clients with 27 Sherpas)

·         8K Expeditions: 21 climbers to Everest summit, with 9 continuing to Lhotse

Consequently, these concentrated summit attempts created the infamous "Everest traffic jam," with hundreds of climbers and guides packed along the route between Camp II and the summit. Photos captured the scene showing climbers ascending the Lhotse Face "like an army of ants", a vivid illustration of the crowding that occurs when weather forces everyone to climb on the same days.

Impact of jet stream winds

The 2025 season was profoundly affected by what meteorologist Chris Tomer described as "a partial jet stream playing hide and seek on Everest's summit from 5/10-5/25". This atmospheric phenomenon created persistent strong winds above Camp 4 to the summit throughout much of the climbing season.

The Subtropical Jet Stream, typically positioned between latitudes 25°N and 35°N (with Everest at 28°N), fluctuates in elevation from near Everest's height (29,032') to 39,000'. While it normally passes over Everest briefly during late April and May with winds reaching 80 mph or higher, the 2025 season saw an unusual pattern.

A thin band of winds (40-60 mph) positioned just above Everest's elevation frequently "mixed down" to the summit and higher camps. The period from May 21-25 proved especially tricky, with forecast models showing safe conditions only to have those windows disappear rapidly. Indeed, the jet stream didn't fully move off the summit until May 26-29, finally revealing the season's lightest winds.

How weather shaped the season?

The volatile weather pattern fundamentally shaped the rhythm of the entire climbing season. Although several climbers reached the summit in mid-May, deteriorating conditions forced many to retreat to base camp. This included Kami Rita Sherpa, who was attempting his record 31st summit.

Expedition leaders identified several potential summit windows throughout the season—May 14, 15, 17, 18, 23, and 24—based on forecasts from weather experts at base camp. However, these predictions proved challenging as conditions changed rapidly without warning.

"The weather was very difficult to predict," explained six-time Everest summiteer Jenjen Lama. "The forecast would be great for the following day, but on the day the weather would deteriorate every hour or so".

This unpredictability created a ripple effect throughout the season. Poor conditions in early May pushed most teams toward the May 18-19 window, creating the concentrated crowds. The season concluded with the threat of a tropical cyclone from the Bay of Bengal bringing heavy snow accumulation across the Everest region on May 30-31.

For climbers hoping to join the ranks of those who have successfully climbed Mount Everest, the 2025 season offered a stark reminder: on the world's highest peak, timing is everything, and the weather remains the ultimate arbiter of success.

Notable climbers and record attempts

Beyond the impressive summit totals, the 2025 Everest season featured several remarkable individual achievements and record attempts that pushed the boundaries of human endurance on the world's highest peak.

Kami Rita Sherpa's 31st summit

Famed Sherpa guide Kami Rita Sherpa cemented his legendary status on May 27 when he reached Everest's summit for an extraordinary 31st time. At 55 years old, he guided a 22-member Indian Army team to the top via the southeast ridge route. His remarkable climbing career spans over three decades, having first summited Everest in 1994 at age 24. Throughout his career, Kami Rita has made the journey nearly every year, occasionally completing two climbs in a single season. His closest competitor, fellow Sherpa Pasang Dawa, trails with 29 ascents.

Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa's 4 summits in 15 days

Perhaps the most astonishing feat of the season came from 29-year-old Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, who accomplished what many considered impossible - summiting Everest four times in just 15 days. His historic sequence began May 9 with the rope-fixing team, followed by additional summits on May 14, May 19, and finally May 23. "This is a world record and a new limit of human endurance," noted Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expedition. For Tashi, these represented his fifth through eighth Everest summits overall.

Tyler Andrews and Karl Egloff speed attempts

The mountain also witnessed ambitious speed record attempts by American Tyler Andrews and Swiss-Ecuadorian Karl Egloff. Both aimed to break the no-oxygen speed record from Base Camp to summit (20 hours and 24 minutes) set by Kazi Sherpa in 1998. Andrews made three separate attempts, with his final push on May 27 taking him to within 1,500 feet of the summit before fatigue-induced hallucinations forced his retreat. Egloff made a single attempt on May 23 but turned back near Camp III amid heavy winds.

