The biggest sharks in the ocean include the whale shark, megamouth shark, and basking shark. You might be surprised to learn that the three biggest sharks in the world’s oceans are all filter feeders despite their size.
These massive creatures pose no threat to humans and subsist on incredibly small zooplankton while cruising passively around the ocean. Other large species of shark, like the thresher shark and Greenland shark, have other interesting attributes, like a whip-like tail and extreme longevity, that make them notable in addition to their size.
On this list, we rank the biggest sharks in the world based on a combination of their length and weight.
World’s Biggest Sharks Ranked (Descending Order)
Whale Shark – Rhincodon typus
Average Length: 33 feet (10 meters)
Average Weight: 41,000 lbs (18,597 kilograms)
The whale shark is the most well-known biggest shark in the earth’s oceans. It is found in most of the world’s tropical waters and can grow to an incredible length of nearly 60 feet and weighs around 41,000 pounds on average. This enormous shark, like the two other biggest sharks (the basking shark and megamouth shark), is a filter feeder.
Despite its size, it cruises through the oceans peacefully, sucking up zooplankton and other small creatures like shrimp and krill. They pose no threat to human beings and are not aggressive, but have unfortunately become an endangered species.
Basking Shark – Cetorhinus maximus
Average Length: 25 feet (7.6 meters)
Average Weight: 38,000 lbs (17,237 kilograms))
The basking shark is one of the biggest sharks in the world. They, too, are filter feeders and swim with their mouths open, taking in plankton and other small creatures. On average, they reach around 25 feet in length and are far smaller than the whale shark in comparison.
Throughout history basking sharks have been hunted for their fins and oil and are today considered to be endangered.
Megamouth Shark – Megachasma pelagios
Average Length: 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Average Weight: 1,760 lbs (798 kilograms)
The incredible megamouth shark is the third biggest sharks in the world. It has a stout body and bulbous head. Their mouths, for which they’re named, are broad and extend behind their eyes. They’re incredibly easy to recognize. Despite their fifty rows of teeth, they pose no threat to human beings.
These sharks are filter feeders. They will eat anything from shrimp to jellyfish, copepods, and more. Scientists believe that euphausiids (krill) are their primary food source. Since the first megamouth shark wasn’t captured until 1976, scientists know very little about this amazing creature than other sharks on this list.
Great Hammerhead Shark – Sphyrna mokarran
Average Length: 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Average Weight: 500 lbs (227 kilograms)
The great hammerhead shark is another one of biggest sharks that is very well-known shark species. It’s the largest of the hammerhead species and can reach average up to 16 feet in length. The largest known individual was 20 feet long.
These sharks have large, hammer-shaped heads that set them apart from all other shark species in the oceans. They feed on everything from crustaceans to smaller sharks and can have up to 50 pups every two years. Today, this species of shark is regarded as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Great White Shark – Carcharodon carcharias
Average Length: 15.5 feet (4.7 meters)
Average Weight: Females 4,500 lbs (2041 kgs) / Males 1,400 lbs (635 kgs)
The infamous great white shark is perhaps the best-known of all the biggest sharks sharks in the earth’s oceans, but surprisingly – it only takes fourth place in this list.
These sharks are large predators, often at the top of the food chain, and usually grow to approximately 15.5 feet in length. The males are smaller, growing to a maximum of 13 feet. They have few natural predators, one of them being the orca.
The species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and is threatened due to the continuation of shark hunting and climate change.
Bluntnose Sixgill Shark – Hexanchus griseus
Average Length: 15 feet (4.5 meters)
Average Weight: 1,102 lbs (500 kilograms)
The bluntnose sixgill shark, sometimes also known as a cow shark, is the largest of all hexanchoid sharks. It can reach up to 20 feet in length but is more commonly found around 15-16 feet in length. These sharks are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
Bluntnose sixgill sharks are generally not aggressive towards humans. These deep-water sharks are typically found at depths that human divers rarely reach, making encounters with them uncommon.
Common Thresher Shark – Alopias vulpinus
Average Length: 15 feet (4.5 meters)
Average Weight: 440 lbs (200 kilograms)
The thresher shark is a unique-looking shark that has an elongated tailfin and lives in the world’s temperate as well as tropical oceans. The females tend to be bigger than the males, growing up to approximately 15 feet long. There have been records of up to 20 feet in length as well.
They use their incredible tails to help them swim as well as a weapon to whip and stun prey. Today, they are regarded as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN. These sharks are often hunted for their fins, skin, and liver oil for food and medicinal reasons.
