The ten largest public aquariums in the world, ranked by total water volume from China's record-breaking Chimelong Spaceship to Japan's iconic Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
Quick answer: 1. Chimelong Spaceship, 2. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, 3. S.E.A. Aquarium, 4. Georgia Aquarium, 5. L'Oceanogràfic, 6. Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, 7. Moscow Oceanarium, 8. National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, 9. The Seas with Nemo & Friends, 10. Aqua Planet Jeju.
Public aquariums have grown from modest fish tanks into vast underwater worlds that showcase the diversity of marine life. The largest aquariums contain millions of litres of water, supporting everything from whale sharks and manta rays to coral reefs and penguin colonies. These facilities serve as both tourist attractions and centres for marine research, conservation, and education. This list ranks the ten largest public aquariums in the world by their total water volume in litres, as verified by Guinness World Records and official facility data.
Located in Hengqin, China, the Chimelong Spaceship holds the Guinness World Record as the largest aquarium in the world with a total water volume of 75.35 million litres. Its largest single tank holds 56.45 million litres. The facility opened in 2023 and is part of the larger Chimelong resort complex.
Also in Hengqin, China, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom holds 48.75 million litres of water and held the Guinness World Record for the largest aquarium from 2014 until 2023. It features the world's largest underwater viewing dome and houses a wide variety of marine species including beluga whales and manta rays.
The S.E.A. Aquarium on Sentosa Island, Singapore, holds 45.2 million litres of water and was the world's largest aquarium from 2012 to 2014. Its main tank holds 18.17 million litres and features a massive viewing panel. The aquarium showcases over 100,000 marine animals from more than 1,000 species across 49 habitats.
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, USA, holds 41.64 million litres of water and was the world's largest aquarium from 2005 to 2012. Its Ocean Voyager tank, holding 23.85 million litres, is one of the largest single aquarium tanks in the world and features whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of other fish.
L'Oceanogràfic in Valencia, Spain, holds 41.6 million litres of water and is the largest aquarium in Europe. Located within the City of Arts and Sciences, it is designed to resemble a water lily. Its main tank holds 7 million litres and houses a variety of marine species including dolphins, belugas, and sharks.
The Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium in Nagoya, Japan, holds 27 million litres of water across two main buildings. Its largest tank holds 13.4 million litres. The aquarium is known for its orca and dolphin shows, as well as its extensive collection of Japanese marine species from the Pacific Ocean.
The Moscow Oceanarium in Moscow, Russia, has a total water capacity of 25 million litres. It features aquarium exhibitions with 3 million litres of displays, a large performance pool, and orca and dolphin enclosures. It is one of the largest indoor aquatic facilities in Europe.
Located in Hengchun, Taiwan, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium holds 24.14 million litres of water. Its largest tank holds 4.07 million litres. The museum features three main exhibit areas: the Waters of Taiwan, the Coral Kingdom Pavilion, and the World of Waters Pavilion.
Located at Epcot in Walt Disney World, Florida, The Seas with Nemo & Friends holds 21.58 million litres of water. It is one of the largest saltwater aquariums in the United States and features a mix of a theme park ride and a full-scale aquarium with over 200 species of marine life.
Aqua Planet Jeju on Jeju Island, South Korea, holds 20 million litres of water. Its largest tank holds 10.8 million litres and features one of the largest viewing windows in the world. The aquarium is home to over 500 species and 50,000 marine animals, including the first Korean-born dolphin.
| # | Name | Location | Largest tank | Record | Opened | Feature | Species | Marine animals | Notable species | Status | Buildings | Type | Performance pools | Exhibit areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chimelong Spaceship | Hengqin, China | 56.45 million litres | Guinness World Record 2023 | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | Chimelong Ocean Kingdom | Hengqin, China | 22.7 million litres | Largest aquarium 2014–2023 | — | Largest underwater viewing dome | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | S.E.A. Aquarium | Singapore | 18.17 million litres | — | — | — | 1,000+ | 100,000+ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | Georgia Aquarium | Atlanta, USA | 23.85 million litres | Largest aquarium 2005–2012 | — | — | — | — | Whale sharks | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | L'Oceanogràfic | Valencia, Spain | 7 million litres | — | 2003 | — | — | — | — | Largest in Europe | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium | Nagoya, Japan | 13.4 million litres | — | — | — | — | — | Orcas, dolphins | — | 2 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Moscow Oceanarium | Moscow, Russia | — | — | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Oceanarium complex | Included | — |
| 8 | National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium | Hengchun, Taiwan | 4.07 million litres | — | 2000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
| 9 | The Seas with Nemo & Friends | Bay Lake, Florida, USA | — | — | 2007 | — | 200+ | — | — | — | — | Aquarium + theme park ride | — | — |
| 10 | Aqua Planet Jeju | Jeju Island, South Korea | 10.8 million litres | — | 2012 | — | 500+ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Aquariums are ranked by total water volume in litres across all tanks, as published by the facility operators, verified by Guinness World Records, and compiled from Wikipedia's List of largest aquariums. Only public aquariums with a total capacity of more than 10 million litres are included. Oceanariums and dolphinariums are included where they are part of a public aquarium complex. Figures are drawn from the most recent published data as of 2026.
Total water volume is the combined capacity of all tanks in the facility, measured in litres or US gallons. Most aquariums publish their total volume as part of their Guinness World Record submissions or official specifications. The largest single tank within an aquarium is sometimes reported separately and can be a different metric from total volume.
China has invested heavily in large-scale tourism and entertainment complexes, particularly in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. The Chimelong resort in Hengqin specifically has built record-breaking facilities as part of its strategy to attract both domestic and international tourists to the region.
The Chimelong Spaceship in Hengqin, China, holds the record for the largest single aquarium tank at 56.45 million litres, followed by the Georgia Aquarium's Ocean Voyager tank at 23.85 million litres and the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom's main tank at 22.7 million litres.
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