List of river systems by length


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

Definition of length

There are many factors, such as the identification of 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 seems to exist disagreement as to whether the Nile or the Amazon is the world's longest river. The Nile has traditionally been considered longer, but in 2007 and 2008 some scientists claimed 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 2009 in the International Journal of Digital Earth concludes 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 or reservoir. 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. There is no strictly agreed upon standard for dealing with the nuances of measuring rivers and as such the true length of a river is not necessarily a single, discrete, correct number, nor is it static.

List of river systems longer than 1,000 km

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
3,254,5552,490MediterraneanEthiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan
2.Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Mantaro6,400
3,976
7,000,000230,000Atlantic OceanBrazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana
3.Yangtze–Jinsha–Tongtian–Dangqu
6,300
3,917
1,970,00031,900East China SeaChina
4.Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring6,275
3,902
3,248,00021,300Gulf of MexicoUnited States, Canada
5.Yenisey–Angara–Selenga–Ider5,5393,4452,580,00020,200Kara SeaRussia, Mongolia
6.Yellow River 5,4643,395752,5462,571Bohai SeaChina
7.Ob–Irtysh5,4103,3642,990,00013,100Gulf of ObRussia, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia
8.Río de la Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande4,880
3,030
3,182,06427,225Río de la PlataBrazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay
9.Congo–Lualaba-Luvua-Luapula-Chambeshi
4,700
2,922
3,680,00041,400Atlantic OceanDemocratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda
10.Amur–Argun
4,4442,7631,855,00012,360Sea of OkhotskRussia, China, Mongolia
11.Lena4,4002,7362,490,00018,300Laptev SeaRussia
12.Mekong 4,3502,705810,00016,010South China SeaChina, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
13.Mackenzie–Slave–Peace–Finlay4,2412,6371,805,2009,800Beaufort SeaCanada
14.Niger4,2002,6112,117,7008,570Gulf of GuineaNigeria, Mali, Niger, Algeria, Guinea, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Chad
15.Brahmaputra–Yarlung Tsangpo3,9692,466712,03527,000GangesIndia, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Disputed India/China, Bhutan
16.Murray–Darling–Culgoa–Balonne–Condamine3,6722,2821,061,000767Southern OceanAustralia
17.Tocantins–Araguaia3,6502,270950,00017,600Atlantic Ocean, Amazon DeltaBrazil
18.Volga3,6452,2661,380,0008,380Caspian SeaRussia
19.Shatt al-Arab–Euphrates–Murat3,5962,236938,1733,350Persian GulfIraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran
20.Madeira–Mamoré–Grande–Caine–Rocha3,3802,1001,485,20031,200AmazonBrazil, Bolivia, Peru
21.Purús3,2111,995376,60011,207AmazonBrazil, Peru
22.Yukon3,1851,980854,7007,000Bering SeaUnited States, Canada
23.Indus–Sênggê Zangbo3,1801,9761,081,7185,533Arabian SeaPakistan, India and China
24.São Francisco3,180*
1,976*
610,0003,300Atlantic OceanBrazil
25.Syr Darya–Naryn3,0781,913219,000703Aral SeaKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
26.Salween 3,0601,901324,0006,700Andaman SeaChina, Myanmar, Thailand
27.Saint Lawrence–Niagara–Detroit–Saint Clair–Saint Marys–Saint Louis–North 3,0581,9001,030,00012,500Gulf of Saint LawrenceCanada, United States
28.Rio Grande3,0571,900570,00082Gulf of MexicoUnited States, Mexico
29.Lower Tunguska2,9891,857473,0003,600YeniseiRussia
30.Colorado-Green 2,9451,830390,0001,200Gulf of CaliforniaUnited States, Mexico
31.Danube–Breg 2,888*1,795*801,4636,452Black SeaRomania, Hungary, Austria, Serbia, Germany, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovenia
