The highest mountains in the world have fascinated explorers, geographers, and exam-setters alike for decades.
From the towering Himalayas to the Andes and Karakoram ranges, mountain geography is a recurring topic in UPSC, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and State PSC exams. This page gives you a complete, updated list of the world’s tallest peaks with heights, locations, and exam-ready facts — everything you need for quick, confident revision.
⚡ Quick Facts
- Mount Everest at 8,848.86 m is the highest mountain in the world, confirmed by a 2020 Nepal-China survey.
- All 14 mountains above 8,000 m are located in Asia — across the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges.
- K2 is the only 8,000 m peak that had never been summited in winter until January 2021.
- Mauna Kea in Hawaii is taller than Everest when measured from the ocean floor (10,210 m total).
- The Himalayan range alone contains 9 of the world’s 10 highest peaks.
Many students confuse K2’s location — it is in the Karakoram range, NOT the Himalayas. Also, Kangchenjunga sits on the Nepal-Sikkim border, while Nanda Devi is the highest peak entirely within India. Both are tested frequently and the distinction catches many aspirants off guard.
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🗺️ Complete List of Highest Mountains in the World
| # ↕ | Mountain Name ↕ | Height (m) ↕ | Height (ft) | Range | Country/Region ↕ | First Summited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Everest | 8,848.86 | 29,032 | Himalayas | Nepal/China | 1953 |
| 2 | K2 | 8,611 | 28,251 | Karakoram | Pakistan/China | 1954 |
| 3 | Kangchenjunga | 8,586 | 28,169 | Himalayas | Nepal/India | 1955 |
| 4 | Lhotse | 8,516 | 27,940 | Himalayas | Nepal/China | 1956 |
| 5 | Makalu | 8,485 | 27,838 | Himalayas | Nepal/China | 1955 |
| 6 | Cho Oyu | 8,188 | 26,864 | Himalayas | Nepal/China | 1954 |
| 7 | Dhaulagiri I | 8,167 | 26,795 | Himalayas | Nepal | 1960 |
| 8 | Manaslu | 8,163 | 26,781 | Himalayas | Nepal | 1956 |
| 9 | Nanga Parbat | 8,126 | 26,660 | Himalayas | Pakistan | 1953 |
| 10 | Annapurna I | 8,091 | 26,545 | Himalayas | Nepal | 1950 |
| 11 | Gasherbrum I | 8,080 | 26,509 | Karakoram | Pakistan/China | 1958 |
| 12 | Broad Peak | 8,051 | 26,414 | Karakoram | Pakistan/China | 1957 |
| 13 | Gasherbrum II | 8,035 | 26,362 | Karakoram | Pakistan/China | 1956 |
| 14 | Shishapangma | 8,027 | 26,335 | Himalayas | China (Tibet) | 1964 |
| 15 | Gyachung Kang | 7,952 | 26,089 | Himalayas | Nepal/China | 1964 |
| 16 | Annapurna II | 7,937 | 26,040 | Himalayas | Nepal | 1960 |
| 17 | Gasherbrum III | 7,946 | 26,070 | Karakoram | Pakistan/China | 1975 |
| 18 | Himalchuli | 7,893 | 25,896 | Himalayas | Nepal | 1960 |
| 19 | Distaghil Sar | 7,884 | 25,869 | Karakoram | Pakistan | 1960 |
| 20 | Nuptse | 7,861 | 25,791 | Himalayas | Nepal | 1961 |
| 21 | Khunyang Chhish | 7,823 | 25,863 | Karakoram | Pakistan | 1971 |
| 22 | Masherbrum | 7,821 | 25,659 | Karakoram | Pakistan/China | 1960 |
| 23 | Nanda Devi | 7,816 | 25,643 | Himalayas | India | 1936 |
| 24 | Chomo Lonzo | 7,804 | 25,604 | Himalayas | China (Tibet) | 1954 |
| 25 | Batura Sar | 7,795 | 25,574 | Karakoram | Pakistan | 1976 |
⚖️ Compare Two Mountains
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
Mount Everest\u2019s official height was revised from 8,848 m to 8,848.86 m in December 2020 following a joint Nepal-China survey. Exams set after 2021 use 8,848.86 m \u2014 always use this figure.
K2 is called the \u201cSavage Mountain\u201d and is considered the hardest 8,000 m peak to climb. It lies on the Pakistan-China border in the Karakoram range \u2014 NOT the Himalayas. This is a frequent exam trap.
Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) is the highest peak in India \u2014 its summit lies on the Nepal-Sikkim (India) border. Nanda Devi (7,816 m) is the highest peak located entirely within Indian territory. Exams ask both versions.
Annapurna I (8,091 m), climbed in 1950, was the FIRST 8,000 m peak ever summited \u2014 three years before Everest. This is a very common trick question in GK papers.
Shishapangma (8,027 m) is the only 8,000 m peak located entirely within China (Tibet). All other eight-thousanders lie on Nepal, Pakistan, or shared borders.
\u201cEvery Kid Can Look Magnificent\u201d
E = Everest | K = K2 | C = Kangchenjunga | L = Lhotse | M = Makalu
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Mount Everest at 8,848.86 m is the world\u2019s highest mountain above sea level. Its height was officially updated in December 2020 by a joint Nepal-China survey.
Annapurna I (8,091 m) was first summited on 3 June 1950 by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal \u2014 three years before Everest was climbed in 1953.
K2 is located in the Karakoram range on the Pakistan-China border. It is commonly confused with Himalayan peaks, but the Karakoram is a geographically distinct range.
Nanda Devi (7,816 m) in Uttarakhand is the highest peak located entirely within India. Kangchenjunga is higher overall but sits on the Nepal-Sikkim border.
There are exactly 14 mountains in the world that exceed 8,000 metres. All 14 are in Asia \u2014 nine in the Himalayas and five in the Karakoram range.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
There are exactly 14 mountains in the world that exceed 8,000 metres in height. All 14 are located in Asia \u2014 nine in the Himalayas and five in the Karakoram range. These are collectively known as the \u201ceight-thousanders\u201d and represent the ultimate challenge for high-altitude mountaineers worldwide.
Mount Everest, located on the Nepal-China (Tibet) border, is the highest mountain in the world at 8,848.86 metres above sea level. This height was officially confirmed in December 2020 following a joint survey by Nepal and China, revising the previously accepted figure of 8,848 m.
Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) is the highest mountain associated with India, as its summit lies on the Nepal-Sikkim border. However, Nanda Devi (7,816 m) in Uttarakhand is the highest peak located entirely within Indian territory \u2014 and both versions are frequently tested in competitive exams.
Mountain geography is a standard topic in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL General Awareness, Banking exams, and State PSC papers. Examiners regularly test heights of the top peaks, their ranges and countries, first ascent years, and tricky distinctions like \u201chighest in India\u201d vs \u201chighest on India\u2019s border.\u201d Everest\u2019s updated 2020 height is especially likely to appear in recent question papers.
