Major rivers (by length in km)
This entry describes one of the two major surface hydrological features of a country: large flowing bodies of water termed rivers (the other feature is lakes). The entry includes a list of major rivers, defined as having a length of 1,000 km or greater. These rivers constitute major drainage basins or watersheds that capture the flow of the majority of surface water flow. Taken together with major lakes, these features constitute the primary sources of surface freshwater.
In instances where a river flows through more than one country, a note has been added to the field to indicate the country where the river starts and the country where a river ends. [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
Afghanistan
Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Angola
Rio Zambeze (Zambezi) (shared with Zambia [s], Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Rio Cubango (Okavango) river source (shared with Namibia and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Argentina
Río de la Plata/Paraná river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Paraguay, and Uruguay) - 4,880 km; Paraguay (shared with Brazil [s], and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Uruguay (shared with Brazil [s] and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Australia
River Murray - 2,508 km; Darling River - 1,545 km; Murrumbidgee River - 1,485 km; Lachlan River - 1,339 km; Cooper Creek - 1,113 km; Flinders River - 1,004 kmAustria
Donau (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Bangladesh
Brahmaputra river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,969 km; Ganges river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 2,704 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Belarus
Dnyapro (Dnieper) (shared with Russia [s] and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Botswana
Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Brazil
Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) - 6,400 km; Río de la Plata/Paraná river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Tocantins - 3,650 km; São Francisco - 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) - 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Bulgaria
Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Burkina Faso
Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Burma
Mekong (shared with China [s], Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween river mouth (shared with China [s] and Thailand) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 2,809 km; Chindwin - 1,158 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Cambodia
Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Canada
Mackenzie - 4, 241 km; Yukon river source (shared with the US [m]) - 3,185 km; Saint Lawrence river mouth (shared with US) - 3,058 km; Nelson - 2,570 km; Columbia river source (shared with the US [m]) - 1,953 km; Churchill - 1,600 km; Fraser - 1,368 km; Ottawa - 1,271 km; Athabasca - 1,231 km; North Saskatchewan - 1,220 km; Liard - 1,115 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Central African Republic
Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
China
Yangtze - 6,300 km; Huang He - 5,464 km; Amur river source (shared with Mongolia and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km; Lancang Jiang (Mekong) river source (shared with Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Yarlung Zangbo Jiang (Brahmaputra) river source (shared with India and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Yin-tu Ho (Indus) river source (shared with India and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Nu Jiang (Salween) river source (shared with Thailand and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river source (shared with Burma [m]) - 2,809 km; Zhu Jiang (Pearl) (shared with Vietnam [s]) - 2,200 km; Yuan Jiang (Red river) source (shared with Vietnam [m]) - 1,149 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Colombia
Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Zaïre (Congo) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, and Republic of Congo) - 4,700 km; Ubangi river mouth (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Republic of Congo) - 2,270 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthCongo, Republic of the
Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Croatia
Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Czechia
Dunaj (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Labe (Elbe) river source (shared with Germany [m]) - 1,252 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Egypt
An Nīl (Nile) river mouth (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan) - 6,650 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Ethiopia
Blue Nile river source (shared with Sudan [m]) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
France
Rhin (Rhine) (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km; Loire - 1,012 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Gambia, The
Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Germany
Donau (Danube) river source (shared with Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Elbe river mouth (shared with Czechia [s]) - 1,252 km; Rhein (Rhine) (shared with Switzerland [s], France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Ghana
Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Guinea
Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Hungary
Duna (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
India
Brahmaputra (shared with China [s] and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Indus (shared with China [s] and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Ganges river source (shared with Bangladesh [m]) - 2,704 km; Godavari - 1,465 km; Sutlej (shared with China [s] and Pakistan [m]) - 1,372 km; Yamuna - 1,370 km; Narmada - 1,289 km; Chenab river source (shared with Pakistan [m]) - 1,086 km; Ghaghara river mouth (shared with China [s] and Nepal) - 1,080 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Indonesia
Sepik (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,126 km; Fly (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,050 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Iran
Euphrates (shared with Turkey [s], Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris (shared with Turkey, Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km; Helmand (shared with Afghanistan [s]) - 1,130 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Iraq
Euphrates river mouth (shared with Turkey[s], Syria, and Iran) - 3,596 km; Tigris river mouth (shared with Turkey[s], Syria, and Iran) - 1,950 km; the Tigris and Euphrates join to form the Shatt al Arabnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Kazakhstan
Syr Darya river mouth (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) - 3,078 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Kyrgyzstan
Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m] ) - 3,078 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Laos
Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthLesotho
Orange river source (shared with South Africa and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Malawi
Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Mali
Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Niger, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal, and Mauritania [m]) - 1,641 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Mauritania
Senegal river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal and Mali) - 1,641 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Mexico
Rio Grande river mouth (shared with US [s]) - 3,057 km; Colorado river mouth (shared with US [s]) - 2,333 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Moldova
Dunărea (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Nistru (Dniester) (shared with Ukraine [s/m]) - 1,411 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthMongolia
Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) - 4,444 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Morocco
Draa - 1,100 kmMozambique
Rio Zambeze (Zambezi) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 2,740 km; Rio Limpopo river mouth (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 1,800 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Namibia
Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Netherlands
Rijn (Rhine) river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) - 1,233 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Niger
Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Nigeria
Niger river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Niger) - 4,200 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Pakistan
Indus river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,610 km; Sutlej river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 1,372 km; Chenab river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 1,086 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Papua New Guinea
Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 kmParaguay
Río de la Plata/Paraná (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Paraguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 2,549 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Peru
Amazon river source (shared with Brazil [m]) - 6,400 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Poland
Wisla (Vistula) river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 kmnote - longest river in Poland
Romania
Dunărea (Danube) river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthRussia
Yenisey-Angara - 5,539 km; Ob-Irtysh - 5,410 km; Amur river mouth (shared with China [s] and Mongolia) - 4,444 km; Lena - 4,400 km; Volga - 3,645 km; Kolyma - 2,513 km; Ural river source (shared with Kazakhstan [m]) - 2,428 km; Dnepr (Dnieper) river source (shared with Belarus and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km; Don - 1,870 km; Pechora - 1,809 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Rwanda
Nile river source (shared with Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Senegal
Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, and Mauritania [m] ) - 1,641 km; Gambie (Gambia) (shared with Guinea [s] and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Serbia
Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Slovakia
Dunaj (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
South Africa
Orange (shared with Lesotho [s], and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km; Limpoporivier (Limpopo) river source (shared with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Vaal [s] - 1,210 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
South Sudan
Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Spain
Tagus river source (shared with Portugal [m]) - 1,006note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Sudan
An Nīl (Nile) (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Switzerland
Rhein (Rhine) river source (shared with Germany, France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Syria
Euphrates (shared with Turkey [s], Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris (shared with Turkey, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Tajikistan
Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river source (shared with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Tanzania
Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Thailand
Mae Nam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Turkey (Turkiye)
Euphrates river source (shared with Syria, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris river source (shared with Syria, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Turkmenistan
Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Uganda
Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Ukraine
Dunay (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Dnipro (Dnieper) river mouth (shared with Russia [s] and Belarus) - 2,287 km; Dnister (Dniester) river source and mouth (shared with Moldova) - 1,411 km; Vistula (shared with Poland [s/m] and Belarus) - 1,213 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
United States
Missouri - 3,768 km; Mississippi - 3,544 km; Yukon river mouth (shared with Canada [s]) - 3,190 km; Saint Lawrence (shared with Canada) - 3,058 km; Rio Grande river source ( mouth shared with Mexico) - 3,057 km; Colorado river source (shared with Mexico [m]) - 2,333 km; Arkansas - 2,348 km; Columbia river mouth (shared with Canada [s]) - 2,250 km; Red - 2,188 km; Ohio - 2,102 km; Snake - 1,670 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Uruguay
Rio de la Plata/Parana river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, Paraguay) - 4,880 km; Uruguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 1,610 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Uzbekistan
Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river mouth (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan) - 2,620 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Venezuela
Rio Negro (shared with Colombia [s] and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco river source and mouth (shared with Colombia) - 2,101 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Vietnam
Sông Tiên Giang (Mekong) river mouth (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia) - 4,350 km; Pearl river source (shared with China [m]) - 2,200 km; Red river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 1,149 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthWorld
top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,650 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Yangtze (Asia) 6,300 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,275 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,539 km; Huang He/Yellow (Asia) 5,464 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,410 km; Congo (Africa) 4,700 km; Amur (Asia) 4,444 km; Lena (Asia) 4,400 kmnote: there are 21 countries without rivers: 3 in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya), 1 in the Americas (Bahamas), 8 in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), 3 in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), 6 in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes
Zambia
Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Zimbabwe
Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth