List of rivers by discharge

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This article lists rivers by their average discharge measured in descending order of their water flow rate. Here, only those rivers whose discharge is more than 2,000 m3/s (71,000 cu ft/s) are shown. It can be thought of as a list of the biggest rivers on Earth, measured by a specific metric.

For context, the volume of an Olympic-size swimming pool is 2,500 m3 (88,000 cu ft). The average flow rate at the mouth of the Amazon is sufficient to fill more than 83 such pools each second. The estimated global total for all rivers is 1.2 million m³/s (43 million cu ft/s), of which the Amazon would be approximately 18%.

River 103 m3/s
Amazon
 
 223.7
Ganges
 
 42.8
Congo
 
 41.4
Orinoco
 
 39.0
Yangtze
 
 31.9
La Plata
 
 27.2
Mississippi
 
 21.3
Yenisei
 
 20.2
Lena
 
 18.3
St Lawrence
 
 17.6
Top 10 largest primary rivers in the world by discharge
No Continent River Average
discharge
(m3/s) 		Length Drainage area
(km2) 		Outflow Type
(km) (miles)
1 South America Amazon 224,000 6,992 4,345 6,915,000 Atlantic Ocean Primary river
2 Asia Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna 42,800 2,948 1,832 1,731,334 Bay of Bengal Primary river
3 Africa Congo 41,400 4,370 2,716 3,822,000 Atlantic Ocean Primary river
4 South America Orinoco 39,000 2,250 1,398 989,000 Atlantic Ocean Primary river
5 Asia Yangtze (Chang Jiang) 31,900 6,300 3,915 1,943,000 East China Sea Primary river
6 South America Negro 30,641 2,230 1,390 691,000 Amazon Tributary river
7 South America Madeira 30,173 3,380 2,100 1,376,000 Amazon Tributary river
8 South America Río de la Plata 27,225 290 180 3,182,064 Atlantic Ocean Primary river
9 Asia Brahmaputra 22,182 3969 2466 556,385 Padma, Lower Meghna Primary river
10 North America Mississippi 21,300 3,766 2,340 3,248,000 Gulf of Mexico Primary river
11 Asia Yenisei 20,200 4,090 2,556 2,580,000 Kara Sea Primary river
12 South America Paraná 19,706 4,880 3,050 2,582,672 Río de la Plata Tributary river
13 Asia Lena 18,300 4,294 2,668 2,490,000 Laptev Sea Primary river
14 South America Japurá (Caquetá) 18,122 2,816 1,750 267,730 Amazon Tributary river
15 North America St Lawrence 17,600 3,058 1,900 1,266,642 Gulf of Saint Lawrence Primary river
16 South America Marañón 16,708 1,737 1,079 358,000 Amazon Tributary river
17 Asia Mekong 15,856 4,023 2,500 811,000 South China Sea Primary river
18 Asia Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) 15,112 2,210 1,370 413,710 Andaman Sea Primary river
19 South America Tapajós 13,540 1,996 1,240 492,481 Amazon Tributary river
20 South America Ucayali 13,385 2,670 1,659 351,549 Amazon Tributary river
21 Asia Ob 13,100 4,345 2,700 2,990,000 Gulf of Ob Primary river
22 Asia Amur 12,360 4,444 2,762 2,129,700 Sea of Okhotsk Primary river
23 South America Tocantins 11,796 2,699 1,677 764,183 Atlantic Ocean (Pará) Primary river
24 Africa Kasai (Kwa) 11,318 2,272 1,405 881,890 Congo Tributary river
25 South America Purus 11,207 3,211 1,995 376,600 Amazon Tributary river
27 Asia Pearl (Xi) 10,700 2,400 1,491 437,000 South China Sea Primary river
26 North America Mackenzie 9,800 4,241 2,636 1,805,200 Beaufort Sea Primary river
27 South America Xingu 9,680 2,240 1,392 531,250 Amazon Tributary river
28 South America Madre de Dios 9,350 1,347 837 282,000 Madeira Tributary river
29 South America Putumayo (Içá) 8,520 1,813 1,121 148,000 Amazon Tributary river
30 Europe Volga 8,380 3,531 2,194 1,380,000 Caspian Sea Primary river
31 South America Mamoré 8,150 1,930 1,199 611,800 Madeira Tributary river
32 South America Magdalena 8,058 1,540 963 257,438 Caribbean Sea Primary river
33 North America Ohio 7,957 1,579 981 528,200 Mississippi Tributary river
36 Africa Niger 7,900 4,200 2,600 2,117,000 Gulf of Guinea Primary river
37 South America Guaviare 7,529 1,760 1,090 151,607 Orinoco Tributary river
