The first world record in the men's 1500 metres freestyle in a long course (50 metres) swimming pool was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1908. In short course (25 metres) pools, the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.
Men
Long course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22:48.4 | Henry Taylor | Great Britain | 25 July 1908 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | ||
| 2 | 22:00.0 | George Hodgson | Canada | 10 July 1912 | Olympic Games | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| 3 | 21:35.3 | Arne Borg | Sweden | 8 July 1923 | - | Gothenburg, Sweden | ||
| 4 | 21:15.0 | Arne Borg | Sweden | 30 January 1924 | - | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 5 | 21:11.4 | Arne Borg | Sweden | 13 July 1924 | - | Paris, France | ||
| 6 | 20:06.6 | Boy Charlton | Australia | 15 July 1924 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | ||
| 7 | 20:04.4 | Arne Borg | Sweden | 18 August 1926 | - | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 8 | 19:07.2 | Arne Borg | Sweden | 2 September 1927 | European Championships | Bologna, Italy | ||
| 9 | 18:58.8 | Tomikatsu Amano | Japan | 10 August 1938 | - | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 10 | 18:35.7 | Shiro Hashizume | Japan | 16 August 1949 | - | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 11 | 18:19.0 | Hironoshin Furuhashi | Japan | 16 August 1949 | - | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 12 | 18:05.9 | George Breen | United States | 3 May 1956 | - | New Haven, United States | ||
| 13 | 17:59.5 | Murray Rose | Australia | 30 October 1956 | - | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| 14 | 17:52.9 | George Breen | United States | 5 December 1956 | - | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| 15 | 17:28.7 | John Konrads | Australia | 22 February 1958 | - | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| 16 | 17:11.0 | John Konrads | Australia | 27 February 1960 | - | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 17 | 17:05.5 | Roy Saari | United States | 17 August 1963 | - | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 18 | 17:01.8 | Murray Rose | Australia | 2 August 1964 | - | Los Altos, United States | ||
| 19 | 16:58.7 | Roy Saari | United States | 2 September 1964 | - | New York City, United States | ||
| 20 | 16:58.6 | Stephen Krause | United States | 15 August 1965 | - | Maumee, United States | ||
| 21 | 16:41.6 | Mike Burton | United States | 21 August 1966 | - | Lincoln, United States | ||
| 22 | 16:34.1 | Mike Burton | United States | 13 August 1967 | US National Championships | Oak Park, United States | ||
| 23 | 16:28.1 | Guillermo Echevarria | Mexico | 7 July 1968 | Santa Clara Invitational | Santa Clara, United States | ||
| 24 | 16:08.6 | Mike Burton | United States | 3 September 1968 | US Olympic Trials | Long Beach, United States | ||
| 25 | 16:04.5 | Mike Burton | United States | 17 August 1969 | US National Championships | Louisville, United States | ||
| 26 | 15:57.10 | John Kinsella | United States | 23 August 1970 | US National Championships | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 27 | 15:52.91 | Rick DeMont | United States | 6 August 1972 | US Olympic Trials | Chicago, United States | ||
| 28 | 15:52.58 | Mike Burton | United States | 4 September 1972 | Olympic Games | Munich, West Germany | ||
| 29 | 15:37.80 | Stephen Holland | Australia | 5 August 1973 | Pre World Championship meet | Brisbane, Australia | ||
| 30 | 15:31.85 | Stephen Holland | Australia | 8 September 1973 | World Championships | Belgrade, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | ||
| 31 | 15:31.75 | Tim Shaw | United States | 25 August 1974 | US National Championships | Concord, United States | ||
| 32 | 15:27.79 | Stephen Holland | Australia | 25 January 1975 | New Zealand Games | Christchurch, New Zealand | ||
| 33 | 15:20.91 | Tim Shaw | United States | 21 June 1975 | US World Championship Trials | Long Beach, United States | ||
| 34 | 15:10.89 | Stephen Holland | Australia | 27 February 1976 | Australian Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 35 | 15:06.66 | Brian Goodell | United States | 21 June 1976 | US Olympic Trials | Long Beach, United States | ||
