Where Is the Longest River in the World? The Nile River in Africa

The Nile: Earth's Longest River

The Nile River is widely recognized as the longest river in the world, stretching approximately 6,650 kilometers (4,130 miles) from its most distant source in Burundi/Rwanda to its delta in Egypt.

Geographic Course

• Source: Headwaters of the Kagera River (Burundi/Rwanda) → Lake Victoria.
• White Nile: Flows north through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan.
• Blue Nile: Originates at Lake Tana, Ethiopia; joins at Khartoum.
• Northward Flow: Through Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.

Note on Measurement

Some studies suggest the Amazon may be slightly longer depending on how the source is defined, but the Nile remains the traditional and most commonly cited record-holder.