38 North America Columbia 7,407 2,044 1,243 668,217 Pacific Ocean Primary river
39 Oceania Fly 7,355 1,060 649 75,800 Gulf of Papua Primary river
40 South America Uruguay 7,058 1,838 1,140 353,451 Río de la Plata Tributary river
41 North America Yukon 6,860 3,187 1,980 854,700 Bering Sea Primary river
42 South America Napo 6,660 1,075 665 100,518 Amazon Tributary river
43 Asia Salween 6,600 3,289 2,044 324,000 Andaman Sea Primary river
44 Europe Danube 6,510 2,860 1,777 801,463 Black Sea Primary river
45 South America Araguaia 6,420 2,627 1,632 377,000 Tocantins Tributary river
46 Asia Kapuas 6,012 1,143 710 98,749 South China Sea Primary river
47 South America Juruá 6,004 3,283 2,040 190,573 Amazon Tributary river
48 Africa Ubangi 5,936 2,272 1,405 651,915 Congo Tributary river
49 North America Niagara 5,885 58 36 684,000 Lake Ontario Tributary river
50 South America Meta 5,694 1,200 742 103,000 Orinoco Tributary river
51 Asia Indus 5,589 3,180 2,000 1,081,718 Arabian Sea Primary river
52 Asia Aldan 5,501 2,273 1,412 729,000 Lena Tributary river
53 Oceania Mamberamo 5,500 1,175 727 78,992 Pacific Ocean Primary river
54 South America Branco 5,400 775 479 195,000 Rio Negro Tributary river
55 North America Detroit 5,300 44 28 595,052 Lake Erie Primary river
56 South America Javari 5,225 1,184 732 109,680 Amazon Tributary river
57 North America St. Clair 5,200 65 40 583,000 Lake St. Clair Tributary river
58 Oceania Sepik 5,000 1,146 700 80,321 Bismarck Sea Primary river
59 South America Caroní 4,981 952 595 95,442 Orinoco Tributary river
60 South America Essequibo 4,951 1,014 627 150,769 Atlantic Ocean Primary river
61 South America Juruena 4,937 1,240 770 192,628 Tapajós Tributary river
62 Africa Ogooué 4,935 1,200 747 223,856 Atlantic Ocean Primary river
63 Asia Angara 4,833 1,779 1,100 1,079,000 Yenisei Tributary river
64 South America Paraná do Urariá–Canumã 4,804 1,351 839 133,212 Amazon Tributary river
65 Europe Pechora 4,800 1,809 1,124 322,000 Barents Sea Primary river
66 Asia Meghna 4,753 1,040 646 69,871 Lower Meghna Tributary river
67 Asia Chindwin 4,740 1,207 750 114,000 Irrawaddy Tributary river
68 Asia Rajang 4,715 770 478 52,009 South China Sea Primary river
69 South America Paraguay 4,696 2,621 1,629 1,120,154 Parana Tributary river
70 Asia Barito 4,514 1,090 550 81,675 Java Sea Primary river
71 Africa Ruki 4,500 1,300 804 173,790 Congo Tributary river
72 South America Uaupés 4,345 1,050 650 64,370 Rio Negro Tributary river
73 Asia Red (Hong) 4,300 1,149 714 143,600 Gulf of Tonkin Primary river
74 Asia Mahakam 4,278 980 609 77,095 Makassar Strait Primary river
75 Africa Zambezi 4,217 2,574 1,599 1,331,000 Indian Ocean Primary river
76 Asia Nizhnyaya Tunguska 4,139 2,989 1,848 473,000 Yenisei Tributary river
77 South America Atrato 4,138 750 466 36,231 Caribbean Sea Primary river
78 Asia Kolyma 4,100 2,129 1,317 644,000 East Siberian Sea Primary river
79 Europe Kama 4,100 1,805 1,122 507,000 Volga Tributary river
80 South America Trombetas 4,097 1,060 656 156,960 Amazon Tributary river
81 South America Apaporis 4,092 1,370 847 54,300 Japurá Tributary river
82 South America Aripuanã 4,087 870 540 145,000 Madeira Tributary river
83 North America Grijalva–Usumacinta 4,028 1,000 620 134,400 Gulf of Mexico Primary river
84 Oceania Strickland 4,000 824 512 36,740 Fly Tributary river
85 South America Teles Pires 3,978 1,638 1,013 141,718 Tapajós Tributary river
86 North America Fraser 3,944 1,375 854 231,593 Pacific Ocean Primary river
87 Oceania Digul 3,867 853 530 45,900 Arafura Sea Primary river
88 South America Huallaga 3,796 1,138 704 95,000 Marañón Tributary river
89 Asia Godavari 3,571 1,465 910 312,812 Bay of Bengal Primary river
90 North America Nelson 3,539 2,575 1,600 1,125,520 Hudson Bay Primary river
91 South America Caura 3,500 723 449 49,530 Orinoco Tributary river

