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Top 10 Largest Libraries in the World by Collection Size

The ten largest libraries in the world, ranked by collection size from the Library of Congress and British Library to the Royal Danish Library and National Library of China.

Updated August 4, 2026 10 ranked 4 sources

Quick answer: 1. Library of Congress, 2. British Library, 3. Shanghai Library, 4. New York Public Library, 5. Library and Archives Canada, 6. Russian State Library, 7. National Diet Library, 8. Bibliothèque nationale de France, 9. National Library of China, 10. Royal Danish Library.

Libraries are more than buildings full of books — they are the memory of civilisation, preserving everything from ancient manuscripts and medieval maps to digital archives and recorded sound. The world's largest libraries hold tens of millions of items across every format, language, and era, serving as research centres, cultural repositories, and national symbols. This list ranks the ten largest libraries in the world by their total collection size, measured in the number of items held. Rankings are based on the most recent published data from each institution.

Items in collection (millions)

Items in collection (millions)
Library of Congress
173 million items
British Library
170 million items
Shanghai Library
56 million items
New York Public Library
55 million items
Library and Archives Canada
54 million items
Russian State Library
47 million items
National Diet Library
42 million items
Bibliothèque nationale de France
40 million items
National Library of China
37 million items
Royal Danish Library
30.2 million items

The ranking

1

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is the largest library in the world with a collection of over 173 million items. Founded in 1800 to support the U.S. Congress, it holds more than 38 million books, 14 million photographs, 5.5 million maps, and 72 million manuscripts in over 470 languages. Notable items include Thomas Jefferson's personal library and rare Gutenberg Bibles.

Location: Washington, D.C., USAFounded: 1800Books & print: 38+ millionManuscripts: 72 million
2

British Library

The British Library in London holds over 170 million items, making it the largest library in Europe. Founded in 1973 as a separate institution from the British Museum, it receives approximately 8,000 new items every day through the UK's legal deposit system. Its treasures include the Magna Carta, Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, and original Beatles manuscripts.

Location: London, UKFounded: 1973Legal deposit: 8,000 items/dayNotable items: Magna Carta, da Vinci notebooks
3

Shanghai Library

The Shanghai Library in Shanghai, China, holds over 56 million items, making it Asia's largest library by collection size. Founded in 1952, it incorporates the Bibliotheca Zi-Ka-Wei established in 1847 by Jesuit missionaries. Its 106-metre (348-foot) tower is one of the tallest library buildings in the world, housing extensive Chinese literature and historical records.

Location: Shanghai, ChinaFounded: 1952Building height: 106 m (348 ft)Status: Largest in Asia
4

New York Public Library

The New York Public Library (NYPL), with its flagship Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in Manhattan, holds approximately 55 million items. Founded in 1895, it serves millions of patrons annually through 90 branches across Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. The iconic Rose Main Reading Room is one of the largest and most recognisable library spaces in the world.

Location: New York, USAFounded: 1895Branches: 90Notable feature: Rose Main Reading Room
5

Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) in Ottawa holds approximately 54 million items. Established in 2004 by merging the National Library of Canada and the National Archives, LAC preserves Canada's documentary heritage including books, photographs, government records, and Indigenous materials. Its digitisation efforts make extensive resources accessible worldwide.

Location: Ottawa, CanadaFounded: 2004 (merger)Type: National library + archivesFocus: Canadian documentary heritage
6

Russian State Library

The Russian State Library in Moscow holds over 47 million items, making it the largest library in Russia. Founded in 1862 as the Rumiantsev Library (later the Lenin Library), it is a legal deposit library preserving every published work from the USSR and modern Russia. Its collection spans 367 languages, with a particular strength in Russian literature and scientific journals.

Location: Moscow, RussiaFounded: 1862Languages: 367Former name: Lenin Library
7

National Diet Library

The National Diet Library (NDL) of Japan, with main facilities in Tokyo and Kyoto, holds over 42 million items. Founded in 1948, it serves as both Japan's national library and the research arm of the National Diet. It collects all publications produced in Japan as well as foreign works about Japan, with a $205 million annual budget supporting extensive digital archives.

