Highest Elevation by Country Quiz

The elevation quiz compares the tallest natural point inside each country's borders. Nepal and China share Everest, at 8,849 m the highest point on Earth; China also shares K2 with Pakistan. The Maldives' highest point is roughly 5 m above sea level — the entire country is at risk from any meaningful sea-level rise.

The Andes effect

Argentina's Aconcagua at 6,961 m is the tallest peak in the Western Hemisphere. Chile sits just behind because the Andes runs the length of both countries. Tanzania surprises people — Kilimanjaro at 5,895 m makes it taller than every country in Europe. Chimborazo in Ecuador isn't the tallest mountain on Earth, but because of the equatorial bulge its summit is the farthest point from the center of the Earth.

Did you know?

• Mount Everest sits on the China-Nepal border, so both countries share the title of 'highest country.'
• The Maldives' highest natural point is just 5 metres above sea level — the lowest 'highest point' of any country.
• Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands face existential risk from rising sea levels because of their tiny peak elevations.
• Switzerland and Italy share the same peak (Dufourspitze / Punta Dufour) right on their border.
• Lesotho is the only country whose entire territory sits above 1,000 metres of elevation — the 'Kingdom in the Sky.'
• Chimborazo in Ecuador is the farthest peak from Earth's center, thanks to the equatorial bulge.
• Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the world's tallest free-standing mountain, rising 5,895 m from plains.
• K2 in Pakistan is the world's second-highest peak and considered far deadlier to climb than Everest.
• Iceland is one of the few countries with an active volcano as its highest natural feature.
• New Zealand's Aoraki / Mount Cook is shrinking due to accelerated glacial recession.
• Mongolia's highest peak sits at the meeting point of four national borders.
• Aconcagua in Argentina is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere at 6,961 metres.
• The Dead Sea on the Israel-Jordan border sits at 430m below sea level — the lowest land point on Earth.
• The Andes is the world's longest mountain range, spanning seven countries from Venezuela to Chile.
• Eswatini (Swaziland) has dramatic mountain peaks despite being one of Africa's smallest countries.

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The highest and lowest countries on Earth — Everest belongs to two countries at once, the highest unclimbed mountain sits in Bhutan, and the highest point in the Maldives is about five metres.

Where the data comes from

Every figure in this category is drawn from Tallest peak in each country. Data is refreshed quarterly; if a number looks wrong, tell us and we will check the source.