Quick Answer: The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest whale in the world and the largest living animal on Earth. NOAA reports that blue whales can reach about 110 feet (33.5 m) in length and weigh up to roughly 330,000 pounds (150 metric tons). The largest individuals are females, and Antarctic blue whales are generally the biggest form.
What Is the Largest Whale in the World?
The blue whale is the world's largest whale. It is a baleen whale in the family Balaenopteridae, the same family that includes fin whales, sei whales, humpback whales, and minke whales.
Blue whales are not just the largest whales alive today. They are generally regarded as the largest animals known to have lived, exceeding the body mass of even the largest known dinosaurs.
| Record | Animal | Approximate maximum size |
|---|---|---|
| Largest whale | Blue whale | Up to about 110 ft (33.5 m), 330,000 lb (150 t) |
| Second-largest whale | Fin whale | Up to about 85 ft (26 m) |
| Largest toothed whale | Sperm whale | Large males can exceed 50 ft (15 m) |
| Largest fish | Whale shark | Much smaller than a blue whale; it is a shark, not a whale |
How Big Is a Blue Whale?
Blue whale size varies by sex, age, subspecies, and population. Females are generally larger than males. NOAA lists maximum size at about 110 feet and 330,000 pounds, although most blue whales are smaller than the most extreme historical records.
A 100-foot blue whale is roughly as long as a large commercial aircraft. Its body is long and streamlined rather than bulky, which can make its enormous size difficult to appreciate until it is seen next to a boat or another whale.
Which Blue Whales Are the Largest?
Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) are generally considered the largest blue whale form. Other recognized blue whale subspecies and populations tend to be somewhat smaller, including the pygmy blue whale.
Blue whales occur in nearly all of the world's oceans except the Arctic Ocean. Their size, migration patterns, feeding ecology, and vocalizations differ among populations.
Blue Whale vs Fin Whale: Which Is Bigger?
The blue whale is bigger. The fin whale is usually considered the second-largest living whale and second-largest living animal by body size.
| Feature | Blue Whale | Fin Whale |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Balaenoptera musculus | Balaenoptera physalus |
| Maximum length | About 110 ft (33.5 m) | About 85 ft (26 m) |
| Body type | Very long, broad, streamlined | Long and especially slender |
| Feeding | Mainly krill | Krill and small schooling fish |
| Relative rank | Largest living animal | Second-largest living whale |
See more giant species in Top 10 Largest Whales in the World.
What Is the Largest Toothed Whale?
The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest toothed whale. Large adult males are much bigger than females and can exceed 15 meters (50 feet) in length.
Sperm whales are famous for deep diving and feeding on squid. However, even the largest sperm whale is far smaller than a maximum-size blue whale.
Is a Whale Shark Bigger Than a Blue Whale?
No. The whale shark is the largest fish, but it is not a whale. It is a shark (Rhincodon typus) and is much smaller than a blue whale.
Blue whale: marine mammal, breathes air with lungs, gives birth to live calves and nurses them with milk.
Whale shark: cartilaginous fish, breathes through gills and belongs to the shark lineage.
See the Whale Shark species profile for more details.
What Does the World's Largest Whale Eat?
Despite its enormous body, the blue whale feeds mainly on tiny crustaceans called krill. It is a lunge-feeding baleen whale: it accelerates into dense prey patches with its mouth open, takes in a huge volume of water and krill, and then pushes the water out through baleen plates while retaining the prey.
NOAA reports that some of the biggest blue whales can eat up to about 6 tons of krill in a day during intense feeding periods.
How Can Blue Whales Become So Large?
The ocean supports giant body size in several ways. Water provides buoyancy, reducing the structural challenge of supporting enormous mass. Blue whales also exploit dense seasonal concentrations of krill, allowing them to consume huge amounts of energy-rich prey efficiently.
Their bodies are specialized for lunge feeding. Expandable throat grooves allow the mouth and throat region to expand dramatically during a feeding strike, while baleen filters prey from the engulfed seawater.
How Big Is a Blue Whale Calf?
Blue whale calves are already among the largest newborn animals on Earth. They are typically around 7 meters (23 feet) long at birth and weigh several tons.
Calves grow rapidly while nursing on extremely energy-rich milk. They remain with their mothers during the early part of life before becoming independent.
How Long Do Blue Whales Live?
Blue whales are long-lived mammals. NOAA estimates a lifespan of roughly 80–90 years.
Where Do Blue Whales Live?
Blue whales occur in oceans around the world except the Arctic Ocean. Many populations migrate between productive high-latitude feeding areas and lower-latitude breeding or wintering regions, although migration patterns vary.
Are Blue Whales Endangered?
Yes. The blue whale is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and NOAA lists it as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Commercial whaling caused an enormous population decline during the 20th century. International protection greatly reduced direct hunting, and some populations have shown recovery, but blue whales still face serious threats.
Ship strikes
Entanglement in fishing gear
Ocean noise
Changes in prey availability
Long-term climate-driven changes to marine ecosystems
Is the Blue Whale Bigger Than the Largest Dinosaur?
By body mass, the blue whale is generally regarded as larger than any well-established dinosaur estimate. Some giant sauropod dinosaurs may have approached or exceeded blue whales in length, but their estimated mass was lower than that of the heaviest blue whales.
This comparison is difficult because extinct animals are reconstructed from fossils, and maximum body-mass estimates can change as new fossils and methods become available.
Top 5 Largest Living Whales
Exact rankings vary because maximum measurements differ among populations and records, but the following species are among the largest living whales:
| Rank | Whale | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Whale | Largest living animal |
| 2 | Fin Whale | Second-largest living whale |
| 3 | Bowhead Whale | Extremely heavy Arctic baleen whale |
| 4 | Southern Right Whale | Massive, thick-bodied baleen whale |
| 5 | Sperm Whale | Largest toothed whale |
FAQ
What is the largest whale in the world?
The blue whale is the largest whale in the world.
How long is the largest blue whale?
Blue whales can reach about 110 feet (33.5 meters) according to NOAA, although most individuals are smaller.
How much can a blue whale weigh?
NOAA reports maximum weight at about 330,000 pounds, or roughly 150 metric tons.
What is the second-largest whale?
The fin whale is generally considered the second-largest living whale.
What is the largest toothed whale?
The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale.
Is a blue whale bigger than a whale shark?
Yes. A blue whale is far larger. A whale shark is the largest fish, not a whale.
Are blue whales bigger than dinosaurs?
Blue whales are generally regarded as heavier than any well-established dinosaur estimate, although some giant dinosaurs may have rivaled or exceeded them in length.
Are blue whales endangered?
Yes. The blue whale is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Final Answer
The blue whale is the largest whale in the world. It can reach about 110 feet (33.5 meters) and around 330,000 pounds (150 metric tons). It is larger than the fin whale, sperm whale, and whale shark, and is widely regarded as the largest animal known to have lived on Earth.
Explore the full Blue Whale species profile for more information about its biology, distribution, and behavior.