| 36 | 15:02.40 | Brian Goodell | United States | 20 July 1976 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Canada | ||
| 37 | 14:58.27 | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 22 July 1980 | Olympic Games | Moscow, Soviet Union | ||
| 38 | 14:56.35 | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 13 March 1982 | Soviet Union vs East Germany Dual Meet | Moscow, Soviet Union | ||
| 39 | 14:54.76 | Vladimir Salnikov | Soviet Union | 22 February 1983 | Soviet Union Winter Championships | Moscow, Soviet Union | ||
| - | 14:53.59 | [A] | Glen Housman | Australia | 13 December 1989 | Australian Trials | Adelaide, Australia | |
| 40 | 14:50.36 | Jörg Hoffmann | Germany | 13 January 1991 | World Championships | Perth, Australia | ||
| 41 | 14:48.40 | Kieren Perkins | Australia | 5 April 1992 | Australian Championships | Canberra, Australia | ||
| 42 | 14:43.48 | Kieren Perkins | Australia | 31 July 1992 | Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| 43 | 14:41.66 | Kieren Perkins | Australia | 24 August 1994 | Commonwealth Games | Victoria, Canada | ||
| 44 | 14:34.56 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 29 July 2001 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | ||
| 45 | 14:34.14 | Sun Yang | China | 31 July 2011 | World Championships | Shanghai, China | ||
| 46 | 14:31.02 | Sun Yang | China | 4 August 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | ||
| 47 | 14:30.67 | Bobby Finke | United States | 4 August 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Short course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14:32.40 | Kieren Perkins | Australia | 2 February 1992 | Swimming Australia Grand Prix | Canberra, Australia | ||
| 2 | 14:26.52 | Kieren Perkins | Australia | 14 July 1993 | - | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| 3 | 14:19.55 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 27 September 1998 | Australian Championships | Perth, Australia | ||
| 4 | 14:10.10 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 7 August 2001 | Australian Championships | Perth, Australia | ||
| 5 | 14:08.06 | Gregorio Paltrinieri | Italy | 4 December 2015 | European Championships | Netanya, Israel | ||
| 6 | 14:06.88 | Florian Wellbrock | Germany | 21 December 2021 | World Championships | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Women
Long course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25:06.6 | Helen Wainwright | United States | Aug 19, 1922 | - | New York City, United States | ||
| 2 | 24:07.6 | Ethel McGary | United States | Dec 31, 1925 | - | Coral Gables, United States | ||
| 3 | 24:00.2 | Edith Mayne | Great Britain | Sep 15, 1926 | - | Exmouth, United Kingdom | ||
| 4 | 23:44.6 | Martha Norelius | United States | Jul 28, 1927 | - | Massapequa, United States | ||
| 5 | 23:17.2 | Helene Madison | United States | Jul 15, 1931 | - | New York City, United States | ||
| 6 | 22:36.7 | Grete Frederiksen | Denmark | Jun 26, 1936 | - | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| 7 | 21:45.7 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | Jul 3, 1938 | - | Helsinki, Finland | ||
| 8 | 21:10.1 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | Aug 11, 1940 | - | Helsinki, Finland | ||
| 9 | 20:57.0 | Ragnhild Hveger | Denmark | Aug 20, 1941 | - | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| 10 | 20:46.5 | Lenie de Nijs | Netherlands | Jul 23, 1955 | - | Utrecht, Netherlands | ||
| 11 | 20:22.8 | Jans Koster | Netherlands | Aug 21, 1956 | - | Utrecht, Netherlands | ||
| 12 | 20:03.1 | Jans Koster | Netherlands | Jul 27, 1957 | - | Hilversum, Netherlands | ||
| 13 | 19:25.7 | Ilsa Konrads | Australia | Jan 13, 1960 | - | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 14 | 19:23.6 | Jane Cederqvist | Sweden | Sep 8, 1960 | - | Uppsala, Sweden | ||
| 15 | 19:02.8 | Margareta Rylander | Sweden | Jun 27, 1961 | - | Uppsala, Sweden | ||
| 16 | 18:44.0 | Carolyn House | United States | Aug 16, 1962 | - | Chicago, United States | ||
| 17 | 18:30.5 | Patty Caretto | United States | Jul 30, 1964 | - | Los Altos, United States | ||
| 18 | 18:23.7 | Patty Caretto | United States | Aug 12, 1965 | - | Los Altos, United States | ||
