How deep is the South China Sea on average?

The South China Sea has a mean depth of 3,976 feet (1,212 meters).1

While this represents the average depth of the entire sea, its topography varies significantly. The region contains a deep basin known as the China Sea Basin, which reaches a maximum depth of 16,457 feet (5,016 meters) and features an abyssal plain with a mean depth of approximately 14,100 feet (4,300 meters). In contrast, the southern portion of the sea is characterized by the shallow Sunda Shelf, where depths typically range from 130 feet (40 meters) at the periphery to 330 feet (100 meters) in its central areas.1