Last updated September 5, 2026
Cho Oyu Death Rate: 52 Deaths, 4,056 Summits & What 1.28% Means
The current Himalayan Database report lists 52 recorded deaths and 4,056 successful summits on Cho Oyu, a deaths-per-summit ratio of 1.28%. The same report lists 9,208 expedition members and a separate deaths-per-member ratio of 0.56%. Both figures are valid historical ratios. Neither is the probability that a future Cho Oyu climber will die.
What Is the Death Rate on Cho Oyu?
1.28 deaths per 100 recorded successful summits is the current Himalayan Database deaths-to-summits ratio: 52 deaths divided by 4,056 summits.
The database also reports a broader 0.56 deaths per 100 expedition members: the same 52 deaths divided by 9,208 members.
The first number is useful for matched historical mountain-to-mountain comparisons. The second uses a broader exposure population. Neither denominator turns the statistic into a personal forecast.
Within the matched Himalayan Database comparison used below, Cho Oyu has the lowest deaths-per-summit ratio among the listed 8,000-meter peaks. That helps explain its reputation as a comparatively lower-mortality 8,000er. The summit is still 8,188 meters, with death-zone hypoxia, cold, glacier hazards and very limited rescue margin.
How the 1.28% Cho Oyu Ratio Is Calculated
The arithmetic is simple. The interpretation is where most online summaries go wrong.
1.28% vs 0.56%: Which Cho Oyu Death Rate Is Correct?
1.28%
- 52 recorded deaths.
- 4,056 successful summits.
- Useful for historical mountain comparisons when the same metric and dataset are used.
- Not a probability that 1.28% of future climbers will die.
- The ratio can change as summit totals grow.
0.56%
- 52 recorded deaths.
- 9,208 expedition members.
- Uses a broader denominator than successful summits.
- Still depends on the database’s membership definitions and coverage.
- Still not an individualized risk model.
When another source publishes a different Cho Oyu percentage, the first question should be: what is the denominator? Summits, expedition members, attempts, unique people and a selected time period can all produce different numbers.
Cho Oyu’s Ratio Is Low Only in a Comparative Sense.
A low historical ratio does not make an 8,188-meter summit safe. It means that, within the same Himalayan Database reporting system, Cho Oyu has accumulated deaths more slowly relative to successful summits than the higher-mortality peaks in the comparison below.
Cho Oyu vs Other 8,000-Meter Peaks
K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums are intentionally excluded because they are not covered by the Himalayan Database in the same way. Their statistics should not be dropped into this table without matching dataset definitions and cutoffs.
| Peak | Deaths | Summits | Deaths / summits | Deaths / members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cho Oyu | 52 | 4,056 | 1.28% | 0.56% |
| Lhotse | 25 | 1,465 | 1.71% | 0.72% |
| Everest | 344 | 13,550 | 2.54% | 1.31% |
| Manaslu | 90 | 3,238 | 2.78% | 1.27% |
| Makalu | 51 | 886 | 5.76% | 1.76% |
| Kangchenjunga | 54 | 682 | 7.92% | 3.09% |
| Dhaulagiri I | 92 | 706 | 13.03% | 3.07% |
| Annapurna I | 75 | 557 | 13.46% | 3.64% |
Route Character, Support & Summit Volume Matter
The explanation is not that 8,188 meters is benign. Cho Oyu’s normal-route history creates a different exposure profile from the most technically sustained or objectively hazardous 8,000ers.
Less Sustained Technical Climbing
The Tibet-side normal route is dominated by glacier and snow terrain with fixed-line support rather than long stretches of difficult rock and mixed climbing.
Established Expedition Infrastructure
When Tibet-side access is open, the Northwest Ridge has a long history of route fixing, high camps, oxygen systems and commercial high-altitude support.
More Than 4,000 Recorded Summits
A large summit history matters mathematically. As successful summits accumulate faster than deaths, the cumulative deaths/summits ratio falls.
Often Chosen After Prior High-Altitude Experience
Cho Oyu is commonly considered as an early 8,000-meter objective after meaningful 6,000–7,000-meter experience, rather than as a first mountaineering trip.