92 Africa Benue 3,477 1,440 895 319,000 Niger Tributary river
93 Asia Kaladan 3,476 450 278 40,000 Bay of Bengal Primary river
94 South America Jutaí 3,462 1,200 742 74,000 Amazon Tributary river
95 North America Slave 3,451 434 270 616,400 Great Slave Lake Tributary river
96 Asia Lohit 3,438 460 285 50,000 Brahmaputra Tributary river
97 Europe Northern Dvina 3,416 1,441 895 357,052 White Sea Primary river
98 North America La Grande 3,400 893 555 209,000 James Bay Primary river
99 South America Inírida 3,385 1,300 804 53,795 Guaviare Tributary river
100 Asia Shatt al-Arab–Euphrates–Tigris 3,350 204 127 938,173 Persian Gulf Primary river
101 Oceania Purari 3,300 630 390 33,670 Gulf of Papua Primary river
102 Oceania Kikori 3,274 405 250 23,309 Gulf of Papua Primary river
103 Asia Khatanga 3,200 1,636 1,012 364,000 Laptev Sea Primary river
104 Oceania Pulau 3,133 569 353 37,164 Arafura Sea Primary river
105 Africa Nile 3,075 6,853 4,258 3,349,000 Mediterranean Sea Primary river
106 Asia Musi 3,054 759 471 59,942 South China Sea Primary river
107 South America Tigre 3,047 940 581 45,073 Marañón Tributary river
108 Asia Subansiri 3,003 442 275 35,763 Brahmaputra Tributary river
109 Asia Ghaghara 2,993 1,080 671 127,950 Ganges Tributary river
110 Asia Irtysh 2,980 4,248 2,627 1,673,470 Ob Tributary river
111 Asia Yamuna 2,949 1,376 855 366,223 Ganges Tributary river
112 South America São Francisco 2,943 2,830 1,758 641,000 Atlantic Ocean Primary river
113 Asia Srepok 2,940 450 279 79,015 Mekong Tributary river
114 Africa Kwango 2,932 1,100 680 270,904 Kasai Tributary river
115 Asia Panjnad 2,910 71 44 395,000 Indus Tributary river
116 Europe Rhine 2,900 1,233 820 198,735 North Sea Primary river
117 South America Beni 2,875 1,100 680 131,500 Madre de Dios Tributary river
118 Asia Gan 2,865 599 372 103,107 Yangtze Tributary river
119 Asia Min 2,850 735 457 133,000 Yangtze Tributary river
120 Asia Xiang 2,848 948 589 102,148 Yangtze Tributary river
121 Europe Neva 2,770 74 46 287,094 Gulf of Finland Primary river
122 South America Pastaza 2,769 740 458 41,000 Marañón Tributary river
123 South America Iriri 2,745 1,300 810 130,000 Xingu Tributary river
124 South America Cuyuni 2,719 618 384 85,635 Essequibo Tributary river
125 Asia Mali Hka 2,693 320 200 23,221 Irrawaddy Tributary river
126 North America Missouri 2,673 3,767 2,341 1,371,010 Mississippi Tributary river
127 Africa Cross 2,647 489 304 53,590 Gulf of Guinea Primary river
128 Asia Batang Hari 2,643 800 497 46,504 South China Sea Primary river
129 Asia Amu Darya 2,618 2,400 1,491 534,739 Aral Sea Primary river
130 South America Casiquiare 2,574 340 210 82,800 Rio Negro Tributary river
131 Asia Yellow 2,571 5,464 3,395 752,000 Yellow Sea Primary river
132 Asia Mahanadi 2,562 900 560 141,600 Bay of Bengal Primary river
133 Asia Pyasina 2,550 818 508 182,000 Kara Sea Primary river