Mission: Everest rapid ascent team

In a groundbreaking achievement, the Mission: Everest team—four British military veterans—traveled from London to Everest's summit and back in just seven days. Their expedition utilized innovative pre-acclimatization methods, including sleeping in hypoxic tents and the controversial pre-administration of xenon gas. The team summited on May 21 after narrowly avoiding an avalanche in the Khumbu icefall. Their expedition raised funds for veterans' charities while demonstrating a new approach to high-altitude mountaineering. Subsequently, American-Ukrainian climber Andrew Ushakov claimed an even faster feat, reportedly going from New York to summit in under four days using similar pre-acclimatization techniques.

Deaths and safety incidents on Everest in 2025

Despite the impressive number of people who have climbed Mount Everest in 2025, safety remained a primary concern. The season showed remarkable improvement in climber safety with fewer fatalities than previous years.

Total fatalities and causes

The 2025 Everest season recorded five fatalities on the Nepalese side, down from eight deaths in 2024 and significantly lower than the record-breaking eighteen deaths in 2023. Remarkably, no deaths were reported from the Tibet side. This total is below the historical average of seven fatalities per year since 2010.

Among the five deaths, three occurred above Base Camp: Filipino climber Philipp II Santiago died at Camp IV after showing signs of exhaustion, Indian climber Subrata Ghosh died near the Hillary Step after summiting, and Pen Chhiri Sherpa suffered cardiac arrest at Camp I. Two additional Nepali workers died at Base Camp: Lha Ngima Sherpa from altitude sickness and Ngima Dorje Sherpa from a brain hemorrhage.

Helicopter rescues from Camp III

A defining safety advancement of the 2025 season was the increased use of helicopter rescues from Camp III at 23,500 feet (7,162 meters), pushing the boundaries of aviation capabilities in thin air. These complex operations involved long-line rescues where patients were secured to ropes dangling beneath helicopters rather than traditional landings.

Captain Maurizio Folini performed multiple rescues from Camp III, including saving a Czech climber with severe pulmonary edema who "would not have survived the night" according to expedition operators. Similarly, Captain Bibek Khadka conducted another successful Camp III rescue.

How safety improved this season?

Several factors contributed to 2025's improved safety record. First, the condensed summit window meant fewer teams attempted early-season ascents in potentially dangerous conditions. Second, expedition operators fully stocked Camp IV with oxygen supplies.

Moreover, Global Rescue deployed specialized medical and rescue teams, responding to over 100 rescue calls in May alone. Their teams performed up to 25 rescues in a single day during peak activity.

Additionally, new safety measures implemented for 2025 included mandatory GPS trackers or RECCO reflectors for all climbers to assist in locating missing persons. Furthermore, Nepal's ban on solo expeditions and stricter guide-to-climber ratios (1 guide per 2 climbers above 8,000 meters) helped filter out inexperienced climbers.

What made 2025 different from other years?

The 2025 Everest season stood out for several unique factors that reshaped how climbers approached the world's highest peak. These changes ranged from weather challenges to innovative climbing methods.

Condensed summit window

Unpredictable jet stream patterns fundamentally altered the 2025 climbing calendar. Unlike typical seasons with 6-16 summit days (averaging 11 since 2001), 2025 featured remarkably few safe climbing windows. This atmospheric phenomenon created persistent strong winds above Camp 4, forcing climbers to adjust plans or abandon summit pushes altogether. With the jet stream "playing hide and seek" on Everest's summit throughout mid-May, expedition leaders had to make difficult decisions about when to attempt the summit. This weather volatility compressed hundreds of climbers into the same narrow timeframes, particularly May 18-19, creating the notorious "conga-line" effect on the mountain's upper slopes.

Use of oxygen and pre-acclimatization

Pre-acclimatization techniques notably evolved in 2025, with climbers employing increasingly sophisticated methods. Most controversial was the xenon gas experiment conducted by Furtenbach Adventures, where four British military veterans completed a London-to-summit-and-back journey in just seven days. Andrew Ushakov reportedly achieved an even faster sea-level-to-summit ascent in under four days using hypoxic pre-conditioning. Beyond these extreme examples, many climbers turned on oxygen earlier than in previous years—some reportedly leaving Base Camp with masks already in place. The traditional approach of reaching South Col before using supplemental oxygen became increasingly rare.

