Highest point

In brief

The "Highest point" ranking covers 229 countries and territories. Lowest value: Tuvalu (5 m). Highest value: China (8,849 m). Median: 2,110 m (data: 2026). The top 10% of countries exceed 5,148 m, while the bottom 10% stay below 230 m. By continent, the median is highest in South America (3,986 m) and lowest in Oceania (873 m).

Median by continent

Why this indicator matters

This indicator gives the altitude of a country's highest point. It lets you compare terrain, identify major mountain ranges and picture the climate and landscapes. It is also a figure appreciated by hikers and mountaineers.

What makes this indicator vary

It depends on geology: the collision of tectonic plates forms major ranges like the Alps or the Himalayas. Volcanoes can also create very high peaks. Conversely, flat countries, atolls and small islands have a modest highest point.

Reading precautions

It is the altitude above sea level of a single point, not the average height of the terrain. A country can have a famous peak but few mountains. Measurements change slightly with the precision of instruments.