Longest River Length Comparison (KM and Miles)
Compare 15 longest river lengths in km and miles, from the 4200 km Niger bend to the mighty 6650 km Nile run. Britannica survey figures in a linked tool now.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nile Longest here at 6,650 km. | 6,650 kilometers | Africa, Mediterranean mouth | Encyclopaedia Britannica: Nile 6650 km |
| Amazon 6,400 km in most references. | 6,400 kilometers | South America, Atlantic mouth | Encyclopaedia Britannica: Amazon 6400 km |
| Yangtze 6,300 km longest in Asia. | 6,300 kilometers | China, East China Sea mouth | Encyclopaedia Britannica: Yangtze 6300 km |
| Mississippi Missouri 6,275 km as a system. | 6,275 kilometers | North America system with Missouri | USGS / Britannica: Mississippi Missouri system 6275 km |
| Yenisei Angara 5,539 km with Angara headwaters. | 5,539 kilometers | Siberia, Kara Sea | Britannica: Yenisei 5539 km |
| Huang He 5,464 km of loess silt. | 5,464 kilometers | China, Yellow River | Britannica: Huang He (Yellow River) 5464 km |
| Ob Irtysh 5,410 km with Irtysh. | 5,410 kilometers | Siberia, Ob Bay | Britannica: Ob Irtysh 5410 km |
| Parana 4,880 km through Brazil south. | 4,880 kilometers | South America, Plate basin | Britannica: Parana River 4880 km |
| Congo 4,700 km deepest river too. | 4,700 kilometers | Central Africa | Britannica: Congo River 4700 km |
| Amur 4,444 km border river. | 4,444 kilometers | Asia, Amur bay | Britannica: Amur River 4444 km |
| Lena 4,400 km through Yakutia. | 4,400 kilometers | Siberia, Laptev Sea | Britannica: Lena River 4400 km |
| Mekong 4,350 km from Tibet to delta. | 4,350 kilometers | Southeast Asia | Britannica: Mekong River 4350 km |
| Mackenzie 4,241 km with tributaries. | 4,241 kilometers | Canada, Beaufort Sea | Britannica: Mackenzie River 4241 km |
| Niger 4,200 km inland delta curve. | 4,200 kilometers | West Africa | Britannica: Niger River 4200 km |
About this converter
Surveys and encyclopedias publish a mainstream length for every great river, and the top two spark real debate. The Nile lists 6,650 kilometers. The Amazon lists 6,400 in most references, though some Brazilian surveys push it past the Nile. Lengths depend on where a source puts the headwaters, so figures move between editions. Fifteen rivers run from the Mackenzie to the Nile with disputes noted.
How to use it
Pick two entries and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Try the Nile against the Mackenzie to span the table. Lengths follow mainstream survey figures with disputes flagged.
Lengths follow Encyclopaedia Britannica and national surveys. The Nile Amazon order flips in some Brazilian studies, which the FAQ addresses. River systems count longest tributary paths, for example Mississippi Missouri. Fifteen rows sample every length band from 4,200 to 6,650 kilometers. System counting adds thousands of kilometers to several rows here. Deltas shift mouths over time.
FAQ
Nile or Amazon, which is longest?
Nile at 6,650 km in Britannica and most references. Some Brazilian surveys credit the Amazon past 6,800 with southern headwaters.
Shortest river here?
Mackenzie system at 4,241 km here. The Niger at 4,200 is the shortest row.
Why combine Mississippi Missouri?
Yes. Systems count the longest tributary path, so Mississippi Missouri reads as one entry.
Why do sources disagree?
Headwater choice moves totals between editions. Rows pin Britannica figures so comparisons stay stable.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica river length entries
- USGS water resources river length data
Last verified: 2026-10-03 · 14 entries
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