Highest Point by Country 2024

Nearly five miles of vertical distance separate the globe's tallest peak from the shores of the world's oceans. And due to the many variations in the planet's geography, there are some significant differences between the highest points in various nations.

China and Nepal are tied for the world's highest point, the top of Mount Everest, which sits along the two nations' borders. It towers 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level, helping the two countries edge out neighboring Pakistan. There, the peak of K2 reaches 28,251 feet (8,611 meters) above sea level. Fellow Himalayan nations India (the 28,169 feet/8,586 meter Kangchenjunga) and Bhutan (Gangkhar Puensum, at 24,836 feet/7,570 meters) round out the top five. Only ten countries have highest points above 20,000 feet/~6,100 meters. Of these, the top seven are located in central Asia or the Himalayan region. South America is home to two of the top 10, Argentina (22,835 feet/6,960 meters) and Peru (22,205 feet/6,768 meters.) The United States takes 10th place, with the 20,310-foot/6,190-meter Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) in Alaska.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, some nations have high points that barely crest above the nearby oceans. The island nation of Tuvalu's high point is just 15 feet (5 meters), with Tokelau (16 feet) and the Maldives (17 feet) not far behind. Along with the Marshall Islands (high point of 33 feet/10 meters), these four are the only countries in the world with high points under 100 feet/30 meters. The lowest high point in a non-island nation is in Vatican City, where Vatican Hill rises just 246 feet (75 meters) above sea level.

Several nations share highest points, along with China and Nepal. These include the Democratic Republic of Congo/Uganda (the 16,762-foot/5,109 meter Mount Stanley), France/Italy (the 15,781-foot/4,810 meter peak known as Mont Blanc/Monte Bianco, respectively), and Albania/North Macedonia (the 9,068-foot/2,764-meter Korab/Golem Korab).