| 19 | 18:12.9 | Patty Caretto | United States | Aug 21, 1966 | - | Lincoln, United States | ||
| 20 | 18:11.1 | Debbie Meyer | United States | Jul 9, 1967 | Santa Clara Invitational | Santa Clara, United States | ||
| 21 | 17:50.2 | Debbie Meyer | United States | Aug 20, 1967 | AAU Nationals | Philadelphia, United States | ||
| 22 | 17:31.2 | Debbie Meyer | United States | Aug 21, 1968 | - | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 23 | 17:19.9 | Debbie Meyer | United States | Aug 17, 1969 | AAU Nationals | Louisville, United States | ||
| 24 | 17:19.20 | Cathy Calhoun | United States | Aug 28, 1971 | AAU Nationals | Houston, United States | ||
| 25 | 17:00.6 | Shane Gould | Australia | Dec 12, 1971 | - | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 26 | 16:56.9 | Shane Gould | Australia | Feb 11, 1973 | AUS Nationals | Adelaide, Australia | ||
| 27 | 16:54.14 | Jo Harshbarger | United States | Aug 25, 1973 | USA World Championship Trials | Louisville, United States | ||
| 28 | 16:49.9 | Jennifer Turrall | Australia | Dec 9, 1973 | Top-level meet | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 29 | 16:48.2 | Jennifer Turrall | Australia | Jan 9, 1974 | NSW State Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 30 | 16:43.4 | Jennifer Turrall | Australia | Jul 13, 1974 | - | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 31 | 16:39.28 | Jennifer Turrall | Australia | Aug 3, 1974 | Los Angeles Invitational | Los Angeles, United States | ||
| 32 | 16:33.94 | Jennifer Turrall | Australia | Aug 25, 1974 | AAU Nationals | Concord, United States | ||
| 33 | 16:24.60 | Alice Browne | United States | Aug 21, 1977 | AAU Nationals | Mission Viejo, United States | ||
| 34 | 16:14.93 | Tracey Wickham | Australia | Feb 8, 1978 | Invitational | Brisbane, Australia | ||
| 35 | 16:06.63 | Tracey Wickham | Australia | Feb 25, 1979 | AUS Nationals | Perth, Australia | ||
| 36 | 16:04.49 | Kim Linehan | United States | Aug 19, 1979 | AAU Nationals | Fort Lauderdale, United States | ||
| 37 | 16:00.73 | Janet Evans | United States | Jul 31, 1987 | USA Nationals & Pan Pacific Trials | Orlando, United States | ||
| 38 | 15:52.10 | Janet Evans | United States | Mar 26, 1988 | USA Spring Nationals | Orlando, United States | ||
| 39 | 15:42.54 | Kate Ziegler | United States | Jun 17, 2007 | TYR Meet of Champions | Mission Viejo, United States | ||
| 40 | 15:36.53 | Katie Ledecky | United States | Jul 30, 2013 | World Championships | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| 41 | 15:34.23 | Katie Ledecky | United States | Jun 19, 2014 | Woodlands Senior Invitational Meet | Shenandoah, United States | ||
| 42 | 15:28.36 | Katie Ledecky | United States | Aug 24, 2014 | Pan Pacific Championships | Gold Coast, Australia | ||
| 43 | 15:27.71 | h | Katie Ledecky | United States | Aug 3, 2015 | World Championships | Kazan, Russia | |
| 44 | 15:25.48 | Katie Ledecky | United States | Aug 4, 2015 | World Championships | Kazan, Russia | ||
| 45 | 15:20.48 | Katie Ledecky | United States | May 16, 2018 | TYR Pro Swim Series | Indianapolis, United States |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Short course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15:43.31 | Petra Schneider | East Germany | Jan 10, 1982 | - | Gainesville, United States | ||
| 2 | 15:42.39 | Laure Manaudou | France | Nov 20, 2004 | Regional meet | La Roche-sur-Yon, France | ||
| 3 | 15:32.90 | Kate Ziegler | United States | Oct 12, 2007 | Alex Athletics Jubiläums Challenge | Essen, Germany | ||
| 4 | 15:28.65 | Lotte Friis | Denmark | Nov 29, 2009 | Local Club Meet | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| 5 | 15:26.95 | Mireia Belmonte | Spain | Nov 29, 2013 | Spanish Championships | Castelló de la Plana, Spain | ||
| 6 | 15:22.68 | Lauren Boyle | New Zealand | Aug 9, 2014 | Wellington Winter Championships | Wellington, New Zealand | ||
| 7 | 15:19.71 | Mireia Belmonte | Spain | Dec 12, 2014 | Spanish Championships | Sabadell, Spain | ||
| 8 | 15:18.01 | Sarah Köhler | Germany | Nov 16, 2019 | German Championships | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 9 | 15:08.24 | Katie Ledecky | United States | Oct 29, 2022 | FINA World Cup | Toronto, Canada |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
