Below is a ranked list of 20 of the world’s most dangerous mountains to climb, based on recent data on climbing fatality rates and known risk factors. Each entry explains why the peak is considered so hazardous – including its altitude, weather and terrain challenges, technical difficulty, and (where available) documented fatality rates.
1. Annapurna I (Nepal)
Annapurna I is widely regarded as the deadliest mountain on Earth, with a summit fatality rate around 27% (meaning roughly one death for every 3–4 successful ascents). This 8,091 m Himalayan peak has a notorious south face prone to frequent avalanches and treacherous icefalls, and its unpredictable weather and high-altitude exposure create extreme risk for climbers.
Even experienced mountaineers find Annapurna’s combination of technical difficulty, avalanche danger, and thin air in the “death zone” to be exceptionally perilous, which is why it tops the list of dangerous mountains.
2. K2 (Pakistan/China)
The world’s second-highest mountain, K2 (8,611 m) is famed as the “Savage Mountain” for its lethal climbing conditions. Approximately 22–23% of those who summit K2 do not survive the climb giving it one of the highest fatality ratios among major peaks. Climbers face extremely technical routes with steep sections of rock and ice, constant rockfall danger, and unpredictable, violent storms that can pin teams down for days.
K2’s altitude and harsh conditions (especially in the narrow summit pyramid and the oxygen-starved death zone above 8,000 m) make it an extraordinarily dangerous ascent, as reflected in multiple tragedies over the decades.
3. Nanga Parbat (Pakistan)
Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) is infamously known as the “Killer Mountain.” Before 1953 it had claimed 31 lives without a single successful summit, and although climbing techniques have improved, it remains one of the most hazardous peaks. Nanga Parbat’s fatality rate is around 21% , placing it among the top three deadliest 8,000-meter peaks. Its massive steep faces (such as the Rupal and Diamir flanks) and complex glaciers are prone to avalanches, and weather on this westernmost Himalayan giant is notoriously unstable.
The mountain’s vertical relief and technical challenges mean climbers must navigate seracs and loose snow slopes under constant risk, which continues to claim lives regularly despite modern climbing advances.
4. Kangchenjunga (Nepal/India)
Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), the world’s third-highest mountain, is extremely dangerous due to a mix of altitude and remoteness. Since the 1990s, roughly 22% of people who summited Kangchenjunga have died on the mountain – an extraordinarily high mortality rate even in recent times. Overall, the mountain’s fatality ratio is estimated around 15%. Kangchenjunga’s secluded location on the Nepal–India border means any rescue or evacuation is very difficult, and climbers face extreme weather and avalanche-prone slopes throughout the ascent.
The routes are not the most technically complex among the 8000ers, but the mountain has seen relatively few ascents (fewer than 300 by 2022), so it remains wild and unforgiving. Frequent avalanches and sudden storms contribute to Kangchenjunga’s grim reputation, underscored by multiple fatalities in recent climbing seasons.
5. Dhaulagiri I (Nepal)
Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), the world’s seventh-highest peak, is another Himalayan giant with a very high risk level. It has an approximately 13–16% fatality rate for climbers. Dhaulagiri’s route involves steep icefalls and convoluted glaciers (notoriously the “Little Eiger” ice wall on the standard route), demanding advanced technical skills and endurance.
The mountain is also known for unpredictable weather – fierce winds and sudden snowstorms regularly sweep its slope. These factors, combined with the effects of altitude, have led to many accidents. Dhaulagiri requires a high level of proficiency; even strong expeditions have been turned back by its avalanches and unstable seracs, earning it a place among the most dangerous mountains.
6. Manaslu (Nepal)
Manaslu (8,163 m) is the eighth-highest peak in the world and carries a summit fatality rate of roughly 10–12%. Sometimes called “Killer Mountain” by locals, Manaslu is infamous for its avalanche-prone slopes – especially the steep hanging glacier known as the Manaslu icefall or “Manaslu serac” which has collapsed disastrously in the past. The ascent features complex terrain with cornices and crevasses, and climbers face extreme weather conditions similar to other 8000ers.
Despite more climbers attempting Manaslu in recent years, it remains highly dangerous; steep snow slopes and frequent avalanches have caused numerous fatalities on this mountain. Proper acclimatization and timing are critical, yet even well-prepared teams can be caught by Manaslu’s unpredictable hazards.