134 Asia Koshi 2,500 729 453 69,300 Ganges Tributary river
135 Africa Sangha 2,471 790 489 213,400 Congo Tributary river
136 Asia Songhua 2,463 1,434 887 557,180 Amur Tributary river
137 Asia Ghorautra 2,463 90 56 24,060 Meghna Tributary river
138 Asia Kayan 2,454 576 358 33,005 Celebes Sea Primary river
139 North America Liard 2,434 1,115 693 277,100 Mackenzie Tributary river
140 South America Guainía 2,433 640 400 28,900 Rio Negro Tributary river
141 South America Guapore 2,430 1,260 783 341,000 Mamoré Tributary river
142 South America Ituí 2,422 558 347 43,403 Javari Tributary river
143 South America Apure 2,400 1,038 645 121,400 Orinoco Tributary river
144 South America Rio Grande 2,400 1,360 841 143,000 Paraná Tributary river
145 South America Paragua 2,389 550 340 39,605 Caroní Tributary river
146 Asia Vitim 2,379 1,940 1,210 225,000 Lena Tributary river
147 South America Cauca 2,364 1,180 730 59,840 Magdalena Tributary river
148 South America Yarí 2,360 620 383 31,650 Japurá Tributary river
149 South America Urubamba 2,330 724 448 60,300 Ucayali Tributary river
150 South America Jacuí 2,327 723 449 82,618 Lagoa dos Patos Primary river
151 South America San Juan 2,304 380 240 16,465 Pacific Ocean Primary river
152 South America Uatumã 2,291 701 436 67,920 Amazon Tributary river
153 South America Içana 2,279 676 420 35,675 Rio Negro Tributary river
154 South America Jamanxim 2,217 666 414 58,771 Tapajós Tributary river
155 Asia Krishna River 2,213 1,400 870 258,948 Bay of Bengal Primary river
156 Africa Aruwimi 2,200 1,287 799 116,100 Congo Tributary river
157 North America Red River 2,187 2,190 1,360 239,195 Atchafalaya Tributary river
158 South America Ventuari 2,160 520 322 40,861 Orinoco Tributary river
159 South America Curaray 2,155 800 500 26,775 Napo Tributary river
160 North America Tennessee 2,140 1,049 652 105,870 Ohio Tributary river
161 North America St. Marys 2,135 120 75 127,700 Lake Huron Tributary river
162 South America Tapauá 2,135 640 400 63,185 Purus Tributary river
163 Asia Jialing 2,120 1,345 836 160,000 Yangtze Tributary river
164 North America Mobile 2,118 72 45 112,530 Gulf of Mexico Primary river
165 North America Peace 2,110 1,923 1,195 306,000 Slave Tributary river
166 Asia Olyokma 2,110 1,436 892 210,000 Lena Tributary river
167 Asia Yuan 2,106 864 537 93,287 Yangtze Tributary river
168 South America Ji-Paraná 2,100 820 510 76,127 Madeira Tributary river
169 Africa Sanaga 2,072 1,067 663 132,990 Gulf of Guinea Primary river
170 Africa Lomami 2,062 1,450 900 104,162 Congo Tributary river
171 Asia Hongshui 2,049 669.6 416.1 141,674 Xi Tributary river
172 Africa Lulonga 2,040 200 120 76,950 Congo Tributary river
173 Asia Gandaki 2,025 814 506 46,300 Ganges Tributary river
174 Asia Anadyr 2,020 1,150 710 191,000 Gulf of Anadyr Primary river
175 Oceania Bamu 2,000 310 193 19,346 Gulf of Papua Primary river

