Named rivers draining to the Indian Ocean
These are the reviewed, named outfalls from the dataset's top 50 that drain to the Indian Ocean. Each links to a full profile with drivers, caveats, and sources.
Indian Ocean: River Plastic Emission Rankings
239 of the top 1,000 modeled river outfalls drain to the Indian Ocean, together carrying a modeled 179,764 metric tons of plastic per year, 24.9% of the combined top 1,000 total. 15 of the dataset's 50 named rivers empty into this basin.
Ulhas River
Rank #3 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 13,433 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Klang River
Rank #4 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 12,816 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Ganges River
Rank #8 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 6,222 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Hugli River
Rank #17 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 3,878 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Pazundaung Creek
Rank #19 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 3,615 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Bharathappuzha River
Rank #20 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 3,518 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Msimbazi River
Rank #23 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 3,238 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Malad Creek
Rank #30 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,724 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Kelani River
Rank #31 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,721 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Karnaphuli River
Rank #34 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,554 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Panvel Creek
Rank #36 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,520 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Yangon River
Rank #37 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,489 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Chilyar River
Rank #44 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,315 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Periyar River
Rank #45 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,292 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Mithi River
Rank #48 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,182 metric tons per year, Indian Ocean basin.
Unnamed top 100 outfalls in this basin
12 additional outfalls in the dataset's top 100 drain to the Indian Ocean without a reviewed river name: #54, #56, #57, #69, #70, #72, #74, #82, #83, #84, #96, #99. Beyond the top 100, a further 212 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.
Indian Ocean FAQ
Which rivers carry the most plastic to the Indian Ocean?
The highest-ranked named rivers draining to the Indian Ocean in the Meijer et al. (2021) model are the Ulhas River (#3), the Klang River (#4), the Ganges River (#8). Values are modeled annual estimates.
How much plastic do rivers carry into the Indian Ocean each year?
Within the top 1,000 modeled outfalls, 239 points drain to the Indian Ocean with a combined modeled emission of 179,764 metric tons per year, 24.9% 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. "Indian Ocean: River Plastic Emission Rankings (Meijer et al. 2021)." Rivers Carrying Plastic to the Ocean. https://rivers.plasticbank.com/rivers/basin/indian. Reviewed July 20, 2026.