32.Irrawaddy River–N'Mai River–Dulong River–Kelaoluo–Gada Qu2,809*1,745.8*404,200*15,112Andaman SeaChina, Myanmar
33.Zambezi 2,740*1,703*1,330,0004,880Mozambique ChannelZambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana
34.Vilyuy2,7201,700454,0001,480LenaRussia
35.Padma-Ganges-Alaknanda 2,7041,6901,024,00016,000Bay of BengalIndia, Bangladesh, Nepal
36.Amu Darya–Panj2,6201,628534,7391,400Aral SeaUzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan
37.Japurá 2,615*1,625*289,00018,122AmazonBrazil, Colombia
38.Nelson–Saskatchewan–South Saskatchewan–Bow2,5701,5971,111,8903,500Hudson BayCanada, United States
39.Paraguay 2,5491,584900,0004,300ParanáBrazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina
40.Kolyma2,5131,562647,0004,100East Siberian SeaRussia
41.Pilcomayo2,5001,553270,000200ParaguayParaguay, Argentina, Bolivia
42.Upper Ob–Katun2,4901,5471,040,000ObRussia
43.Ishim2,4501,522177,00056IrtyshKazakhstan, Russia
44.Orange2,4321,511973,000365Atlantic OceanSouth Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho
45.Ural2,4281,509237,000475Caspian SeaRussia, Kazakhstan
46.Juruá2,4101,499190,5736,004AmazonPeru, Brazil
47.Arkansas2,3481,459505,000
1,066MississippiUnited States
48.Songhua2,3091,435557,1802,410AmurChina
49.Olenyok2,2921,424219,0001,210Laptev SeaRussia
50.Dnieper2,2871,421516,3001,670Black SeaUkraine, Belarus, Russia
51.Aldan2,2731,412729,0005,501LenaRussia
52.Ubangi–Uele2,2701,410651,9155,936CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo
53.Negro2,2501,398720,11434,573AmazonBrazil, Venezuela, Colombia
53.Columbia-Snake2,2501,398671,0007,500Pacific OceanCanada, United States
55.Tapajós-Teles Pires2,2101,290494,25413,540AmazonBrazil
56.Pearl–Xi-Xun-Qian-Hongshui-Nanpan2,2001,376437,00010,700South China SeaChina, Vietnam
57.Red 2,1881,36078,592875MississippiUnited States
58.Kasai2,1531,338880,20010,000CongoAngola, Democratic Republic of the Congo
59.Ohio–Allegheny2,1021,306490,6037,957MississippiUnited States
60.Orinoco2,1011,3061,014,79739,000Atlantic OceanVenezuela, Colombia, Guyana
61.Tarim2,1001,3051,020,000Lop NurChina
61.Xingu2,1001,305520,29210,023AmazonBrazil
63.Jubba–Shebelle2,0641,282749,000Indian OceanEthiopia, Somalia
64.Brazos-Double Mountain Fork-North Fork-Blackwater Draw2,0601,280116,000237.5Gulf of MexicoUnited States
65.Northern Salado2,0101,249203,000ParanáArgentina
66.Içá 2,0051,246120,5458,520AmazonBrazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador
67.Vitim1,9781,229225,0001,937LenaRussia
68.Chenab1,974675160,000977.3IndusIndia, Pakistan
69.Tigris1,9501,212375,0001,014Shatt al-ArabTurkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran
70.Don1,8701,162425,600935Sea of AzovRussia, Ukraine
71.Stony Tunguska1,8651,159240,0001,750YeniseyRussia
72.Pechora1,8091,124312,0414,823Barents SeaRussia
73.Kama1,8051,122507,0004,100VolgaRussia
74.Limpopo1,8001,118413,000313.4Indian OceanMozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana
75.Chulym1,7991,118134,000ObRussia
76.Guaviare1,7601,090151,6077,529OrinocoColombia
77Marañón1,7371,079364,87316,708AmazonPeru
78.Indigirka1,7261,072360,4001,810East Siberian SeaRussia
79.Platte1,6901,050219,900199.3MissouriUnited States
80.Senegal1,6411,020419,659680Atlantic OceanGuinea, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania
81.Khatanga–Kotuy1,6361,017364,0003,200Laptev SeaRussia
82.Upper Jubba-Ganale Dorya1,6341,015214,441316Jubba RiverEthiopia, Somalia, Kenya
83.Uruguay1,6101,000353,4517,058Atlantic OceanUruguay, Argentina, Brazil
84.Churchill1,6091,000281,3001,200Hudson BayCanada
85.Blue Nile1,600994326,4001,548NileEthiopia, Sudan
85.Okavango 1,600994530,000475Okavango DeltaNamibia, Angola, Botswana
85.Volta1,600994407,0931,210Gulf of GuineaGhana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin
88.Beni1,599994283,3508,900MadeiraBolivia
89.Shilka-Onon1,592989206,000440AmurRussia, Mongolia
90.Tobol1,591989426,000805IrtyshKazakhstan, Russia
