The ten largest lakes on Earth ranked by water volume, from the Caspian Sea to Great Bear Lake.
Quick answer: 1. Caspian Sea, 2. Baikal, 3. Tanganyika, 4. Superior, 5. Malawi, 6. Vostok, 7. Michigan, 8. Huron, 9. Victoria, 10. Great Bear.
While most people know the largest lakes by surface area, ranking by volume tells a different story. A lake can be vast in square miles but surprisingly shallow, or relatively compact yet staggeringly deep. Lake Baikal, for instance, holds more freshwater than all five North American Great Lakes combined despite being much smaller than Superior in surface area. This list ranks the ten largest lakes on Earth by total water volume in cubic kilometers, using bathymetric data from standard limnological references. Reservoirs, estuaries, and lagoons are excluded. It's for anyone who wants to understand where the world's lake water actually is.
The world's largest inland body of water by both surface area and volume, the Caspian Sea holds 78,200 km³ of saline water. It borders five countries and is classified as a lake despite its sea-like size.
The world's deepest and oldest lake, holding 23,610 km³ of freshwater — more than all the North American Great Lakes combined. Located in southern Siberia, it contains roughly 22% of the world's surface freshwater.
The second-largest freshwater lake by volume and the second deepest in the world. It holds 18,750 km³ of water and is shared by four African countries. Its great depth supports a unique ecosystem of cichlid fish.
The largest of the Great Lakes by volume and surface area, Lake Superior holds 12,070 km³ of freshwater. It is the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 406 m.
Also known as Lake Nyasa, this African Great Lake holds 8,640 km³ of freshwater. It is the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa, and its crystal-clear waters host more species of fish than any other lake on Earth.
The largest subglacial lake in Antarctica, buried under nearly 4 km of ice. Its volume is estimated at 5,400 km³. The lake has been sealed off from the atmosphere for millions of years, making it a target for astrobiological research.
The only one of the Great Lakes entirely within the United States, Lake Michigan holds 4,930 km³ of freshwater. It is connected to Lake Huron through the Straits of Mackinac, and hydrologically the two are considered a single system.
The third largest of the Great Lakes by volume at 3,520 km³. Lake Huron has the longest shoreline of any Great Lake and features the famous Manitoulin Island, the world's largest lake island.
The largest lake in Africa by surface area but ranked 9th by volume at 2,420 km³, Victoria is relatively shallow. It is the primary source of the White Nile and is shared by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
The largest lake entirely within Canada and the eighth largest in the world by surface area, Great Bear Lake holds 2,234 km³ of freshwater. It is located in the Northwest Territories, well above the 60th parallel.
| # | Name | continent | countries | surfaceArea | maxDepth | salinity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caspian Sea | Asia / Europe | Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran | 371,000 km² | 1,025 m | 1.2% (saline) |
| 2 | Baikal | Asia | Russia | 31,722 km² | 1,642 m | Fresh |
| 3 | Tanganyika | Africa | Tanzania, DR Congo, Burundi, Zambia | 32,900 km² | 1,470 m | Fresh |
| 4 | Superior | North America | Canada, United States | 82,100 km² | 406 m | Fresh |
| 5 | Malawi | Africa | Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania | 29,600 km² | 706 m | Fresh |
| 6 | Vostok | Antarctica | Antarctica | 12,500 km² | ~4,000 m below ice | Fresh |
| 7 | Michigan | North America | United States | 58,030 km² | 281 m | Fresh |
| 8 | Huron | North America | Canada, United States | 59,590 km² | 229 m | Fresh |
| 9 | Victoria | Africa | Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya | 59,940 km² | 84 m | Fresh |
| 10 | Great Bear | North America | Canada | 31,153 km² | 446 m | Fresh |
Lakes are ranked by total water volume in cubic kilometers (km³), following the standard figures from the Wikipedia list of lakes by volume, which draws primarily on The Water Encyclopedia (1990) supplemented by more recent surveys. Rank 1 is the largest volume. The Caspian Sea is included as a lake (it is the world's largest enclosed inland body of water), though it is saline. Lake Vostok is a subglacial lake beneath Antarctica; its volume is listed with a ±1,600 km³ uncertainty range and the midpoint figure is used. Reservoirs such as Lake Kariba and Lake Volta are excluded. Michigan and Huron are listed separately (hydrologically they are connected at the Straits of Mackinac but are traditionally counted as distinct lakes). Salinity is noted where applicable.
The Caspian Sea, at 78,200 km³. It is a saline lake, not a sea, and holds more water than all the other lakes on this list combined.
Lake Baikal in Siberia, with 23,610 km³ of freshwater. It contains roughly 22% of the world's unfrozen surface freshwater.
Lake Victoria is the largest by surface area (59,940 km²), but Lake Tanganyika is much larger by volume (18,750 km³ vs. 2,420 km³) because it is far deeper.
The Caspian is an enclosed inland body of water with no direct connection to the world's oceans, which is the geographic definition of a lake. It is saline because of evaporation and mineral deposits, not because of oceanic connection.