List of primary rivers by discharge

The global annual runoff into the oceans (38,500–44,200 km3/year) is dominated by runoff into the South Atlantic from eastern South America, into the western Pacific from east Asia, and into the Indian Ocean from India, and southeast Asia. Depending on the estimate, the Amazon alone accounts for 15–18% of the annual freshwater runoff into the oceans.

Discharge rates to the oceans:
  1. Atlantic Ocean (48.4%)
  2. Pacific Ocean (26.0%)
  3. Indian Ocean (13.9%)
  4. Arctic Ocean (11.7%)
Total global runoff rate by continent:
  1. Asia (31.8%)
  2. South America (28.6%)
  3. North America (16.3%)
  4. Africa (8.60%)
  5. Oceania (7.90%)
  6. Europe (6.80%)
Based on combination of model simulations and observed streamflow (hybrid).
Largest rivers in the world by volume discharge:
River Average discharge (km3/year) at mouth
01 Amazon
7,152.8
02 Ganges–Brahmaputra
1,420.98
03 Congo
1,308
04 Orinoco
1,230
05 Yangtze
1,003
06 La Plata
883.6
07 Mississippi
709.76
08 Yenisei
637
09 Lena
577
10 St Lawrence
555
11 Mekong
500.39
12 Irrawaddy
476.9
13 Ob
414
14 Amur
390
15 Pearl
336
16 Mackenzie
310
17 Volga
274.16
18 Magdalena
263.99
19 Niger
250
20 Columbia
233.76
21 Yukon
220
22 Salween
211
23 Fly
205
24 Danube
204
25 Kapuas
189.6
26 Ogooue
186
27 Essequibo
178
28 Indus
176.38
29 Mamberamo
158.23
30 Sepik
157
No Continent River Station Average discharge (m3/s) Outflow
Mean Min Max
1 South America Amazon Amazon Delta 220,800 180,000 340,000 Atlantic Ocean
2 Asia Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna Ganges Delta 43,950 10,000 160,000 Bay of Bengal
3 Africa Congo (Zaire) Banana 41,400 32,000 57,670 Atlantic Ocean
4 South America Orinoco Orinoco Delta 39,000 8,000 85,000 Atlantic Ocean
5 Asia Yangtze Yangtze Delta 31,900 11,300 49,500 East China Sea
6 South America Río de la Plata La Plata Estuary 27,225 12,000 50,000 Atlantic Ocean
7 North America Mississippi Mississippi Delta 21,300 5,000 56,000 Gulf of Mexico
8 Asia Yenisei Yenisei Estuary 20,200 4,200 78,500 Kara Sea
9 Asia Lena Lena Delta 18,300 3,590 72,000 Laptev Sea
10 Asia Mekong Mekong Delta 15,856 3,000 39,000 South China Sea
11 Asia Irrawaddy Irrawaddy Delta 15,112 6,460 38,000 Andaman Sea
12 Asia Ob Ob Estuary 13,100 6,230 46,000 Gulf of Ob
13 North America Saint Lawrence Québéc 12,500 9,225 14,835 Gulf of Saint Lawrence
14 Asia Amur Amur Estuary 12,360 5,340 19,000 Sea of Okhotsk
15 Asia Pearl (Xi) Pearl Delta 10,700 3,600 20,000 South China Sea
16 North America Mackenzie Mackenzie Delta 9,800 4,090 15,800 Beaufort Sea
17 Europe Volga Volga Delta 8,380 5,500 19,600 Caspian Sea
18 South America Magdalena Barranquilla 8,058 2,465 16,463 Caribbean Sea
19 Africa Niger Niger Delta 7,900 1,200 35,000 Gulf of Guinea
20 North America Columbia Astoria 7,407 2,230 19,100 Pacific Ocean
21 Oceania Fly Ogwa 7,355 3,680 12,762 Gulf of Papua
22 North America Yukon Pilot Station 6,860 1,360 21,100 Bering Sea
23 Asia Salween Moulmein 6,600 2,300 32,600 Andaman Sea
