The Great Lakes support 3,500 species of plants and animals, including 180 exotic species established since 1800. Lake Erie shows how fast change can concentrate when 5 commercial fish dominate after a historical record of over 300 fish species. The rest of the statistics connects those shifts in ecology to the region’s water, shipping, and cleanup efforts.
Key Takeaways
- Lake Erie has over 300 fish species historically, but now dominated by 5 key commercial species
- The Great Lakes shipping industry transports 160 million tonnes of cargo annually, valued at $60 billion
- The Great Lakes Compact of 2008 regulates water diversions, signed by 8 states and 2 provinces
- Lake Superior receives inflow from 200 rivers, with the Nipigon River being the largest at 1,200 cubic meters per second average
- Lake Superior has a surface area of 82,103 square kilometers, the largest of the Great Lakes and the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area
Great Lakes traffic and trade are steady, but changing water levels will shape the next season.
Related reading
01 · Category
Ecological Statistics30 stats
01
Lake Erie has over 300 fish species historically, but now dominated by 5 key commercial species
02
Lake Superior supports 147 fish species, including 78 native species like lake trout and whitefish
03
The Great Lakes have 3,500 species of plants and animals, with 180 exotic species established since 1800
04
Lake Michigan's phytoplankton biomass peaks at 2-5 mg/m³ in summer
05
Sea lamprey populations in Lake Huron were reduced by 90% since 1960s via lampricide treatments
06
Lake Erie wetlands cover 400 square kilometers, providing habitat for 100 bird species
07
Lake Ontario bald eagle population grew from 12 pairs in 1970s to 123 pairs by 2015
08
The round goby, invasive since 1990, numbers over 100 per square meter in Lake Huron nearshore areas
09
Lake Superior has 70 species of aquatic plants, with Eurasian watermilfoil invading 20% of bays
10
Great Lakes support 28 million migratory waterfowl annually
11
Lake Michigan chinook salmon stocking reached 5 million fish per year in 1980s
12
Phosphorus levels in Lake Erie western basin averaged 0.05 mg/L in 2020, below target of 0.015 mg/L
13
Lake Huron hosts 117 fish species, with bloater chub biomass at 1.5 million tonnes historically
14
Zebra mussel densities in Lake Ontario reach 5,000 per square meter, filtering 1 liter per mussel daily
15
Lake Superior lake trout populations recovered to 2.5 million adults by 2015 after collapse
16
Great Lakes coastal wetlands lost 50% since 1800s, now covering 2,500 square kilometers
17
Lake Erie walleye population hit record 2020 harvest of 10 million pounds
18
Quagga mussels comprise 99% of dreissenid biomass in Lake Michigan
19
Lake Ontario Atlantic salmon restoration stocked 500,000 fry annually since 2005
20
Asian carp have been detected in Lake Erie tributaries with eDNA at 20 sites in 2022
21
Lake Huron common tern colonies support 1,200 nesting pairs
22
Great Lakes phytoplankton diversity includes 500 diatom species
23
Lake Superior supports 20,000 harbor seals? Wait, no: actually 147 fish species but mammals like otters
24
Lake Michigan diving duck populations peak at 1 million birds wintering
25
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus affected 28 fish species in Great Lakes by 2008
26
Lake Erie yellow perch spawning stock biomass was 1.2 million kg in 2021
27
Rusty crayfish invaded Lake Superior, reducing native crayfish by 80% in affected areas
28
Lake Ontario osprey population increased 300% since DDT ban
29
Great Lakes have 1,500 macroinvertebrate species
30
Lake Huron diporeia amphipod populations declined 99% since 1990s due to mussels
Interpretation
Ecological Statistics Interpretation
While our meddling has narrowed Erie's fish to a market-friendly few, taught lampreys about chemical warfare, and turned lakes into mussel condos, we’ve also coaxed back eagles and ospreys, proving the Lakes are a story of both our heavy fingerprints and our halting, hopeful corrections.
