Longest Rivers in the World (Top 10)

Rivers are more than just moving water. For thousands of years, they’ve been where people build their homes, farm the land, and set up cities. Some rivers are so big and powerful, they cross continents—connecting countries and cultures all along their banks. Let’s dive into a journey —one river at a time —to discover what makes each one unique, which countries they cross, and why they matter so much today.​

Top 10 Longest Rivers—World Rankings

Here are the rivers that really stand out when it comes to size:

Rank	River Name	Length (km)	Major Countries Traversed
1	Nile	6,650	Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, others
2	Amazon	6,400	Brazil, Peru, Colombia, others
3	Yangtze	6,300	China
4	Mississippi–Missouri	6,270	United States
5	Yenisei–Angara–Selenga	5,500	Russia, Mongolia
6	Yellow (Huang He)	5,464	China
7	Ob–Irtysh	5,410	Russia, Kazakhstan, China
8	Rio De La Plata	4,880	Argentina, Uruguay
9	Congo	4,700	Congo, DRC, Angola, other African nations
10	Amur–Argun	4,444	Russia, China, Mongolia

1. Nile River

The Nile carries the record as the world’s longest river, snaking about 6,650 kilometers through northeastern Africa. What’s incredible about the Nile is that it flows through 11 countries, including Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya. More than 400 million people rely on its water for drinking, farming, and fishing.

Fun facts:

• The Nile is known for its two branches—the White Nile (from Uganda) and the Blue Nile (from Ethiopia).
• Most of Egypt’s ancient history happened along the banks of the Nile.
• The river’s basin is more than three million square kilometers in size.​

2. Amazon River

No river in the world carries more water than the Amazon. It crosses Brazil, Peru, and Colombia—and stretches 6,400 kilometers, maybe even longer than the Nile, depending on who you ask. The river is wide—during the rainy season, it can expand to 30 miles across!

Wild facts:

• The Amazon has more fish species than any other river (over 3,000).
• It pumps about 20% of all the world’s freshwater into the Atlantic.
• Home to the largest rainforest, which helps produce much of the planet’s oxygen.​

3. Yangtze River

China’s Yangtze is about 6,300 kilometers long and supports over 400 million people. It’s the backbone of China’s farming and industry.

What’s special:

• The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world.
• The basin covers 20% of China and produces 40% of the country’s grain.
• The river is divided into three significant regions: upper, middle, and lower.​

4. Mississippi–Missouri River System

America’s most storied river starts in Minnesota and winds south to the Gulf of Mexico, with tributaries feeding in from 31 states.

Fast facts:

• Total system: about 6,270 kilometers.
• Supports $400 billion in shipping every year.
• It is home to hundreds of bird species.​

5. Yenisei–Angara–Selenga System

This is Siberia’s largest river system, stretching over 5,500 kilometers from Mongolia all the way to the Arctic Ocean.

• Most of its water flows through Russia, with a small part in Mongolia.
• The river is also an important source of hydroelectric power, helping to run local industries.

6. Yellow River (Huang He)

Known as the (cradle of Chinese civilization) and it gets its name from the large amount of yellow silt it carries. It has shaped China’s history for thousands of years—bringing life to farmlands but also causing devastating floods in the past.

Key stats:

• Length: 5,464 km.
• The basin supports 420 million people.
• Known for massive historic floods.​

7. Ob–Irtysh System

Western Siberia’s lifeline, with the Irtysh (the world’s longest tributary) joining the Ob. About 5,410 kilometers total.

Did you know?

• Used for navigation from April to October.
• The Irtysh passes through China, Kazakhstan, and Russia.​

8. Río de la Plata

The Río de la Plata system isn’t just one river, but a combo of several—including the Paraná and Uruguay rivers. The estuary at its mouth is the world’s widest (up to 220 kilometers!). Major cities like Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay) grew here.​

Cool facts:

• Covers about a fifth of South America through its tributaries.
• Supports 20% of the continent’s population.

9. Congo River

The Congo is Africa’s second-longest river, but it’s the deepest in the world—reaching up to 220 meters! It passes through nine countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Congo. The rainforest supports thousands of animal and plant species.​

Quick stats:

• Moves 41,000 cubic meters of water every second, second only to the Amazon.​
• Crosses the equator twice—no other major river does this.
• The river and its basin cover about 13% of Africa’s land.

