This study estimates global continental freshwater discharge into the oceans at 1° resolution using streamflow data from the world's largest 921 rivers and estimates from unmonitored areas. The most accurate estimate is based on streamflow data and ratios of runoff and drainage area between monitored and unmonitored regions. Simulations using a river transport model (RTM) forced by runoff fields derived from observed streamflow, NCEP-NCAR, and ECMWF reanalyses are used to estimate river mouth outflow. The global continental discharge is estimated at 37,288 ± 662 km³ yr⁻¹, which is ~7.6% of global precipitation or 35% of terrestrial precipitation. The discharge peaks in June for the Arctic, Pacific, and global oceans, versus May for the Atlantic and August for the Indian Ocean. Snow accumulation and melt significantly affect the annual cycle of discharge in all ocean basins except the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean and Black Seas. The river-based estimates agree well with observation-based runoff and ECMWF reanalysis-based P-E, but show a negative bias when using NCEP-NCAR reanalysis-based P-E. The study highlights the importance of accounting for unmonitored areas and the need for improved estimates of continental discharge for climate modeling. The results show that the global continental discharge is mainly influenced by the largest rivers, which account for ~57% of the global discharge. The study also shows that the discharge and its latitudinal distribution are consistent with the river-based estimates, but differ from earlier studies. The study provides a detailed estimate of mean meridional freshwater transport by the oceans, which can be used in climate and ocean model evaluations. The results suggest that the global continental discharge is mainly influenced by the largest rivers, which account for ~57% of the global discharge. The study also shows that the discharge and its latitudinal distribution are consistent with the river-based estimates, but differ from earlier studies. The study provides a detailed estimate of mean meridional freshwater transport by the oceans, which can be used in climate and ocean model evaluations.This study estimates global continental freshwater discharge into the oceans at 1° resolution using streamflow data from the world's largest 921 rivers and estimates from unmonitored areas. The most accurate estimate is based on streamflow data and ratios of runoff and drainage area between monitored and unmonitored regions. Simulations using a river transport model (RTM) forced by runoff fields derived from observed streamflow, NCEP-NCAR, and ECMWF reanalyses are used to estimate river mouth outflow. The global continental discharge is estimated at 37,288 ± 662 km³ yr⁻¹, which is ~7.6% of global precipitation or 35% of terrestrial precipitation. The discharge peaks in June for the Arctic, Pacific, and global oceans, versus May for the Atlantic and August for the Indian Ocean. Snow accumulation and melt significantly affect the annual cycle of discharge in all ocean basins except the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean and Black Seas. The river-based estimates agree well with observation-based runoff and ECMWF reanalysis-based P-E, but show a negative bias when using NCEP-NCAR reanalysis-based P-E. The study highlights the importance of accounting for unmonitored areas and the need for improved estimates of continental discharge for climate modeling. The results show that the global continental discharge is mainly influenced by the largest rivers, which account for ~57% of the global discharge. The study also shows that the discharge and its latitudinal distribution are consistent with the river-based estimates, but differ from earlier studies. The study provides a detailed estimate of mean meridional freshwater transport by the oceans, which can be used in climate and ocean model evaluations. The results suggest that the global continental discharge is mainly influenced by the largest rivers, which account for ~57% of the global discharge. The study also shows that the discharge and its latitudinal distribution are consistent with the river-based estimates, but differ from earlier studies. The study provides a detailed estimate of mean meridional freshwater transport by the oceans, which can be used in climate and ocean model evaluations.