7. Makalu (Nepal)
Makalu (8,485 m) is the world’s fifth-highest mountain and one of the most technically challenging. It has a fatality rate of about 10% of summit climbers. Makalu’s distinctive four-sided pyramid shape features steep, knife-edge ridges and a famously difficult final summit pyramid that requires technical rock and ice climbing at high altitude. Climbers must contend with harsh conditions: extremely cold temperatures, powerful winds, and a high likelihood of avalanches and crevasse danger on the approaches.
The combination of technical difficulty and altitude means only very experienced mountaineers attempt Makalu, yet even among those the mountain has claimed many lives (often on descent). Its remote location on the Nepal–Tibet border adds to the challenge, as evacuations in emergencies are daunting.
8. Gasherbrum I (Pakistan)
Gasherbrum I (8,080 m), also known as Hidden Peak, is the 11th-highest mountain on Earth and one of the deadliest in the Karakoram range. It has an approximately 9–10% fatality rate historically. While perhaps less famous than K2, Gasherbrum I presents climbers with similar dangers: extremely remote location, severe weather, and a route laden with crevasses, seracs, and avalanche-prone slopes.
The mountain’s technical ice and rock sections in the high altitudes of the Karakoram demand expert skill and resilience. With temperatures often plummeting and storms coming in quickly, climbers on Gasherbrum I face a narrow margin for error. Its beauty (the name means “Beautiful Mountain”) belies the risks that have led to numerous fatalities among the relatively few who attempt it.
9. Shishapangma (China/Tibet)
Shishapangma (8,027 m) may be the lowest of the fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, but it remains extremely dangerous. It has seen roughly an 8–9% fatality rate among those who summit . Located entirely in Tibet, Shishapangma was the last 8000er to be climbed (first ascended in 1964), and it is known for large, avalanche-prone snowfields.
Climbers must navigate a long approach and a broad summit plateau where deep snow and cornices pose collapse risk. In October 2023, for example, avalanches on Shishapangma tragically swept away multiple climbers, underscoring the peak’s hazards. The mountain’s weather can shift rapidly, and its relatively easier technical grade (compared to K2 or Annapurna) can lure climbers into underestimating risks. Even so, Shishapangma demands caution, as its death toll attests
10. Broad Peak (Pakistan)
Broad Peak (8,051 m), the 12th-highest mountain, lies just across from K2 in Pakistan’s Karakoram and shares that region’s brutal conditions. About 8% of Broad Peak summiters have died during the climb. The ascent is long and physically exhausting, with a high camp in the thin air above 7,000 m. Climbers face sections of technical terrain, especially along the summit ridge which is notoriously corniced and precarious.
Unstable weather is a major threat – sudden snowstorms and extreme cold have led to many cases of frostbite and exhaustion on Broad Peak. The mountain earned its name from its massive bulk rather than a single pointy summit, and reaching the very highest point often requires traversing dangerous, exposed ridges. These challenges contribute to Broad Peak’s reputation as one of the world’s most formidable and risky climbs.
11. Mount Huascarán (Peru)
Huascarán (6,768 m) is the highest mountain in Peru and the fourth-highest in the Americas, known for its deadly avalanches. It has an estimated fatality rate of around 8% per successful ascent , quite high for a non-Himalayan peak. The mountain’s twin summits are heavily glaciated, and the glacier instability has caused catastrophic events – most infamously in 1970 when a huge chunk of Huascarán’s north face collapsed in an earthquake, triggering an avalanche that wiped out towns below.
For climbers, Huascarán presents steep snowy slopes and séracs that can give way without warning. Rockfall is also common on its faces. Despite being a sought-after climb in the Andes, Huascarán’s route (especially past Garganta, the high col) is objectively very dangerous, and many who have attempted it have been caught in avalanches or falls on the icy terrain.
12. Mont Blanc (France/Italy)
Mont Blanc (4,808 m) may not have the extreme altitude of the Himalayas, but it is often cited as the deadliest mountain in the world in terms of total fatalities. This Alpine peak has claimed an estimated 6,000–8,000 lives in recorded history and continues to see around 100 deaths per year. The climb itself is not highly technical by advanced mountaineering standards, which paradoxically contributes to the danger – thousands of relatively inexperienced climbers flock to Mont Blanc each year, often underestimating the risks.