91.Alazeya1,59098864,700320East Siberian SeaRussia
92.Kafue1,576979155,000320ZambeziZambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo
93.Yalong1,571976128,4441,810YangtzeChina
94.Magdalena1,550963263,8588,058Caribbean SeaColombia
95.Han1,532952174,3001,632YangtzeChina
96.Kura/Mt'k'vari1,515941188,400575Caspian SeaTurkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan
97.Oka1,500932245,0001,310VolgaRussia
97.Upper Murray1,500932260,000Lower MurrayAustralia
99.Yana-Sartang1,492927238,0001,110Laptev SeaRussia
100.Pecos1,490926115,0007.5Rio GrandeUnited States
101.Murrumbidgee River1,48592384,917120Murray RiverAustralia
102.Upper Yenisey–Little Yenisey 1,480920360,000YeniseyRussia, Mongolia
103.Godavari1,465910312,8123,061Bay of BengalIndia
104.Sangha-Ngoko-Dja1,459907233,740CongoCameroon, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic
105.Vaal1,458906196,438125OrangeSouth Africa
106.Sutlej1,450900395,0002,946.66ChenabChina, India, Pakistan
107.Ili 1,439870140,000480Lake BalkhashChina, Kazakhstan
108.Olyokma1,436892210,0002,110LenaRussia
109.Upper Columbia1,430889292,3163,364ColumbiaUnited States, Canada
110.Upper Tocantins1,427887310,000TocantinsBrazil
111.Belaya1,420882142,000858KamaRussia
111.Cooper–Barcoo1,420880297,95036Lake EyreAustralia
113.Dniester1,411 877 72,100310Black SeaUkraine, Moldova
114.Taz1,401871150,0001,450Taz EstuaryRussia
115.Benue1,400870319,0003,477NigerCameroon, Nigeria
115.Chari1,400870548,7471,059Lake ChadChad, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria
115.Parnaíba1,400870344,112Atlantic OceanBrazil
115.Warburton–Georgina1,400870408,00560Lake EyreAustralia
119.Colorado 1,387862103,00073.9Gulf of MexicoUnited States
120.Yamuna1,376855366,2232,950GangesIndia
121.Apaporis1,37085157,430.64,092JapuráColombia, Brazil,
121.Nen 1,370851270,000SonghuaChina
121.Vyatka1,370851129,000890KamaRussia
124.Fraser1,368850220,0003,475Pacific OceanCanada, United States
125.Grande1,360845143,000ParanáBrazil
126.Kızıl River1,355734115,000400Black SeaTurkey
127.Madre de Dios1,347837125,0004,915BeniPeru, Bolivia
128.Liao-Xiliao-Laoha1,345836232,000500Bohai SeaChina
129.Lachlan River1,33983284,70049Murrumbidgee RiverAustralia
130.Narmada1,33382898,7961,447Arabian SeaIndia
131.Hai1,329826318,200717Bohai SeaChina
132.Branco-Uraricoera1,326824192,3936,469Rio NegroBrazil, Guyana, Venezuela
133.Iguaçu1,32082067,5371,746ParanáBrazil, Argentina
134.Taseyeva-Chuna1,319820128,000740AngaraRussia
135.Javari1,309814109,6805,225AmazonBrazil, Peru
136.Northern Dvina–Sukhona1,302809350,4963,416White SeaRussia
137.Inírida1,30080853,816.93,385GuaviareColombia
137.Iriri1,300808141,9433,028XinguBrazil
137.Neva-Vuoksi1,300808282,3002,628Gulf of FinlandRussia, Finland, Belarus
140.Ruki1,296805173,8004,450CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
141.Krishna1,290800258,9482,213Bay of BengalIndia
142.Lomami1,280795110,000CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
143.Ottawa1,271790146,3001,950Saint LawrenceCanada
144.Rio Grande de Santiago-Lerma1,270789119,543320Pacific OceanMexico
145.Guaporé 1,260780341,0002,430MamoréBrazil, Bolivia
146.Red -Assiniboine-Souris1,260780287,500244Lake WinnipegCanada, US
147.Elbe–Vltava1,252778148,268711North SeaGermany, Czech Republic
148.Zeya1,242772233,0001,810AmurRussia
149.Juruena1,240771192,6284,936.7TapajósBrazil
150.Upper Mississippi1,236768450,0004,800MississippiUnited States
151.Rhine1,233768185,0002,330North SeaGermany, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Italy
152.Athabasca1,23176595,300783MackenzieCanada
153.Markha1,23176599,000405VilyuyRussia
154.Canadian1,223760123,220182.2ArkansasUnited States
155.North Saskatchewan1,220758122,800238SaskatchewanCanada
156.Kansas-Republican1,218757155,690205MissouriUS
157.Vistula–Narew-Bug1,213754194,4241,080Baltic SeaPoland, Belarus, Ukraine
158.Awash1,20074669,197152Lake AbbeEthiopia, Djibouti
