Everest is Still Growing: The World’s Tallest Mountain Is on the Move

Mount Everest may be the tallest mountain on Earth—but did you know it’s actually getting taller?

Himalayas Mountain Range - Mount Everest is still growing!

That’s right. Even after millions of years of tectonic drama, Everest hasn’t called it quits. The world’s highest peak continues its slow but steady growth, rising by a few millimeters each year. So, while you were growing your houseplants or tracking your kids’ height on the doorframe, Everest has been stretching skyward too—geologically speaking, of course.

Why is Everest growing?

The secret lies in the immense power struggle happening deep beneath our feet.

Mount Everest is part of the Himalayas, a mountain range created by a titanic clash between two of Earth’s tectonic plates: the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate. Around 50 million years ago, the Indian plate started ramming into the Eurasian plate. This slow-motion collision crumpled the land upward like a giant rug being pushed against a wall—and the Himalayas were born.

But the collision never stopped. The Indian plate still pushes northward at a rate of about 67 mm per year. That constant pressure causes the crust to thicken and rise. As a result, the Himalayas—including Everest—continue to grow. Current estimates suggest Everest rises by 0.16 to 0.53 millimeters per year. That’s less than a fingernail, but over centuries, it adds up.

Is it just tectonics?

Not entirely. Another process plays a role: isostatic rebound. It’s a fancy term for a fairly simple idea—when weight is removed from the Earth's crust, the land beneath can bounce back and rise.

In Everest’s case, rivers like the Arun are eroding rock from the mountain's base, slowly lightening the load. That erosion helps relieve pressure and contributes to Everest’s gentle upward stretch.

Not all gain is permanent

Of course, nature gives, and nature takes away.

While tectonics and rebound are boosting Everest’s elevation, erosion, earthquakes, and glacial melt are constantly chipping away at its mass. Major earthquakes, like the one in Nepal in 2015, can even cause short-term shifts in the mountain’s height.

So how tall is Everest now?

That’s a matter of precision (and sometimes, politics). In 2020, China and Nepal jointly announced Everest’s official height as 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet)—slightly higher than previous estimates.

And while it may only be growing by a fraction of a millimeter a year, Everest’s ever-so-slight climb is a powerful reminder: the Earth is alive, evolving, and never quite finished sculpting its greatest landmarks.

Fun Fact: If Everest continues rising at its current rate, it will be about 5.3 cm taller in the next 100 years. Not enough to notice from a plane window—but enough to rewrite the textbooks… again.

Mount Everest Base Camp