Overcrowding, sudden weather changes, and avalanches on routes like the Gouter Couloir (nicknamed “Death Gully” for its frequent rockfalls) make Mont Blanc extremely hazardous. Though it’s the highest mountain in Western Europe and a popular adventure goal, the combination of accessibility and unpredictable Alpine conditions results in many accidents Good preparation and caution are vital, yet Mont Blanc’s long casualty list shows that it remains very dangerous.
13. Matterhorn (Switzerland/Italy)
The iconic Matterhorn (4,478 m) has claimed over 500 lives. The Matterhorn is one of the most recognizable peaks in the world – and also one of the deadliest in the Alps. Since the first ascent in 1865 (which itself saw four climbers fall to their deaths), over 500 people have died on the Matterhorn’s slopes. Factors contributing to its danger include frequent rockfall (the mountain’s steep pyramidal faces shed rocks continuously, especially in warm weather) and the high number of climbers attempting the peak in summer.
The standard Hörnli Ridge route is technically moderate, but crowding and human error can turn it deadly – climbers have fallen due to congestion and missteps, and others have been hit by rocks or even other climbers falling above. In recent decades, an average of 5 climbers per year still die on the Matterhorn, even as guides and local authorities attempt to improve safety. Its allure and accessibility ensure that this mountain’s risks remain significant.
14. The Eiger (Switzerland)
The Eiger (3,967 m) is infamous chiefly for its north face – the Nordwand or “Murder Wall” – one of the most treacherous climbs in the world. At just under 4,000 m, the Eiger is not exceptionally high, but its sheer north face has claimed at least 64 climbers’ lives since the first successful ascent in 1938. This 1,800 m vertical wall of brittle rock and ice is prone to constant rock and ice fall, and its complex topography (with hard-to-find passages and frequent avalanches) has foiled many attempts.
The weather in the Bernese Alps can deteriorate rapidly, often trapping climbers on the face – tragedies like the famous 1936 attempt (depicted in “The Eiger Sanction” and other stories) illustrate how unforgiving it can be. Although modern gear and better weather forecasting have improved success rates, the Eiger’s north face remains a deadly challenge. Even easier routes on the Eiger have objective hazards, making the mountain a symbol of Alpine danger.
15. Denali (USA, Alaska)
Denali (6,190 m), formerly Mount McKinley, is the highest peak in North America and a mountain of extreme weather. Over 100 climbers have died on Denali since attempts began, out of a few thousand who have summited.
The mountain’s overall fatality rate is relatively lower (roughly 4% of those who attempt it) than many Himalayan peaks, but what makes Denali dangerous are its brutal conditions and remoteness. Denali’s location near the Arctic circle results in severe cold and ferocious storms – climbers routinely face -30°C temperatures and winds strong enough to knock people over. The altitude (though lower than the Himalayas) is compounded by high latitude, meaning thinner effective oxygen levels.
Many deaths have been due to hypothermia, falls into crevasses on its glaciers, or being caught unprepared by sudden blizzards. The standard West Buttress route is not extremely technical, but it is a long slog in a very harsh environment. Denali’s combination of altitude, weather, and isolation firmly earns its place among the world’s most dangerous mountains.
16. Baintha Brakk (The Ogre, Pakistan)
Baintha Brakk (7,285 m), nicknamed “The Ogre,” is renowned among mountaineers as one of the hardest peaks to climb on the planet. Its danger is not reflected by a high body count (in fact, relatively few climbers have died on it), but by the sheer difficulty and injury rate.
The Ogre’s first ascent in 1977 became legendary when Doug Scott broke both legs and Chris Bonington broke ribs during the descent, barely surviving. Remarkably, it took 24 years after that first ascent for a second successful ascent to occur – a testament to its technical complexity. The mountain’s steep granite towers and ice flutes require top-flight rock and ice climbing skills at high altitude.
Between the two successful early expeditions, over 20 unsuccessful attempts were made, resulting in countless injuries and near-misses. Whenever climbers do try the Ogre, it “continues to claim lives” on those rare attempts. In short, Baintha Brakk is so dangerous that it is rarely climbed at all – it repels most who dare to approach it.