158.Shire1,200746160,000486ZambeziMozambique, Malawi
158.Ogooué 1,200746223,8565,890Atlantic OceanGabon, Republic of the Congo
161.Fimi-Lukenie1,194742133,432KasaiDemocratic Republic of the Congo
162.Mobile1,192741115,0001,900Gulf of MexicoUS
163.Lukuga1,184736244,500LualabaTanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda
164.Min-Dadu1,182734133,0002,850YangtzeChina
165.Markha1,18173499,000405VilyuyRussia
166.Aripuanã1,175730147,2244,064MadeiraBrazil
167.Milk1,17372962,00017.5
Missouri
United States, Canada
168.Mun - Chi1,162722119,180725Mekong RiverThailand
168.White72271,910834.8MississippiUnited States
170.Chindwin1,158720114,6854,740AyeyarwadyMyanmar
171.Sankuru1,150715150,000KasaiDemocratic Republic of the Congo
171.Wu1,15071580,3001,108YangtzeChina
173.Red 1,149714143,7004,300Gulf of TonkinChina, Vietnam
174.James 1,14371054,24018.3MissouriUnited States
175.Kapuas1,14371098,7496,012South China SeaIndonesia
176.Paraíba do Sul1,13769656,000Atlantic OceanBrazil
177.Yobe-Hadejia1,135705183,009Lake ChadNigeria, Niger
178.Desna1,13070288,900360DnieperRussia, Belarus, Ukraine
178.Helmand1,130702150,000Hamun-i-HelmandAfghanistan, Iran
178.Tietê1,13070272,168937ParanáBrazil
178.Vychegda1,130702121,0001160Northern DvinaRussia
182.Sepik1,12670077,7005,000Pacific OceanPapua New Guinea, Indonesia
182.Sobat-Pibor1,126700225,000412White NileSouth Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda
184.Orkhon1,124698132,83566SelengaMongolia
185.Cimarron1,12369849,10032.9ArkansasUnited States
186.Anadyr1,120696191,0002,020Gulf of AnadyrRussia
187.Jialing River1,119695160,000YangtzeChina
188.Liard1,115693277,1002,434MackenzieCanada
189.Omolon1,114692113,000KolymaRussia
190.Mamberamo River1,11269178,9925,923Pacific OceanIndonesia
191.Cumberland1,10568746,830862MississippiUnited States
192.Omo1,10468686,657915.5Lake TurkanaEthiopia
193.Bani1,100684146,570NigerMali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Guinea
193.Huallaga1,10068490,0003,800MarañónPeru
193.Kwango1,100684263,5002,700KasaiAngola, Democratic Republic of the Congo
193.Draa1,10068495,000Atlantic OceanMorocco
197.Gambia1,09468078,000Atlantic OceanThe Gambia, Senegal, Guinea
198.Tyung1,09267949,800VilyuyRussia
199.Barito River1,09068081,6755,497Java SeaIndonesia
200.Maya1,087675171,0001,180AldanRussia
201.Yellowstone1,080671114,260390MissouriUnited States
201.Ghaghara1,080671127,9502,990GangesIndia, Nepal, China
203.Huai River1,078670270,0001,110YangtzeChina
204.Aras1,072665102,000285KuraTurkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran
205.Chu1,06766362,500noneKyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
205.Sanaga-Djérem1,067663140,0002,072Bight of BiafraCameroon, Nigeria, Central African Republic
207.Seversky Donets1,053 654 98,900159DonRussia, Ukraine
208.Bermejo1,050652125,000ParaguayArgentina, Bolivia
208.Cunene1,050652108,943Atlantic OceanAngola, Namibia
208.Fly1,05065275,8006,500Gulf of PapuaPapua New Guinea, Indonesia
208.Kuskokwim1,050652120,0001,900Bering SeaUnited States
212.Tennessee1,049652105,8701,998OhioUnited States
213.Oder–Warta1,045649118,861550Baltic SeaPoland, Germany, Czech Republic
214.Apure1,038645167,0002,300OrinocoVenezuela, Colombia
215.Logone1,03364278,000492ChariChad, Cameroon, Central African Republic
216.Aruwimi1,030640116,1002,200CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
217.Chambal1,024636143,219456YamunaIndia
207.Pur1,024636112,000Taz EstuaryRussia
219.Daugava1,02063487,900678Gulf of RigaLatvia, Belarus, Russia
220.Gila1,015631151,0007Colorado United States
221.Essequibo1,014630156,8285,136Atlantic OceanGuyana, Venezuela
222.Loire1,012629115,271840Atlantic OceanFrance
223.Khopyor1,01062861,100150DonRussia
224.Tagus 1,00662580,100444Atlantic OceanSpain, Portugal
225.Flinders River1,004624109,000122Gulf of CarpentariaAustralia
226.Koksoak1,000621136,2622,800Ungava BayCanada
226.Usumacinta1,000621134,400Gulf of MexicoMexico, Guatemala