AllTheTopTen Top 10 of everything, kept current
geography

Top 10 Rivers by Discharge in the World

The ten largest rivers in the world by water volume, from the Amazon to the Mekong, ranked by average discharge.

Updated July 30, 2026 10 ranked 3 sources

Quick answer: 1. Amazon River, 2. Congo River, 3. Orinoco River, 4. Yangtze River, 5. Brahmaputra River, 6. Mississippi River, 7. Yenisei River, 8. Paraná River, 9. Lena River, 10. Mekong River.

River discharge — the volume of water flowing past a point per second — is the truest measure of a river's size. By this measure, the Amazon River is in a league of its own, carrying more than five times the water of the next largest river and accounting for 15–18% of all freshwater flowing into the world's oceans. The Congo and Orinoco follow, with Asia's mighty Yangtze and Brahmaputra completing the top five. This list ranks the top ten rivers by average discharge (flow rate) in cubic meters per second (cumecs), based on data from the US Geological Survey, national hydrological agencies, and Wikipedia's compiled list of rivers by discharge.

Average discharge (m³/s)

Average discharge (m³/s)
Amazon River
209000 m³/s
Congo River
41400 m³/s
Orinoco River
39000 m³/s
Yangtze River
31900 m³/s
Brahmaputra River
22182 m³/s
Mississippi River
21300 m³/s
Yenisei River
20200 m³/s
Paraná River
19706 m³/s
Lena River
18300 m³/s
Mekong River
16010 m³/s

The ranking

1

Amazon River

The Amazon River is by far the largest river in the world by discharge, with an average flow of approximately 209,000 m³/s — more than the combined flow of the next seven largest rivers. The Amazon discharges into the Atlantic Ocean and accounts for roughly 15–18% of all freshwater entering the oceans globally. During the wet season, the river can rise over 10 meters and flood an area the size of England. Its basin spans seven countries in South America.

Continent: South AmericaLength: 6,575 kmDrainage basin: 5,987,204 km²Outflow: Atlantic Ocean
2

Congo River

The Congo River is the second-largest river in the world by discharge, with an average flow of approximately 41,400 m³/s. It is the deepest river in the world, reaching depths of up to 220 meters, and is the only major river to cross the equator twice. The Congo Basin is home to the world's second-largest tropical rainforest and supports an incredible diversity of wildlife. The river's immense hydropower potential is among the greatest on Earth.

Continent: AfricaLength: 5,118 kmDrainage basin: 3,712,316 km²Outflow: Atlantic Ocean
3

Orinoco River

The Orinoco River flows through Venezuela and Colombia, discharging approximately 39,000 m³/s into the Atlantic Ocean. It is the third-largest river in the world by volume despite having a relatively short length of 3,010 km. The Orinoco is famous for its unique casquiare canal, a natural river connection that links the Orinoco and Amazon basins. The river's basin is home to the Orinoco crocodile, river dolphins, and over 1,000 fish species.

Continent: South AmericaLength: 3,010 kmDrainage basin: 1,014,797 km²Outflow: Atlantic Ocean
4

Yangtze River

The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) is the longest river in Asia and the fourth-largest by discharge, with an average flow of approximately 31,900 m³/s. It flows 6,236 km from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea, passing through major Chinese cities including Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wuhan. The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze is the world's largest hydroelectric power station. The river supports a third of China's population within its basin.

Continent: AsiaLength: 6,236 kmDrainage basin: 1,949,515 km²Outflow: East China Sea
5

Brahmaputra River

The Brahmaputra River flows from the Himalayas in Tibet through India and Bangladesh, discharging approximately 22,182 m³/s into the Padma (Lower Meghna) river system. It is one of the few rivers in the world that exhibits a tidal bore. The Brahmaputra carries an enormous sediment load, which has created the world's largest river delta — the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta in Bangladesh. The river can flood catastrophically during monsoon season.

Continent: AsiaLength: 3,350 kmDrainage basin: 556,385 km²Outflow: Padma River, Bay of Bengal
6

Mississippi River

The Mississippi-Missouri river system is the longest river in North America and the sixth-largest by discharge, averaging approximately 21,300 m³/s. The Mississippi drains 3.26 million km² across 31 US states and two Canadian provinces before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. It has been a vital transportation artery for American commerce for centuries, carrying agricultural and industrial goods on barges along its length.

