Named rivers draining to the Atlantic Ocean
These are the reviewed, named outfalls from the dataset's top 50 that drain to the Atlantic Ocean. Each links to a full profile with drivers, caveats, and sources.
Atlantic Ocean: River Plastic Emission Rankings
192 of the top 1,000 modeled river outfalls drain to the Atlantic Ocean, together carrying a modeled 100,389 metric tons of plastic per year, 13.9% of the combined top 1,000 total. 6 of the dataset's 50 named rivers empty into this basin.
Lagos Harbour
Rank #16 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 3,999 metric tons per year, Atlantic Ocean basin.
Ebrie Lagoon and Komoe River
Rank #21 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 3,304 metric tons per year, Atlantic Ocean basin.
Wouri River
Rank #26 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,835 metric tons per year, Atlantic Ocean basin.
Rio Pavuna
Rank #35 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,553 metric tons per year, Atlantic Ocean basin.
Douala Estuary
Rank #43 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,338 metric tons per year, Atlantic Ocean basin.
Rio Ozama
Rank #49 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,180 metric tons per year, Atlantic Ocean basin.
Unnamed top 100 outfalls in this basin
7 additional outfalls in the dataset's top 100 drain to the Atlantic Ocean without a reviewed river name: #51, #55, #65, #75, #85, #89, #94. Beyond the top 100, a further 179 outfalls in the top 1,000 drain to this basin and are shown on the interactive map.
Methodology Note
Figures are modeled estimates from Meijer et al. (2021), not measured basin totals. Basin attribution on this site covers the dataset's top 1,000 outfall points; the full dataset contains 31,819 points.
Atlantic Ocean FAQ
Which rivers carry the most plastic to the Atlantic Ocean?
The highest-ranked named rivers draining to the Atlantic Ocean in the Meijer et al. (2021) model are the Lagos Harbour (#16), the Ebrie Lagoon and Komoe River (#21), the Wouri River (#26). Values are modeled annual estimates.
How much plastic do rivers carry into the Atlantic Ocean each year?
Within the top 1,000 modeled outfalls, 192 points drain to the Atlantic Ocean with a combined modeled emission of 100,389 metric tons per year, 13.9% of the combined top 1,000 total. This is a modeled estimate covering the top 1,000 points, not a measured basin-wide total.
Are these figures measurements?
No. They are modeled estimates from a global framework that combines waste statistics, hydrology, rainfall, and distance-to-coast assumptions. Basin attribution on this site covers the top 1,000 modeled points.
Sources
- Meijer, L.J.J. et al. (2021). "More than 1000 rivers account for 80% of global riverine plastic emissions into the ocean." Science Advances, 7(18). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz5803
- UNEP (2021). "From Pollution to Solution: A Global Assessment of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution." View report
How to Cite This Page
Plastic Bank. "Atlantic Ocean: River Plastic Emission Rankings (Meijer et al. 2021)." Rivers Carrying Plastic to the Ocean. https://rivers.plasticbank.com/rivers/basin/atlantic. Reviewed July 20, 2026.