Which country has the highest average elevation?

Bhutan has the highest average elevation of any country. Its mean elevation is commonly listed at about 3,280 metres above sea level, slightly ahead of Nepal and well above Bolivia.

The reason is Bhutan’s position on the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayas. The country rises from subtropical foothills near India to vast high-altitude mountain regions along its northern frontier with Tibet. About 98.8% of Bhutan is mountainous, so high terrain occupies much more of the country than it does in nations that combine mountain ranges with extensive lowlands.

Bhutan’s highest summit is Gangkhar Puensum, generally given as about 7,570 metres. It is widely regarded as the world’s highest unclimbed mountain, partly because Bhutan has prohibited climbing on its highest peaks. Bhutan’s lowest areas, by contrast, lie near the southern foothills at only a few hundred metres above sea level.

Average elevation is different from highest elevation. Nepal contains Mount Everest and therefore has the world’s highest point, but its low southern Terai plains lower its national average. Bolivia is also famous for its high Altiplano, yet its eastern lowlands reduce its overall mean elevation.