At 8,188 m, Small Problems Can Become Fatal Quickly.
A simple fixed-line transition, delayed descent, cold injury or navigational mistake has very different consequences after hours in the death zone than it would on a lower mountain.
Cho Oyu’s Core Safety Problems
Historical mortality is context. Current weather, route condition, team systems and turnaround discipline control the expedition in front of you.
| Hazard | Why it matters | Planning response |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme altitude | 8,188 m produces severe hypoxia even on moderate terrain. | Conservative acclimatization, symptom discipline and a realistic oxygen plan. |
| Cold & wind | High winds can erase a summit window and increase frostbite/hypothermia risk. | Use upper-mountain wind and temperature forecasts rather than Base Camp weather. |
| Glacier / crevasse terrain | Snow bridges and visibility can change across the route. | Use roped glacier systems and current route knowledge. |
| Fixed-line sections | Efficient transitions still matter when climbers are exhausted and hypoxic. | Practice ascender and descent systems before the expedition. |
| Broad summit terrain | Cloud, wind and fatigue can complicate navigation and summit verification. | Know the operator’s navigation and summit-confirmation plan. |
| Descent fatigue | The summit does not end death-zone exposure. | Preserve oxygen, food, water and turnaround margin for the return to high camp. |
Tibet-Side Access Is Part of Cho Oyu’s Risk Context
The familiar “accessible first 8,000er” description is tied strongly to the standard Tibet-side commercial route and its support system.
Do Not Transfer 1.28% to Every Route or Season
The cumulative record spans different decades, route variants, support systems and political-access periods. One long-run number cannot describe the risk of a specific future expedition.
- Confirm the route being offered.
- Confirm who fixes and maintains the line.
- Ask for high-camp locations.
- Ask how oxygen is staged.
- Ask what weather or route conditions trigger turnaround.
Current Access Belongs in the Expedition Update
Autumn 2026 reporting says Cho Oyu and Shishapangma are closed to foreign expeditions from Tibet. That access decision does not alter the historical mortality calculation.
Use the current expedition-status page for access changes rather than treating a mortality article as a live permit feed.
Check the current Cho Oyu expedition update →Does the Low Death Rate Make Cho Oyu a Good First 8,000er?
It can make sense for the right climber. The percentage is not the qualification standard.
A Rational Early 8,000-Meter Objective
- Lower sustained technical difficulty than many 8,000ers.
- Long history of commercial expedition support.
- Useful exposure to rotations and death-zone decision-making.
- Large route knowledge base when the standard route is operating.
Low Mortality Does Not Replace Experience
- No meaningful prior 6,000–7,000 m experience.
- No glacier or fixed-line competence.
- Unknown response to extended altitude.
- Choosing it mainly because 1.28% sounds small.
How Cho Oyu’s Death Rate Gets Misread
| Misreading | Why it is wrong | Better wording |
|---|---|---|
| “1.28% of Cho Oyu climbers die.” | The denominator is successful summits, not all climbers. | 1.28 deaths per 100 recorded summits. |
| “One in 78 climbers dies.” | Deaths and summits are different cumulative groups. | One death for roughly every 78 recorded summits. |
| “0.56% is the true personal risk.” | Members is a database category, not an individualized risk model. | The database reports 0.56 deaths per 100 members. |
| “Cho Oyu is safer than every lower mountain.” | Cross-region sources often use different denominators and populations. | Compare only when definitions and datasets match. |
| “The historical rate means this season is safe.” | Weather, access, route and team conditions change every expedition. | Use historical ratios for context and current conditions for decisions. |
Cho Oyu & 8,000-Meter Safety Guides
Cho Oyu Climbing Guide
Route, expedition logistics, access, season and full mountain planning.
Open Cho Oyu → Summit outcomesCho Oyu Summit Success
Keep summit probability separate from the mortality denominator.
Open success data → OperatorsCho Oyu Operators
Compare expedition support and current commercial offerings.