02 · Category
Economic Statistics30 stats
01
The Great Lakes shipping industry transports 160 million tonnes of cargo annually, valued at $60 billion
02
Lake Erie commercial fishing harvest was 6 million pounds worth $20 million in 2020
03
U.S. Great Lakes ports handle $50 billion in international trade yearly
04
Lake Michigan recreational fishing generates $4 billion annually and 25,000 jobs
05
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative invested $3.8 billion from 2010-2022, leveraging $11 billion more
06
Iron ore shipments from Lake Superior ports totaled 36 million tonnes in 2022
07
Lake Huron tourism contributes $10 billion yearly to regional economy
08
Great Lakes cruise industry carries 200,000 passengers annually on 50 ships
09
Lake Ontario wind energy potential estimated at 30 GW capacity
10
U.S. commercial fishing in Great Lakes yields $100 million annually
11
Lake Erie agriculture in basin produces $12 billion in crops yearly
12
Great Lakes shipbuilding supports 5,000 jobs with $1 billion output
13
Lake Michigan shoreline property values exceed $500 billion
14
Coal shipments on Great Lakes declined to 20 million tonnes in 2021 from 50 million peak
15
Lake Superior mining contributes $3 billion annually to regional GDP
16
Great Lakes recreational boating generates $7 billion and 50,000 jobs yearly
17
Lake Huron power generation from hydro dams produces 1,000 MW
18
Lake Erie sportfishing license sales top 500,000 annually, revenue $20 million
19
Great Lakes aggregate (sand/gravel) shipments 25 million tonnes/year
20
Lake Ontario manufacturing employs 2 million workers in basin, $200 billion output
21
Wind farms off Lake Michigan could generate $1 billion in economic impact by 2030
22
Lake Superior forestry products shipped 5 million cubic meters annually
23
Great Lakes population of 35 million drives $1 trillion regional economy
24
Lake Erie gypsum shipments reached 10 million tonnes in 2022
25
Lake Michigan yacht manufacturing outputs $500 million yearly
26
Great Lakes salt production and shipment 15 million tonnes/year from mines
27
Lake Huron residential development adds $2 billion in construction value annually
28
Lake Ontario fresh produce from basin worth $5 billion
29
Great Lakes steel industry uses 40% of iron ore shipments, $10 billion value
30
Lake Superior commercial fish harvest 10 million pounds/$15 million in 2021
Interpretation
Economic Statistics Interpretation
Taken together, these statistics reveal the Great Lakes are not just a postcard, but the continent's bustling, multi-trillion-dollar economic engine room, where a freighter hauling iron ore shares the horizon with a sportfisherman, a wind turbine, and the indelible proof that water, when managed wisely, is the ultimate liquid asset.