17. Cerro Torre (Argentina/Chile)
Cerro Torre (3,128 m) is a dramatic granite spire in Patagonia, often considered one of the world’s most difficult and dangerous mountains for technical climbers. What it lacks in height it makes up for in sheer, steep brutality: its nearly vertical rock faces are frequently coated with rime ice due to fierce Patagonian storms.
The mountain “juts vertically from the Patagonian Ice Field” and is fortified with perilous rime ice and buffeting winds, making climbing conditions extremely challenging. Many expeditions were defeated by Cerro Torre’s weather and technical hurdles; in the 1970s and 80s, multiple climbers perished during attempts, contributing to an air of controversy and legend around the peak.
Even today, ascents of Cerro Torre are rare and usually attempted only by elite alpinists. The combination of needing expert ice and rock climbing under continuously bad weather (with sudden storms, heavy icing, and gale-force winds) gives Cerro Torre a rightful place on this list of most dangerous mountains.
18. Mount Everest (Nepal/China)
Mount Everest (8,849 m) is the highest mountain in the world and has been climbed by thousands, yet it remains a very dangerous endeavor. As of May 2023, at least 310 people have died on Everest during climbing expeditions. By percentage, Everest’s fatality rate (approximately 3% of summit climbers in recent statistics) is lower than many other 8000-meter peak, but the mountain’s popularity and extreme altitude create unique risks.
Every climber must spend prolonged time in the “death zone” above 8,000 m, where oxygen is scarce and the human body breaks down. This leads to high rates of altitude sickness, frostbite, and exhaustion. Additionally, Everest’s notorious overcrowding – with hundreds of climbers attempting the summit in tight weather windows – has led to traffic jams near the summit, which proved deadly in seasons like 2019.
The environment is unforgiving: sudden blizzards and avalanches (such as the tragedies in 2014 and 2015) have caused high death tolls in single events. Even with modern guiding and oxygen support, Everest’s extreme altitude and harsh conditions make it one of the most dangerous mountains, evidenced by the many bodies that still remain on its slopes.
19. Mount Washington (USA)
Mount Washington in New Hampshire is only 1,916 m tall, but it earns its place among the most dangerous mountains due to its extraordinarily severe weather and the number of fatalities. Since records began in 1849, over 150 people have died on Mount Washington.
This peak famously held the world record for the highest wind speed ever observed (372 km/h or 231 mph in 1934), and it routinely has hurricane-force winds and white-out blizzards, even in summer. The mountain’s prominence and location at the intersection of storm tracks give it weather that can change from mild to life-threatening in minutes. Many hikers underestimate Mount Washington, treating it as a casual hike, only to be caught by hypothermia or disoriented in sudden fog and wind.
The difference in conditions between the base and the summit can be extreme – a sunny day in the valley can mean an icy gale on top. This has led authors to dub Mount Washington “the most dangerous small mountain in the world,” as its environment has proven lethal to even well-intentioned visitors who are caught unprepared.
20. Mount Fitz Roy (Argentina/Chile)
Mount Fitz Roy (3,405 m), in Patagonia’s El Chaltén massif, is another lower-elevation peak that poses outsized danger due to technical difficulty and weather. Fitz Roy’s sheer granite faces offer extremely challenging rock climbing, and successful summits are rare – on average only about one team per year manages to reach the top.
The Patagonian weather is a major factor: constant strong winds, sudden snowstorms, and icy conditions often turn teams back. Tragically, even non-climbers have fallen victim; many photographers and trekkers have died in the Fitz Roy area after falls from its steep surrounding terrain. The mountain was first climbed in 1952 and has since seen far fewer ascents than most famous peaks, because it requires a perfect alignment of skill, weather, and luck.
Those who do attempt Fitz Roy face multi-pitch technical climbs on vertical granite, often while being blasted by wind. It stands as a pinnacle of extreme alpinism in South America, and its lethal reputation is well deserved.
Sources:
Recent mountaineering statistics and reports were used to compile this list, including summit/death ratios from 8000-meter peak databases, historical accounts and analysis by climbing experts and news of recent climbing seasons. All data and quotations are cited from up-to-date, credible sources:
The World’s 15 Most Dangerous Mountains to Climb (By Fatality Rate)
The Most Dangerous Mountains In The World – WorldAtlas
Most dangerous mountains in the world | Atlas & Boots
Hiking Accident Statistics and Facts (2025)
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.