24 Europe Danube Ceatal Izmail 6,510 1,790 15,900 Black Sea
25 Asia Kapuas Kapuas Delta 6,012 3,000 9,000 South China Sea
26 Asia Indus Indus Delta 5,589 1,100 18,000 Arabian Sea
27 Oceania Mamberamo Mamberamo Delta 5,500 Pacific Ocean
28 Oceania Sepik Angoram 5,000 2,600 11,000 Bismarck Sea
29 South America Essequibo Bartica 4,951 1,850 8,700 Atlantic Ocean
30 Africa Ogooué Lambaréné 4,935 1,610 9,440 Atlantic Ocean
31 Europe Pechora Oksino 4,800 643 17,182 Barents Sea
32 Asia Rajang Rajang Delta 4,715 1,100 8,000 South China Sea
33 Asia Barito Barito Delta 4,514 Java Sea
34 Asia Red (Hong) Red River Delta 4,300 1,200 9,500 Gulf of Tonkin
35 Asia Mahakam Mahakam Delta 4,278 1,000 8,000 Makassar Strait
36 Africa Zambezi Marromeu 4,217 920 18,600 Indian Ocean
37 South America Atrato Atrato Delta 4,138 Caribbean Sea
38 Asia Kolyma Kolyma Delta 4,100 East Siberian Sea
39 North America Grijalva–Usumacinta Grijalva Delta 4,028 Gulf of Mexico
40 North America Fraser Vancouver 3,944 575 17,000 Pacific Ocean
41 Oceania Digul Digul Delta 3,867 10,600 Arafura Sea
42 Oceania Eilanden (Pulau) Eilanden Delta 3,783 Arafura Sea
43 Asia Godavari Godavari Delta 3,571 Bay of Bengal
44 North America Nelson Port Nelson 3,539 1,000 7,000 Hudson Bay
45 Asia Kaladan Kaladan Delta 3,476 Bay of Bengal
46 Europe Northern Dvina Ust-Pinega 3,416 White Sea
47 North America La Grande La Grande 1 3,400 James Bay
48 Asia Shatt al-Arab–Euphrates–Tigris Shatt al-Arab Delta 3,350 Persian Gulf
49 Oceania Purari Purari Delta 3,300 Gulf of Papua
50 Oceania Kikori Kikori Delta 3,274 Gulf of Papua
51 Asia Khatanga Khatanga Estuary 3,200 Laptev Sea
52 Asia Musi Musi Delta 3,054 1,400 4,200 South China Sea
53 South America São Francisco São Francisco Estuary 2,943 Atlantic Ocean
54 Europe Rhine Rhine Delta 2,900 800 13,000 North Sea
55 Africa Nile Dongola 2,810 530 7,620 Mediterranean Sea
56 Europe Neva Saint Petersburg 2,770 4,550 Gulf of Finland
57 Africa Cross Cross Estuary 2,647 Gulf of Guinea
58 Asia Batang Hari Batang Hari Delta 2,643 South China Sea
59 Asia Yellow Yellow Delta 2,571 36,000 Yellow Sea
60 Asia Pyasina Pyasina Delta 2,550 Kara Sea
61 Asia Amu Darya Kerki 2,525 Aral Sea
62 Asia Kayan Tanjung Selor 2,454 Celebes Sea
63 South America Jacuí Porto Alegre 2,327 Lagoa dos Patos
64 South America San Juan Before delta 2,304 Pacific Ocean
65 Asia Krishna Krishna Delta 2,213 Bay of Bengal
66 Asia Mahanadi Mahanadi Delta 2,119 Bay of Bengal
67 North America Mobile Mobile Estuary 2,118 282 9,018 Gulf of Mexico
68 Africa Sanaga Sanaga Delta 2,072 473 5,700 Gulf of Guinea
69 Asia Anadyr Anadyr Estuary 2,020 Gulf of Anadyr
70 Oceania Bamu Bamu Estuary 2,000 Gulf of Papua

See also

  • Lists of rivers
  • List of drainage basins by area
  • List of rivers by dissolved load
  • List of rivers by length
  • List of rivers of India by discharge
  • List of U.S. rivers by discharge
  • List of waterfalls by flow rate

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