List of rivers by length


This is a list of the longest rivers on Earth. It includes river systems over.

Definition of length

There are many factors, such as the source, the identification or the definition of the mouth, and the scale of measurement of the river length between source and mouth, that determine the precise meaning of "river length". As a result, the length measurements of many rivers are only approximations. In particular, there exists disagreement as to whether the Nile or the Amazon is the world's longest river. The Nile has traditionally been considered longer, but in recent years two unpublished studies have suggested that the Amazon is longer by measuring the river plus the adjacent Pará estuary and the longest connecting tidal canal. A peer-reviewed article published in the International Journal of Digital Earth comes to the conclusion that the Nile is longer.
Even when detailed maps are available, the length measurement is not always clear. A river may have multiple channels, or anabranches. The length may depend on whether the center or the edge of the river is measured. It may not be clear how to measure the length through a lake. Seasonal and annual changes may alter both rivers and lakes. Other factors that can change the length of a river include cycles of erosion and flooding, dams, levees, and channelization. In addition, the length of meanders can change significantly over time due to natural or artificial cutoffs, when a new channel cuts across a narrow strip of land, bypassing a large river bend. For example, due to 18 cutoffs created between 1766 and 1885, the length of the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois, to New Orleans, Louisiana, was reduced by.
These points make it difficult, if not impossible, to get an accurate measurement of the length of a river. The varying accuracy and precision also makes it difficult to make length comparisons between different rivers without a degree of uncertainty.