Continent: North AmericaLength: 6,084 kmDrainage basin: 3,265,753 km²Outflow: Gulf of Mexico
7

Yenisei River

The Yenisei River is the largest river system in the Russian Arctic, with an average discharge of approximately 20,200 m³/s. Flowing 5,816 km from Mongolia through Siberia to the Arctic Ocean, the Yenisei is a vital transportation route for Siberia's timber and mineral industries. The river experiences extreme seasonal variation, with ice cover lasting up to eight months in its northern reaches. Lake Baikal feeds a major tributary, the Angara.

Continent: AsiaLength: 5,816 kmDrainage basin: 2,588,752 km²Outflow: Yenisei Gulf, Arctic Ocean
8

Paraná River

The Paraná River flows through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, discharging approximately 19,706 m³/s into the Río de la Plata estuary. It is the second-largest river in South America by the length and forms part of the border between Paraguay and Argentina. The Itaipu Dam on the Paraná, shared by Brazil and Paraguay, was the world's largest hydroelectric plant for many years. The river supports extensive agriculture and commercial navigation.

Continent: South AmericaLength: 4,001 kmDrainage basin: 2,630,667 km²Outflow: Río de la Plata, Atlantic Ocean
9

Lena River

The Lena River is one of the great Siberian rivers, with an average discharge of approximately 18,300 m³/s. Flowing 4,400 km from the Baikal Mountains to the Laptev Sea in the Arctic Ocean, the Lena is the longest river entirely within Russia. Its delta is one of the largest in the world, covering over 30,000 km² and serving as a crucial habitat for migratory birds and Arctic wildlife. The river freezes completely for up to seven months each year.

Continent: AsiaLength: 4,400 kmDrainage basin: 2,492,004 km²Outflow: Laptev Sea, Arctic Ocean
10

Mekong River

The Mekong River flows through six countries — China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam — discharging approximately 16,010 m³/s into the South China Sea. It is the longest river in Southeast Asia at 4,909 km. The Mekong is the lifeblood of mainland Southeast Asia, supporting the world's largest inland fishery and the rice paddies of the Mekong Delta, which produces half of Vietnam's agricultural output.

Continent: AsiaLength: 4,909 kmDrainage basin: 773,728 km²Outflow: South China Sea

Full comparison

# Name ContinentLengthDrainage basinOutflow
1 Amazon River South America6,575 km5,987,204 km²Atlantic Ocean
2 Congo River Africa5,118 km3,712,316 km²Atlantic Ocean
3 Orinoco River South America3,010 km1,014,797 km²Atlantic Ocean
4 Yangtze River Asia6,236 km1,949,515 km²East China Sea
5 Brahmaputra River Asia3,350 km556,385 km²Padma River, Bay of Bengal
6 Mississippi River North America6,084 km3,265,753 km²Gulf of Mexico
7 Yenisei River Asia5,816 km2,588,752 km²Yenisei Gulf, Arctic Ocean
8 Paraná River South America4,001 km2,630,667 km²Río de la Plata, Atlantic Ocean
9 Lena River Asia4,400 km2,492,004 km²Laptev Sea, Arctic Ocean
10 Mekong River Asia4,909 km773,728 km²South China Sea

How we ranked this

Rivers are ranked by mean annual discharge in cubic meters per second (m³/s), the standard hydrological measure of water flow. Discharge values are long-term averages compiled from multiple years of hydrological monitoring by national agencies and global datasets. Primary sources include the USGS, Brazil's Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA), and the Global Runoff Data Centre. Where a river's discharge includes major tributaries, the main stem (primary river) is listed. Data reflects the most recent available long-term averages.

FAQ

What is the largest river in the world by volume?

The Amazon River is the largest river in the world by discharge, with an average flow of approximately 209,000 m³/s — more than five times the second-largest river (the Congo).

How is river discharge measured?

River discharge is measured in cubic meters per second (cumecs) using devices called acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) or by measuring the river's cross-sectional area and water velocity at gauging stations.

Why is the Amazon so much larger than other rivers?

The Amazon receives enormous rainfall throughout its basin, which spans the entire width of the South American continent near the equator. Its basin covers over 5.9 million km² and receives over 2,000 mm of rainfall annually in most areas.

Sources