Location: Tokyo and Kyoto, JapanFounded: 1948Annual budget: $205 millionType: National + legislative library
8

Bibliothèque nationale de France

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) in Paris holds over 40 million items. It began as the royal library in 1368 and became a public institution in 1692. Its collection includes 15 million books, manuscripts, maps, and treasures such as Napoleon Bonaparte's personal library. The Richelieu wing, recently renovated, is one of the most beautiful library spaces in the world.

Location: Paris, FranceFounded: 1368 (royal library)Books: 15 millionNotable item: Napoleon's personal library
9

National Library of China

The National Library of China in Beijing holds over 37 million items, making it the second-largest library in Asia. Established in 1909, it has been a legal deposit library since 1916 and holds the world's largest collection of Chinese literature and historical records. Its rare book collection includes ancient texts from the Southern Song Dynasty.

Location: Beijing, ChinaFounded: 1909Legal deposit: Since 1916Focus: Chinese literature & history
10

Royal Danish Library

The Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen holds over 30.2 million items, making it the largest library in the Nordic region. Founded in 1648 by King Frederik III, it serves as both Denmark's national library and the library of the University of Copenhagen. Its collection includes a 1350 medieval manuscript and over 500 terabytes of digital archives covering much of the Danish internet.

Location: Copenhagen, DenmarkFounded: 1648Status: Largest in the Nordic regionDigital archive: 500+ terabytes

Full comparison

# Name LocationFoundedBooks & printManuscriptsLegal depositNotable itemsBuilding heightStatusBranchesNotable featureTypeFocusLanguagesFormer nameAnnual budgetBooksNotable itemDigital archive
1 Library of Congress Washington, D.C., USA180038+ million72 million——————————————
2 British Library London, UK1973——8,000 items/dayMagna Carta, da Vinci notebooks————————————
3 Shanghai Library Shanghai, China1952————106 m (348 ft)Largest in Asia——————————
4 New York Public Library New York, USA1895——————90Rose Main Reading Room————————
5 Library and Archives Canada Ottawa, Canada2004 (merger)————————National library + archivesCanadian documentary heritage——————
6 Russian State Library Moscow, Russia1862——————————367Lenin Library————
7 National Diet Library Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan1948————————National + legislative library———$205 million———
8 Bibliothèque nationale de France Paris, France1368 (royal library)—————————————15 millionNapoleon's personal library—
9 National Library of China Beijing, China1909——Since 1916——————Chinese literature & history——————
10 Royal Danish Library Copenhagen, Denmark1648—————Largest in the Nordic region—————————500+ terabytes

How we ranked this

Libraries are ranked by the total number of items in their collection, as published by the institutions themselves. Items include books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, recordings, digital files, and other materials. Because there is no universally accepted standard for measuring library stock, figures may not be directly comparable across institutions — some count individual items while others count bound volumes or catalogue records. Data is sourced from official library publications and verified by independent compilations.

FAQ

How do libraries count their collections?

There is no universal standard for measuring library collections. Some libraries count individual physical items (every book, map, manuscript, and photograph separately), while others count bibliographic records or bound volumes. Digital items — including e-books, digitised manuscripts, and archived web pages — are counted differently by each institution. This is why collection sizes can vary between sources even for the same library.

Which library has the most books (not total items)?

The Library of Congress holds more than 38 million books and other print materials, followed by the British Library with approximately 14 million books. However, the British Library's total collection of over 170 million items is closer to the Library of Congress's 173 million because of its extensive manuscript, map, and sound archives.

Can the public access these libraries?

Yes, most national libraries are open to the public for reading and research, though some require registration or a reader's pass. The Library of Congress, British Library, and New York Public Library all welcome visitors and offer public tours. However, rare and valuable items may be stored in special collections rooms and require advance booking to view.

Sources