List of river systems longer than 1000 km

One should take the aforementioned discussion into account when using the data in the following table. For most rivers, different sources provide conflicting information on the length of a river system. The information in different sources is between parentheses.
RankRiverLength Length Drainage area
Average discharge
OutflowCountries in the drainage basin
1.Nile–White Nile–Kagera–Nyabarongo–Mwogo–Rukarara6,650
4,130
3,254,5552,800MediterraneanEthiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan
2.Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Mantaro6,575
4,086
7,050,000209,000Atlantic OceanBrazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana
3.Yangtze–Jinsha–Tongtian–Ulan Moron
6,300
3,917
1,800,00030,166East China SeaChina
4.Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring6,275
3,902
2,980,00016,792Gulf of MexicoUnited States, Canada
5.Yenisei–Angara–Selenge–Ider5,539
3,445
2,580,00018,050Kara SeaRussia, Mongolia
6.Yellow River
5,464
3,395
745,0002,571Bohai SeaChina
7.Ob–Irtysh5,4103,3642,990,00012,475Gulf of ObRussia, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia
8.Río de la Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande4,880
3,030
2,582,67222,000Río de la PlataBrazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay
9.Congo–Chambeshi
4,700
2,922
3,680,00041,800Atlantic OceanDemocratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda
10.Amur–Argun–Kherlen
4,4442,7631,855,00011,400Sea of OkhotskRussia, China, Mongolia
11.Lena4,400
2,736
2,490,00015,500Laptev SeaRussia
12.Mekong
4,3502,705810,00016,000South China SeaChina, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
13.Mackenzie–Slave–Peace–Finlay4,241
2,637
1,790,00010,300Beaufort SeaCanada
14.Niger4,200
2,611
2,090,0005,589Gulf of GuineaNigeria, Mali, Niger, Algeria, Guinea, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Chad
15.Brahmaputra–Yarlung Tsangpo3,96924,466712,03519,800GangesIndia, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Disputed India/China, Bhutan
16.Murray–Darling–Culgoa–Balonne–Condamine3,6722,282
1,061,000767Southern OceanAustralia
17.Tocantins–Araguaia3,6502,270950,00013,598Atlantic Ocean, AmazonBrazil
18.Volga3,6452,2661,380,0008,080Caspian SeaRussia
19.Indus–Sênggê Zangbo3,6102,250960,0007,160Arabian SeaPakistan, India and China
20.Shatt al-Arab–Euphrates–Murat3,596
2,236
884,000856Persian GulfIraq, Turkey, Syria
21.Madeira–Mamoré–Grande–Caine–Rocha3,3802,1001,485,20031,200AmazonBrazil, Bolivia, Peru
22.Purús3,2111,99563,1668,400AmazonBrazil, Peru
23.Yukon3,1851,980850,0006,210Bering SeaUnited States, Canada
24.São Francisco3,180*
1,976*
610,0003,300Atlantic OceanBrazil
25.Syr Darya–Naryn3,0781,913219,000703Aral SeaKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
26.Salween
3,0601,901324,0003,153Andaman SeaChina, Myanmar, Thailand
27.Saint Lawrence–Niagara–Detroit–Saint Clair–Saint Marys–Saint Louis–North 3,0581,9001,030,00010,100Gulf of Saint LawrenceCanada, United States
28.Rio Grande3,0571,900570,00082Gulf of MexicoUnited States, Mexico
29.Lower Tunguska2,9891,857473,0003,600YeniseiRussia
30.Danube–Breg 2,888*1,795*817,0007,130Black SeaRomania, Hungary, Austria, Serbia, Germany, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine
31.Irrawaddy River–N'Mai River–Dulong River–Kelaoluo–Gada Qu2,809*1,745.8*404,200*13,000*Andaman SeaChina, Myanmar
32.Zambezi
2,740*1,703*1,330,0004,880Mozambique ChannelZambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana
33.Vilyuy2,7201,700454,0001,480LenaRussia
34.Araguaia2,7041,690358,1255,510TocantinsBrazil
35.Ganges–Hooghly–Padma 2,7041,6901,024,00012,037Bay of BengalIndia, Bangladesh, Nepal
36.Amu Darya–Panj2,6201,628534,7391,400Aral SeaUzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan
37.Japurá 2,615*1,625*242,2596,000AmazonBrazil, Colombia
38.Nelson–Saskatchewan2,5701,5971,093,0002,575Hudson BayCanada, United States
39.Paraguay 2,5491,584900,0004,300ParanáBrazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina
40.Kolyma2,5131,562644,0003,800East Siberian SeaRussia
41.Pilcomayo2,5001,553270,000ParaguayParaguay, Argentina, Bolivia
42.Upper Ob–Katun2,4901,547ObRussia
43.Ishim2,4501,522177,00056IrtyshKazakhstan, Russia
44.Juruá2,4101,498200,0006,000AmazonPeru, Brazil
45.Ural2,4281,509237,000475Caspian SeaRussia, Kazakhstan
46.Arkansas2,3481,459505,000
1,066MississippiUnited States
47.Colorado 2,3331,450390,0001,200Gulf of CaliforniaUnited States, Mexico
48.Olenyok2,2921,424219,0001,210Laptev SeaRussia
49.Dnieper2,2871,421516,3001,670Black SeaRussia, Belarus, Ukraine
50.Aldan2,2731,412729,0005,060LenaRussia
51.Ubangi–Uele2,2701,410772,8004,000CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo
52.Negro2,2501,398720,11426,700AmazonBrazil, Venezuela, Colombia
53.Columbia2,250 1,398 415,2117,500Pacific OceanUnited States, Canada
54.Pearl–Zhu Jiang2,2001,376437,00013,600South China SeaChina, Vietnam
55.Red 2,1881,36078,592875MississippiUnited States
56.Ayeyarwady
2,1701,348411,00013,000Andaman SeaMyanmar, China
57.Kasai2,1531,338880,20010,000CongoAngola, Democratic Republic of the Congo
58.Ohio–Allegheny2,1021,306490,6037,957MississippiUnited States
59.Orinoco2,1011,3061,380,00033,000Atlantic OceanVenezuela, Colombia, Guyana
60.Tarim2,1001,305557,000Lop NurChina
61.Xingu2,1001,305AmazonBrazil
62.Orange2,0921,300 Atlantic OceanSouth Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho
63.Northern Salado2,0101,249ParanáArgentina
64.Vitim1,9781,229LenaRussia
65.Tigris1,9501,212Shatt al-ArabTurkey, Iraq, Syria
66.Songhua1,9271,197AmurChina
67.Tapajós1,9001,181AmazonBrazil
68.Don1,8701,162425,600935Sea of AzovRussia, Ukraine
69.Stony Tunguska1,8651,159240,000YeniseiRussia
70.Pechora1,8091,124322,0004,100Barents SeaRussia
71.Kama1,8051,122507,0004,100VolgaRussia
72.Limpopo1,8001,118413,000Indian OceanMozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana
73.Chulym1,7991,118134,000ObRussia
74.Guaporé 1,7491,087MamoréBrazil, Bolivia
75.Indigirka1,7261,072360,4001,810East Siberian SeaRussia
76.Snake1,6701,038279,7191,611ColumbiaUnited States
77.Senegal1,6411,020419,659Atlantic OceanGuinea, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania
78.Uruguay1,6101,000370,000Atlantic OceanUruguay, Argentina, Brazil
79.Blue Nile1,600994326,400NileEthiopia, Sudan
79.Churchill1,600994Hudson BayCanada
79.Khatanga1,600994Laptev SeaRussia
79.Okavango1,600994Okavango DeltaNamibia, Angola, Botswana
79.Volta1,600994Gulf of GuineaGhana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin
84.Beni1,599994283,3508,900MadeiraBolivia
85.Platte1,594990MissouriUnited States
86.Tobol1,591989IrtyshKazakhstan, Russia
87.Alazeya1,59098864,700East Siberian SeaRussia
88.Jubba–Shebelle1,580*982*Indian OceanEthiopia, Somalia
89.Içá 1,575979AmazonBrazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador
90.Magdalena1,550963263,8589,000CaribbeanColombia
91.Han1,532952YangtzeChina
92.Kura/Mt'k'vari1,515941188,400575Caspian SeaTurkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan
93.Oka1,500932245,0001,258VolgaRussia
94.Upper Murray1,500932
Lower MurrayAustralia
95.Guaviare1,497930OrinocoColombia
96.Pecos1,490926Rio GrandeUnited States
97.Murrumbidgee River1,48592384,917120Murray RiverAustralia
98.Upper Yenisei–Little Yenisei 1,480920YeniseiRussia, Mongolia
99.Godavari1,465910312,8123,061Bay of BengalIndia
100.Colorado 1,438894Gulf of MexicoUnited States
101.Río Grande 1,438894102,600264IchiloBolivia
102.Belaya1,420882142,000858KamaRussia
102.Cooper–Barcoo1,420880Lake EyreAustralia
104.Marañón1,415879AmazonPeru
105.Dniester1,411 877 72,100310Black SeaUkraine, Moldova
106.Benue1,400870NigerCameroon, Nigeria
106.Ili 1,400870Lake BalkhashChina, Kazakhstan
106.Warburton–Georgina1,400870365,000Lake EyreAustralia
109.Sutlej1,372852ChenabChina, India, Pakistan
110.Yamuna1,370851366,2232,950GangesIndia
110.Vyatka1,370851129,000890KamaRussia
112.Fraser1,368850220,0003,475Pacific OceanCanada, United States
113.Grande1,360845ParanáBrazil
114.Brazos1,352840Gulf of MexicoUnited States
115.Liao1,345836Bohai SeaChina
116.Lachlan River1,33883184,70049Murrumbidgee RiverAustralia
117.Yalong1,323822YangtzeChina
118.Iguaçu1,320820ParanáBrazil, Argentina
118.Olyokma1,320820LenaRussia
120.Northern Dvina–Sukhona1,302809357,0523,332White SeaRussia
121.Krishna1,300808Bay of BengalIndia
121.Iriri1,300808XinguBrazil
123.Narmada1,289801Arabian SeaIndia
124.Lomami1,280795CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
125.Ottawa1,271790146,3001,950Saint LawrenceCanada
126.Lerma–Rio Grande de Santiago1,270789119,543Pacific OceanMexico
127.Elbe–Vltava1,252778148,268711North SeaGermany, Czech Republic
128.Zeya1,242772AmurRussia
129.Juruena1,240771TapajósBrazil
130.Upper Mississippi1,236768MississippiUnited States
131.Rhine1,233768185,0002,330North SeaGermany, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Italy
132.Athabasca1,23176595,300MackenzieCanada
133.Canadian1,223760ArkansasUnited States
134.North Saskatchewan1,220758SaskatchewanCanada
135.Vistula–Bug1,213754194,4241,080Baltic SeaPoland, Belarus, Ukraine
136.Vaal1,210752OrangeSouth Africa
137.Shire1,200746ZambeziMozambique, Malawi
137.Ogooué 1,200746223,8564,706Atlantic OceanGabon, Republic of the Congo
139.Nen
1,190739SonghuaChina
140.Kızıl River1,182734115,000400Black SeaTurkey
141.Markha River1,18173499,000405Vilyuy RiverRussia
142.Green1,175730Colorado United States
143.Milk1,173729
Missouri		United States, Canada
144.Mun - Chi1,162722Mekong RiverThailand
145.Chindwin1,158720AyeyarwadyMyanmar
146.Sankuru1,150715KasaiDemocratic Republic of the Congo
146.Wu1,15071580,3001,108YangtzeChina
148.Red 1,149714143,7002,640Gulf of TonkinChina, Vietnam
149.James 1,143710MissouriUnited States
149.Kapuas1,143710South China SeaIndonesia
151.Desna1,13070288,900360DnieperRussia, Belarus, Ukraine
151.Helmand1,130702Hamun-i-HelmandAfghanistan, Iran
151.Madre de Dios1,130702125,0004,915BeniPeru, Bolivia
151.Tietê1,130702ParanáBrazil
151.Vychegda1,130702121,0001160Northern DvinaRussia
156.Sepik1,12670077,700Pacific OceanPapua New Guinea, Indonesia
157.Cimarron1,123698ArkansasUnited States
158.Anadyr1,120696Gulf of AnadyrRussia
158.Paraíba do Sul1,120696Atlantic OceanBrazil
160.Jialing River1,119695YangtzeChina
161.Liard1,115693MackenzieCanada
162.Cumberland1,10568746,830862MississippiUnited States
163.White722MississippiUnited States
164.Huallaga1,100684MarañónPeru
164.Kwango1,100684263,5002,700KasaiAngola, Democratic Republic of the Congo
164.Draa1,100684Atlantic OceanMorocco
167.Gambia1,094680Atlantic OceanThe Gambia, Senegal, Guinea
168.Tyung1,09267949,800Vilyuy RiverRussia
169.Chenab1,086675IndusIndia, Pakistan
170.Yellowstone1,080671114,260MissouriUnited States
170.Ghaghara1,080671127,9502,990GangesIndia, Nepal, China
172.Huai River1,078670270,0001,110YangtzeChina
173.Aras1,072665102,000285KuraTurkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran
174.Chu River1,06766362,500noneKyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
175.Seversky Donets1,078 670 98,900159DonRussia, Ukraine
176.Bermejo1,050652ParaguayArgentina, Bolivia
176.Fly1,050652Gulf of PapuaPapua New Guinea, Indonesia
176.Kuskokwim1,050652Bering SeaUnited States
179.Tennessee1,049652OhioUnited States
180.Oder–Warta1,045649118,861550Baltic SeaPoland, Germany, Czech Republic
181.Aruwimi1,030640CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
182.Daugava1,02063487,900678Gulf of RigaLatvia, Belarus, Russia
183.Gila1,015631Colorado United States
184.Loire1,012629115,271840Atlantic OceanFrance
185.Essequibo1,010628Atlantic OceanGuyana
185.Khoper1,01062861,100150DonRussia
187.Tagus
1,00662580,100444Atlantic OceanSpain, Portugal
188.Flinders River1,004624109,000122Gulf of CarpentariaAustralia