Crowd management and permit data

Nepal issued 517 climbing permits for spring 2025, marking a 15% increase from the previous year. Alongside this surge, permit fees rose significantly from $11,000 to $15,000. With over 1,000 climbers and Sherpas crowding the route, bottlenecks at critical sections like the Hillary Step became inevitable. Full expedition costs ranged from $45,000 for budget operators to over $200,000 for luxury services. Notably, 2025 also saw the introduction of draft legislation requiring future Everest climbers to have experience on at least one 7,000-meter Nepalese peak. This measure aims to reduce overcrowding and improve safety on the mountain where queues in the "Death Zone" have contributed to fatalities in recent years.

Conclusion

The 2025 Everest climbing season certainly stands out as remarkable in the mountain's storied history. Despite challenging weather conditions that compressed climbing windows, nearly 850 individuals successfully reached the summit - a significant increase from approximately 600 climbers in 2024. Though crowds concentrated during the May 18-19 window created the infamous "traffic jams," safety actually improved considerably, with fatalities dropping to just five compared to eighteen in 2023.

Several factors undoubtedly contributed to this improved safety record. Enhanced helicopter rescue capabilities at Camp III saved lives that would have been lost in previous years. Additionally, mandatory GPS trackers, stricter guide-to-climber ratios, and better-stocked oxygen supplies at higher camps all played crucial roles in protecting climbers.

The season likewise witnessed extraordinary individual achievements. Kami Rita Sherpa secured his place in mountaineering history with an astonishing 31st summit, while Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa redefined human endurance by reaching the summit four times in just 15 days. Furthermore, innovative pre-acclimatization techniques allowed for unprecedented rapid ascents, exemplified by the Mission: Everest team completing their journey from London to summit and back in merely seven days.

Beyond these accomplishments, 2025 marked a pivotal year for Everest climbing policies. Nepal's increased permit fees and proposed experience requirements signal attempts to address overcrowding concerns. These changes, coupled with evolving acclimatization approaches and rescue capabilities, suggest future Everest seasons will continue transforming.

As we reflect on these developments, one thing remains clear: Everest continues to captivate the human imagination while pushing the boundaries of what climbers can achieve. The mountain still demands respect - yet with improved safety measures, technological advances, and evolving climbing strategies, more people than ever before can now stand atop the world's highest peak.

FAQs

Q1. How many people successfully climbed Mount Everest in 2025?

Nearly 850 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest in 2025, with 722 summiting from the Nepal side and approximately 100 from the Tibet side. This marked a significant increase from the previous year's total of about 600 successful climbs.

Q2. What were the main challenges faced by climbers during the 2025 Everest season?

The 2025 season was characterized by unpredictable weather patterns, particularly a fluctuating jet stream that created strong winds above Camp 4. This resulted in condensed summit windows, forcing hundreds of climbers to attempt the climb during the same narrow timeframes, especially on May 18-19.

Q3. Were there any notable achievements or records set during the 2025 Everest season?

Yes, several remarkable feats were accomplished. Kami Rita Sherpa reached the summit for the 31st time, while Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa summited four times in just 15 days. Additionally, a team of British military veterans completed a London-to-summit-and-back journey in only seven days using innovative pre-acclimatization techniques.

Q4. How did the safety record on Everest compare to previous years?

The 2025 season saw a significant improvement in safety, with only five fatalities reported on the Nepalese side, compared to eight in 2024 and eighteen in 2023. This improvement was attributed to factors such as enhanced helicopter rescue capabilities, mandatory GPS trackers, and better-stocked oxygen supplies at higher camps.

Q5. What changes were implemented or proposed for Everest climbing in 2025?

Nepal increased climbing permit fees from $11,000 to $15,000 and introduced draft legislation requiring future Everest climbers to have experience on at least one 7,000-meter Nepalese peak. Additionally, there was a ban on solo expeditions and stricter guide-to-climber ratios were implemented to improve safety and manage overcrowding on the mountain.