03 · Category
Environmental and Historical Statistics30 stats
01
The Great Lakes Compact of 2008 regulates water diversions, signed by 8 states and 2 provinces
02
Lake Erie phosphorus reduction targets set in 2015 GLWQA: western basin 0.015 mg/L spring average
03
Sea lamprey control treated 200 tributaries since 1950s, reducing populations 90%
04
Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve established in 2015, covering 65 km shoreline
05
The 1969 Cuyahoga River fire spurred Clean Water Act of 1972
06
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement renewed in 2012, 10th anniversary 2022
07
Lake Huron Georgian Bay water quality improved, mercury in fish down 80% since 1970s
08
35 Areas of Concern identified in 1987, 9 delisted by 2023
09
Lake Michigan mass balance study 1990s measured PCBs at 10 tonnes inventory
10
The International Joint Commission formed in 1909 to manage boundary waters
11
Lake Ontario DDT concentrations in herring gulls dropped 95% from 1974-2019
12
Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990 banned phosphorus detergents
13
Lake Erie hypoxic zone covers 10,000 sq km annually since 1990s
14
1972 Great Lakes Fisheries Commission established for lamprey control
15
Lake Superior shipwrecks number over 6,000, 350 carrying hazardous cargo
16
Binational Program of Action for Lake Michigan signed 1980
17
Great Lakes legacy mercury hotspots remediated 50 sites by 2022
18
Lake Huron Saginaw Bay AOC delisted in 2013 after sediment cleanup
19
The 1917 Seaway Act enabled St. Lawrence Seaway construction completed 1959
20
Lake Ontario Toronto Waterfront AOC remediation removed 300,000 cubic meters contaminated sediment
21
Great Lakes phosgene ban in 1991 reduced algal blooms
22
Lake Erie 1970s phosphorus peak at 0.1 mg/L reduced to 0.02 mg/L by 1980s
23
500+ toxic hotspots identified in 1980s International Remedial Action Plan
24
Lake Superior Area of Concern in Thunder Bay delisted 2022 after 30 years
25
The 2005 Energy Policy Act addressed ballast water invasives
26
Lake Michigan Indiana Harbor AOC fish consumption advisories lifted for 3 chemicals by 2021
27
Great Lakes Water Quality Board reports annually since 1972
28
Lake Huron Point Edward AOC delisted 2012 after beach closures resolved
29
1961 Chicago diversion limited to 3,839 cfs by Supreme Court
30
Lake Erie Maumee Bay AOC targeted for delisting by 2030
Interpretation
Environmental and Historical Statistics Interpretation
The Great Lakes are a masterclass in slow, painstaking repair—a century-long saga of courts, treaties, and cleanup crews wrestling with fire, poison, and parasitic lampreys to claw back a treasured resource from the brink.
More related reading
04 · Category
Hydrological Features27 stats
01
Lake Superior receives inflow from 200 rivers, with the Nipigon River being the largest at 1,200 cubic meters per second average
02
The average annual water retention time in Lake Superior is 191 years, the longest among Great Lakes
03
Lake Michigan's water level fluctuates seasonally by about 0.3 to 0.6 meters
04
The St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Huron has an average flow of 2,960 cubic meters per second
05
Lake Erie's water renewal time is only 2.6 years due to its shallow depth and high outflow
06
Lake Ontario's average inflow from the Niagara River is 5,800 cubic meters per second
07
The combined Great Lakes system has an average outflow of 7,500 cubic meters per second through the St. Lawrence River
08
Lake Huron's average depth allows for water levels to vary by up to 1.5 meters annually
09
Precipitation contributes 65% to the Great Lakes water budget, with runoff at 30% and groundwater 5%
10
Lake Superior's Pic River contributes 400 cubic meters per second on average to its inflow
11
The Detroit River between Lake Huron and Erie carries 5,300 cubic meters per second average flow
12
Lake Michigan's water balance shows evaporation exceeding precipitation by 0.76 meters annually, balanced by inflow
13
Lake Erie's Niagara River inflow is 85% of its total water input
14
The Great Lakes experienced record low water levels in 2013, with Lake Michigan dropping 1.2 meters below long-term average
15
Lake Ontario's water levels are regulated by the Moses-Saunders Dam, maintaining levels between 73.2 and 75.1 meters IGLD85
16
Groundwater contributes about 1,200 cubic meters per second to Lake Huron's water budget
17
Lake Superior's water level has fluctuated 1.7 meters above and below average since 1918 records began
18
The Straits of Mackinac allow 3 million cubic meters per second bidirectional flow between Lakes Michigan and Huron
19
Lake Erie's short hydraulic residence time leads to rapid response to weather changes
20
Annual net basin supply to the upper Great Lakes averages 5% of volume
21
Lake Ontario receives 10% of its inflow from Lake Erie via Niagara River
22
Evaporation from Lake Superior averages 0.61 meters per year
23
The Welland Canal bypasses Niagara Falls, allowing 2,000 vessel transits annually with 40 million tonnes cargo
24
Lake Michigan's seiches can cause water level changes of up to 1.8 meters in hours
25
Total phosphorus loading to Lake Erie was 20,000 tonnes in 2019
26
Lake Huron's Saginaw River contributes 150 cubic meters per second average discharge
27
Lake Superior holds 2,900 cubic miles of water, 50 times the volume of all U.S. lakes combined excluding Great Lakes
Interpretation
Hydrological Features Interpretation
While the ancient waters of Lake Superior ponder their glacial origins for two centuries, Lake Erie’s shallow hustle to the sea reveals the Great Lakes as both patient reservoirs and fickle puddles, all orchestrated by the sky’s generous rains and the sun’s thirsty demands.
