KATHMANDU, MAY 8 Mount Everest has recorded its highest-ever number of spring climbing permits this season, with the government issuing permits to 492 mountaineers for the world's tallest peak, according to figures released by the Department of Tourism on Friday. The new figure surpasses the previous record of 479 permits set in 2023. The royalties generated from Mt Everest alone amounted to USD 7.19 million, over NPR 1.07 billion. The record-breaking Everest permits were issued to climbers from 50 teams representing 55 countries. The United States fielded the largest national contingent with 76 climbers, followed by China with 109 climbers across all peaks, India with 95, the United Kingdom with 74, Germany with 71, and Russia with 69. Across all 30 permitted peaks, Nepal issued a total of 1,134 climbing permits this season - 860 to male and 274 to female climbers - from 79 countries. Total royalties reached USD 8,335,971 (approximately NPR 1.24 billion). The figures cover the period from March 1 to May 8, 2026. After Everest, Lhotse (8,516m) recorded the second-highest climber count with 120 permits, followed by Ama Dablam (6,814m) with 111 and Makalu (8,463m) with 72. Kanchenjunga drew 36 climbers, while Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri I registered 27 and 30 respectively.