Tiger Shark – Galeocerda cuvier
Average Length: 13 feet (3.9 meters)
Average Weight: 1,000 lbs (454 kilograms)
Tiger sharks are a species of requiem shark and are found in tropical waters, particularly around the central Pacific Islands. They are well-known for the dark stripes down their body that resemble a tiger’s stripes.
They feed on everything from fish to birds to seals. They are known for their curious nature and tendency to eat a wide range of prey, earning them the nickname “garbage eaters.”
While rare, there have been a few instances in which a tiger shark has attacked a human being. Their opportunistic feeding behavior makes them more likely to come into contact with humans. Tiger sharks are responsible for a significant number of the total shark attacks on humans, though these incidents are still rare compared to the number of people who enter the ocean. They are second only to great white sharks in recorded attacks on humans.
Greenland Shark – Somniosus microcephalus
Average Length: 12 feet (3.6 meters)
Average Weight: 880 lbs (400 kilograms)
The incredible Greenland shark ranges from 8 feet up to 14 feet, with females attaining larger sizes. The largest recorded Greenland shark was 24 feet long. The Sharks are known for their incredibly long lifespan, the longest known lifespan of any vertebrate species, between 250-500 years.
The sharks are known for eating anything they come across while living in the depths of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. The sharks are well-isolated from human beings, and there have been no recorded attacks in history. They reach sexual maturity at around 100 years of age.
“But even the lowest part of the age range — at least 272 years — still makes Greenland sharks the longest-living vertebrate known to science.”
Julius Nielsen
Pacific Sleeper Shark – Somniosus pacificus
Average Length: 12 feet (3.9 meters)
Average Weight: 750 lbs (340 kilograms)
The Pacific sleeper shark is one of the biggest sharks in the world’s oceans, reaching an average length of 12 feet. they’re found in the North Pacific as well as in the Arctic and some temperate waters. They are both scavengers and predators and feed by sucking and cutting their prey. They inhale the prey, and if it is too big for them to swallow, they use their teeth to cut it up.
Short-Fin Mako Shark –Isurus oxyrinchus
Average Length: 8.2 to 10.5 ft (2.5 to 3.2 m)
Average Weight: 130–310 lb (60-140kg)
The shortfin mako shark also known as the shortfin mako, blue pointer, or bonito shark, is a large mackerel shark. It can grow to an incredible length of nearly 10.5 feet and weighs around 220 pounds on average.
It preys upon fast moving pelagic fishes such as tunas and swordfish. Also consumes squid, other sharks, and rarely marine turtles and mammals. The shortfin mako is currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN, having been upgraded from Vulnerable in 2019 and Near-Threatened in 2007. The species is listed on Appendix II of CITES, which regulates international trade.
Ocean Insights: Hear From Our Experts
By Rida Nasir
Researcher and Conservationist, with an MSc in Environmental Science
Sharks play a crucial role in maintaining ocean ecosystems and serve as indicators of ocean health. By preying on weak and sick animals, they help control prey populations and ensure species diversity. As one of the planet's most important groups of predators, sharks inhabit a wide range of habitats across every ocean. They function as keystone predators, vital for the stability and maintenance of the food chain.
However, shark populations are threatened and declining due to overfishing, human activities, and the demand for shark fins. Their role in conserving coral reefs is significant, raising awareness and financial support for conservation efforts. Large apex predatory sharks, which frequent both coastal and pelagic ecosystems, remain at high risk from exploitation by pelagic longline fisheries and will require effective management strategies across various jurisdictions to ensure their protection.
As a marine conservationist who has studied sharks for a decade, I can attest to their indispensable role in marine ecosystems. The decline in shark populations is not just a loss of a species, but a disruption of the intricate balance of marine life. Sharks' presence or absence is a direct reflection of the health of our oceans. Immediate action is needed to implement and enforce conservation measures to protect these magnificent creatures. By safeguarding sharks, we are also protecting the health of our oceans and, by extension, our planet.
FAQs
Is the Megalodon still alive?
No, there is no evidence that there are any living Megalodons in the Earth’s oceans. If there were, they’d be upwards of 70 feet in length and between 50-70 tons.
What is the strongest shark?
The great white shark is considered to be the strongest shark in the world. They have the most powerful bite, at 18,000 newtons or 1,835 kilograms of force.
Which is the biggest shark in the world?
The whale shark is the biggest shark in the world. On average, they reach lengths of around 33 feet. But, the largest specimens are thought to be up to double that length.
What are the three biggest sharks in the world?
The three biggest sharks in the world are the whale shark, basking shark, and megamouth shark. These large creatures are thought to reach lengths of over 50 feet.