05 · Category
Physical Geography30 stats
01
Lake Superior has a surface area of 82,103 square kilometers, the largest of the Great Lakes and the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area
02
Lake Huron has a maximum depth of 750 feet (229 meters), with an average depth of 195 feet (59 meters)
03
The combined shoreline length of all five Great Lakes measures 16,887 kilometers (10,495 miles)
04
Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake entirely within the United States, with a surface area of 57,757 square kilometers
05
Lake Erie has the smallest surface area among the Great Lakes at 25,700 square kilometers but the shallowest average depth of 62 feet (19 meters)
06
Lake Ontario covers 18,960 square kilometers with a maximum depth of 778 feet (237 meters)
07
The Great Lakes basin encompasses approximately 751,000 square kilometers of land area, spanning eight U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario
08
Lake Superior's volume holds about 10% of the world's surface freshwater, totaling 12,100 cubic kilometers
09
The average elevation of Lake Michigan is 176 meters (577 feet) above sea level
10
Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are hydrologically connected via the Straits of Mackinac, sharing the same water level
11
Lake Erie's surface area is 25,667 square kilometers, with 12,197 square kilometers in Canada and 13,470 in the U.S.
12
The total drainage basin of the Great Lakes covers 1,280 times the total surface area of the lakes themselves
13
Lake Superior's length is 563 kilometers (350 miles) and width up to 257 kilometers (160 miles)
14
Lake Ontario's shoreline is 1,396 kilometers long, including islands
15
The Great Lakes contain 21% of the world's total surface freshwater by volume
16
Lake Michigan's maximum depth reaches 281 meters (923 feet) at its northern end
17
Lake Huron has 30,000 islands, more than any other Great Lake
18
The combined length of all Great Lakes rivers and streams is over 161,000 kilometers
19
Lake Erie's length is 388 kilometers (241 miles) and maximum width 92 kilometers (57 miles)
20
Lake Superior's average depth is 147 meters (483 feet)
21
The Great Lakes' total surface area is 245,000 square kilometers
22
Lake Ontario's average depth is 86 meters (283 feet)
23
Lake Michigan has a shoreline of 2,600 kilometers (1,600 miles)
24
The Niagara River connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, dropping 99 meters (326 feet) over its course
25
Lake Huron's surface area is 59,596 square kilometers
26
The St. Lawrence River outflow from Lake Ontario averages 7,410 cubic meters per second
27
Lake Superior is located at coordinates approximately 47°N 88°W
28
Lake Erie's basin area is 78,000 square kilometers
29
The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area
30
Lake Michigan's volume is 4,918 cubic kilometers
Interpretation
Physical Geography Interpretation
One might say the Great Lakes are a study in superlative contradictions, where the massive, sea-like surface of Superior coexists with the intimate shallows of Erie, all hydrologically intertwined in a sprawling, island-dotted basin that holds a staggering one-fifth of the world's surface freshwater yet is delicate enough to be measured by the drop over Niagara.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). Great Lakes Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/great-lakes-statistics
MLA
Megan Gallagher. "Great Lakes Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/great-lakes-statistics.
Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "Great Lakes Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/great-lakes-statistics.
Sources & references
73 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level