10. Amur–Argun river

The Amur–Argun river system is a significant waterway in northeastern Asia. This river network starts as the Argun River in China’s Inner Mongolia region. As the Argun flows about 1,620 kilometers (1,010 miles), it forms a long stretch of the border between China and Russia.

When the Argun meets the Shilka River, it becomes the Amur River, which then continues for another 2,824 kilometers until it reaches the Pacific Ocean. Together, the rivers form one of the longest river systems in the world, and their valleys are home to rich wildlife and vast open landscapes.​

• The Argun River starts in Inner Mongolia, China, and meets the Shilka River in Russia to form the Amur.​
• The whole river system is about 4,444 kilometers (2,761 miles) long from the Argun’s start to the sea.​
• The rivers form the boundary between China and Russia, making them essential to both countries.​
• The Amur–Argun basin has wetlands, grasslands, and forests that are home to rare animals, including the Siberian tiger, as well as many fish and bird species.​
• “Argun” comes from a Mongolian word meaning “wide river”.​

Other Rivers

Mekong River

Southeast Asia’s Mekong flows 4,880–4,909 km across China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It’s essential for millions of people’s daily lives.

Highlights:

• Over 70 million people depend on it for fishing, farming, and transportation.
• Floods and droughts create big swings between dry and rainy seasons.​

Brahmaputra River

This river runs from Tibet (where it’s called Yarlung Tsangpo) through India and into Bangladesh (where it’s called Jamuna).

Did you know?

• The Brahmaputra and the Ganges together drain into the world’s most populous delta.
• Together, they carry more sediment than almost any other system.​

Europe’s Volga River

The Volga is the king of European rivers—3,531 kilometers long and entirely within Russia. Most of the country’s big cities (Moscow, Kazan, Volgograd) are on its banks, and it’s crucial for shipping goods.

Quick notes:

• The basin is almost a third of Russia’s European side.
• Supports about 40% of Russia’s people.
• Connects, via canals, to five different seas.​

Mackenzie River (Canada)

Canada’s longest river system, the Mackenzie, flows over 4,200 kilometers north through remote wilderness to the Arctic Ocean.

Standouts:

• Almost a fifth of Canada’s land drains into the Mackenzie basin.
• Stays frozen up to eight months a year.​

Murray–Darling (Australia)

Australia’s not known for super long rivers, but the Murray-Darling system shapes its southeast. The two rivers combined drain over a million square kilometers.

Quick facts:

• Supplies 40% of Australia’s farm produce.
• More than two million people depend on it.

Ganges (India)

The Ganges, at 2,525 km, is not the world’s longest river, but it is vital to over 400 million Indians and Bangladeshis, many of whom see it as sacred.

Interesting to know:

• Supports 40% of India’s population.
• Sacred to over one billion Hindus.​

The Power, Problems, and Potential of Rivers

Rivers are amazing for all sorts of reasons—they deliver water, become highways for trade, feed huge croplands, and provide power. But they’re also in danger: climate change brings floods and droughts, pollution ruins water for drinking and farming, and big dams can hurt wildlife.

Risks Facing the World’s Rivers

• Climate Change: Melting glaciers, changing rainfall, and wild floods.
• Pollution: Chemicals from farms and factories, trash in the water.
• Too Many Dams: Block fish migration and alter flow patterns.
• Overuse: Millions of people are drawing more and more water.
• Habitat Loss: Wetlands are being drained or destroyed.

Signs of Hope

• Countries cooperating on water management deals.
• Moves to restore riverbanks and wetlands.
• New laws to stop pollution.
• More people are learning about water and fighting to keep it clean.

Why Rivers Will Always Matter

No matter where someone lives, rivers have shaped their world. They fuel city economies, create spectacular nature, and even inspire art and stories passed down for generations. Protecting them is a shared job.

Key messages:

• Rivers are shared across borders—no one country owns them forever.
• Innovative technology and new ideas will help keep water clean and flowing.
• Every river has its own story, and it’s a story everyone is part of.

In the end, the facts tell how extraordinary and valuable the world’s rivers really are. It’s up to humans everywhere to write the next chapter—keeping rivers alive for centuries to come.​

Read More: World’s Longest Coastlines