Compare operators → MortalityDeath Rates by Mountain
Compare peaks only after checking the denominator and source.
Compare mortality → Difficulty8,000ers Ranked by Difficulty
Technical difficulty, mortality and objective hazard are related but not interchangeable.
Compare 8,000ers → Higher mortalityAnnapurna Death Rate
Compare Cho Oyu with a sharply different historical hazard profile using a matched denominator where possible.
Open Annapurna → Separate datasetK2 Death Rate
See why Karakoram numbers are handled outside the Himalayan Database comparison table.
Open K2 → Deep recovery 1Mountain Weather
Historical ratios cannot tell you whether the next summit window is safe.
Read weather guide → Deep recovery 2Acclimatization Explained
Understand the physiology behind risk above 8,000 meters.
Read acclimatization → Deep recovery 3Mountain Accident Lessons
Translate historical accident patterns into better decision-making.
Study accident lessons →How the Cho Oyu Mortality Numbers Are Reported
The most important rule is simple: numerator and denominator must come from the same dataset and be labeled clearly.
Himalayan Database · Most Dangerous Peaks
The current report provides the members, summits, deaths, deaths/summits and deaths/members figures used in the primary comparison.
Open current report →Himalayan Database · Deaths per Peak
Cho Oyu currently appears with 52 recorded deaths.
Open death counts →The Himalayan Database
The archive documents expeditions, members, successes, deaths and accidents and is updated on a seasonal basis.
Open database →The Himalaya by the Numbers, 1950–2024
The current analytical edition examines mortality by era, cause, member type and commercial peak.
Open publication →Cho Oyu Death Rate FAQ
What is the death rate on Cho Oyu?
The current Himalayan Database report lists 52 recorded deaths and 4,056 successful summits, a deaths-per-summit ratio of 1.28%. It separately lists 9,208 expedition members, producing a deaths-per-member ratio of 0.56%.
How many people have died on Cho Oyu?
The current Himalayan Database public report lists 52 recorded deaths on Cho Oyu. The count can change when the database publishes a new seasonal update.
How many people have summited Cho Oyu?
The current Himalayan Database report lists 4,056 successful summits. This is a cumulative summit total rather than a count of unique people.
Does 1.28% mean a climber has a 1.28% chance of dying?
No. The figure divides recorded deaths by successful summits. It is a historical comparison ratio, not an individualized probability for a future climber.
Why does the Himalayan Database also show 0.56%?
The 0.56% figure divides the same 52 deaths by 9,208 expedition members. The denominator is broader, so the percentage is lower.
Is Cho Oyu the safest 8,000er?
Cho Oyu has the lowest deaths-per-summit ratio in the matched Himalayan Database 8,000-meter comparison used here. That is a defensible comparative statement. It should not be generalized to every mountain tracked by different datasets.
Is Cho Oyu a good first 8,000-meter mountain?
It can be for climbers who already have significant high-altitude, glacier and fixed-line experience. A low historical ratio does not make it an appropriate first high-altitude expedition.
Why did older Cho Oyu pages say around 1.4%?
The cumulative ratio changes as the database adds summits and fatalities. Older snapshots often used about 50 deaths and roughly 3,600–3,700 summits. The current public report lists 52 deaths and 4,056 summits, producing 1.28%.
Is Cho Oyu open to foreign climbers in autumn 2026?
Current autumn 2026 reporting says Cho Oyu and Shishapangma are closed to foreign expeditions from Tibet. Access can change independently of the historical mortality data, so use the current expedition-update page for operating status.
52 Deaths ÷ 4,056 Summits = 1.28% Deaths per Summit.
Cho Oyu’s historical ratio is low compared with other 8,000-meter peaks inside the same Himalayan Database table. That does not turn 8,188 meters into a low-risk environment. Use the statistic to compare historical outcomes; use the current route, weather, access, team and turnaround plan to make decisions about a specific expedition.
How Cho Oyu Compares to the Deadliest Mountains
One peak is only one denominator. See how Cho Oyu compares with the other deadliest mountains, or step up to the ranked overview and the full collection.
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