All-time top 25
| Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 1500 m freestyle times and the top 25 athletes: |
| - denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 1500 m freestyle times |
| - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 1500 m freestyle times, by repeat athletes |
| - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 1500 m freestyle times |
Men long course
- Correct as of August 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 14:30.67 | Bobby Finke | United States | 4 August 2024 | Paris | |
| 2 | 2 | 14:31.02 | Sun Yang | China | 4 August 2012 | London | |
| 3 | 3 | 14:31.54 | Ahmed Hafnaoui | Tunisia | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |
| 4 | 14:31.59 | Finke #2 | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 4 | 5 | 14:32.80 | Gregorio Paltrinieri | Italy | 25 June 2022 | Budapest | |
| 6 | 14:33.10 | Paltrinieri #2 | 13 August 2020 | Rome | |||
| 7 | 14:34.04 | Paltrinieri #3 | 18 May 2016 | London | |||
| 5 | 8 | 14:34.07 | Daniel Wiffen | Ireland | 18 February 2024 | Doha | |
| 9 | 14:34.14 | Sun #2 | 31 July 2011 | Shanghai | |||
| 6 | 10 | 14:34.41 | Ahmed Jaouadi | Tunisia | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | |
| 11 | 14:34.55 | Paltrinieri #4 | 4 August 2024 | Paris | |||
| 7 | 12 | 14:34.56 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 29 July 2001 | Fukuoka | |
| 13 | 14:34.57 | Paltrinieri #5 | 13 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 8 | 14 | 14:34.89 | Florian Wellbrock | Germany | 21 April 2023 | Berlin | |
| 15 | 14:34.91 | Wiffen #2 | 14 April 2023 | Stockholm | |||
| 16 | 14:35.43 | Sun #3 | 18 November 2010 | Guangzhou | |||
| 9 | 17 | 14:35.69 | Sven Schwarz | Germany | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | |
| 18 | 14:35.79 | Wiffen #3 | 11 August 2023 | Dublin | |||
| 19 | 14:35.85 | Paltrinieri #6 | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 10 | 20 | 14:36.10 | Mykhailo Romanchuk | Ukraine | 16 August 2022 | Rome | |
| 21 | 14:36.15 | Wellbrock #2 | 5 August 2018 | Glasgow | |||
| 22 | 14:36.25 | Wellbrock #3 | 4 May 2025 | Berlin | |||
| 23 | 14:36.45 | Wellbrock #4 | 18 April 2021 | Berlin | |||
| 24 | 14:36.56 | Wellbrock #5 | 28 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 25 | 14:36.60 | Finke #3 | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 11 | 14:37.28 | Oussama Mellouli | Tunisia | 2 August 2009 | Rome | ||
| Samuel Short | Australia | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | ||||
| 13 | 14:39.03 | Oliver Klemet | Germany | 4 May 2025 | Berlin | ||
| 14 | 14:39.48 | Connor Jaeger | United States | 13 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| 15 | 14:39.54 | Mack Horton | Australia | 13 April 2016 | Adelaide | ||
| 16 | 14:39.63 | Ryan Cochrane | Canada | 4 August 2012 | London | ||
| 17 | 14:40.28 | Lukas Märtens | Germany | 25 March 2022 | Magdeburg | ||
| 18 | 14:40.86 | Gabriele Detti | Italy | 13 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| 19 | 14:40.91 | Dávid Betlehem | Hungary | 4 August 2024 | Paris | ||
| 20 | 14:41.13 | Yuriy Prilukov | Russia | 15 August 2008 | Beijing | ||
| 21 | 14:41.22 | Kuzey Tunçelli | Turkey | 4 August 2024 | Paris | ||
| 22 | 14:41.66 | Kieren Perkins | Australia | 24 August 1994 | Victoria | ||
| 23 | 14:44.66 | David Aubry | France | 4 August 2024 | Paris | ||
| 24 | 14:45.03 | Jordan Wilimovsky | United States | 13 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| 25 | 14:45.29 | Larsen Jensen | United States | 13 August 2004 | Athens |
Men short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 14:06.88 | Florian Wellbrock | Germany | 21 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |
| 2 | 2 | 14:08.06 | Gregorio Paltrinieri | Italy | 4 December 2015 | Netanya | |
| 3 | 3 | 14:09.11 | Daniel Wiffen | Ireland | 7 December 2023 | Otopeni | |
| 4 | 4 | 14:09.14 | Mykhailo Romanchuk | Ukraine | 16 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |
| 5 | 14:09.87 | Paltrinieri #2 | 16 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 6 | 14:09.88 | Wellbrock #2 | 4 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 5 | 7 | 14:10.10 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 7 August 2001 | Perth | |