River systems that may have existed in the past

Amazon–Congo

The Amazon basin formerly drained westwards into the Pacific Ocean, until the Andes rose and reversed the drainage.
The Congo basin is completely surrounded by high land, except for its long narrow exit valley past Kinshasa, including waterfalls around Manyanga. That gives the impression that most of the Congo basin was formerly on a much higher land level and that it was rejuvenated by much of its lower course being removed. Before Africa split from South America when Gondwanaland broke up due to continental drift, the Congo would likely have flowed into the Amazon.

West Siberian Glacial Lake drainage

This river would have been about long, in the last Ice Age. Its longest headwater was the Selenga river of Mongolia: it drained through ice-dammed lakes and the Aral Sea and the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea.

Lobourg

During the last glacial maximum, much of what is now the southern part of the North Sea was land, known to archaeologists as Doggerland. At this time, the Thames, the Meuse, the Scheldt, and the Rhine probably joined before flowing into the sea, in a system known by palaeogeographers as the Loubourg or Lobourg River System. There is some debate as to whether this river would have flowed southwest into what is now the English Channel, or flowed north, emerging into the North Sea close to modern Yorkshire. If the latter hypothesis is true, the Rhine would have attained a length of close to. The former hypothesis would have produced a shorter river, some in length. Current scientific research favours the former opinion, with the Thames and Rhine meeting in a large lake, the outflow of which was close to the present-day Straits of Dover.