| 6 | 8 | 14:10.94 | Ahmed Hafnaoui | Tunisia | 21 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |
| 9 | 14:11.47 | Romanchuk #2 | 21 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||
| 10 | 14:13.07 | Paltrinieri #3 | 4 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 11 | 14:13.96 | Wiffen #2 | 4 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 12 | 14:14.45 | Wiffen #3 | 10 December 2022 | Glasgow | |||
| 13 | 14:14.59 | Romanchuk #3 | 15 December 2017 | Copenhagen | |||
| 14 | 14:15.49 | Romanchuk #4 | 22 October 2016 | Singapore | |||
| 7 | 15 | 14:15.51 | Park Tae-hwan | South Korea | 11 December 2016 | Windsor | |
| Zalán Sárkány | Hungary | 4 December 2025 | Lublin | ||||
| 17 | 14:16.10 | Paltrinieri #4 | 7 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 9 | 18 | 14:16.13 | Yuriy Prilukov | Russia | 9 December 2006 | Helsinki | |
| 10 | 19 | 14:16.40 | Ahmed Jaouadi | Tunisia | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |
| 20 | 14:16.88 | Paltrinieri #5 | 13 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 21 | 14:17.14 | Paltrinieri #6 | 6 December 2019 | Glasgow | |||
| 22 | 14:17.27 | Wellbrock #3 | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 11 | 23 | 14:18.00 | Gabriele Detti | Italy | 4 December 2015 | Netanya | |
| 24 | 14:18.10 | Paltrinieri #7 | 5 December 2019 | Glasgow | |||
| 12 | 25 | 14:18.15 | Henrik Christiansen | Norway | 6 December 2019 | Glasgow | |
| 13 | 14:18.79 | Oussama Mellouli | Tunisia | 7 December 2014 | Doha | ||
| 14 | 14:19.29 | Connor Jaeger | United States | 12 December 2015 | Indianapolis | ||
| 15 | 14:19.62 | Damien Joly | France | 13 December 2022 | Melbourne | ||
| 16 | 14:19.65 | Dávid Betlehem | Hungary | 4 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 17 | 14:20.44 | Jan Wolfgarten | Germany | 12 December 2009 | Istanbul | ||
| 18 | 14:20.64 | Kuzey Tunçelli | Turkey | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 19 | 14:21.78 | David Aubry | France | 7 December 2023 | Otopeni | ||
| 20 | 14:22.29 | Sven Schwarz | Germany | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 21 | 14:22.47 | Zhang Lin | China | 21 February 2009 | Tokyo | ||
| 22 | 14:22.77 | David Johnston | United States | 27 August 2022 | Sydney | ||
| 23 | 14:23.26 | Kazushi Imafuku | Japan | 29 March 2025 | Tokyo | ||
| 24 | 14:23.35 | Ryan Cochrane | Canada | 7 December 2014 | Doha | ||
| 25 | 14:23.98 | Victor Johansson | Sweden | 3 December 2025 | Lublin |
Women long course
- Correct as of July 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 15:20.48 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 16 May 2018 | Indianapolis | |
| 2 | 15:23.21 | Ledecky #2 | 14 January 2026 | Austin | |||
| 3 | 15:24.51 | Ledecky #3 | 30 April 2025 | Fort Lauderdale | |||
| 4 | 15:25.48 | Ledecky #4 | 4 August 2015 | Kazan | |||
| 5 | 15:26.27 | Ledecky #5 | 25 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 6 | 15:26.44 | Ledecky #6 | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 7 | 15:27.71 | Ledecky #7 | 3 August 2015 | Kazan | |||
| 8 | 15:28.36 | Ledecky #8 | 24 August 2014 | Gold Coast | |||
| 9 | 15:29.51 | Ledecky #9 | 4 March 2020 | Des Moines | |||
| 10 | 15:29.64 | Ledecky #10 | 1 July 2023 | Indianapolis | |||
| 11 | 15:30.02 | Ledecky #11 | 31 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 12 | 15:30.15 | Ledecky #12 | 20 June 2022 | Budapest | |||
| 2 | 13 | 15:31.79 | Simona Quadarella | Italy | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |
| 14 | 15:31.82 | Ledecky #13 | 25 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 15 | 15:34.23 | Ledecky #14 | 19 June 2014 | Shenandoah | |||
| 16 | 15:35.35 | Ledecky #15 | 26 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 17 | 15:35.65 | Ledecky #16 | 1 June 2017 | Santa Clara | |||
| 18 | 15:35.98 | Ledecky #17 | 7 December 2019 | Greensboro | |||
| 19 | 15:36.53 | Ledecky #18 | 30 July 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 20 | 15:36.68 | Ledecky #19 | 28 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 21 | 15:36.76 | Ledecky #20 | 7 June 2025 | Indianapolis | |||
| 22 | 15:36.87 | Ledecky #21 | 16 February 2025 | Plantation | |||
| 23 | 15:37.34 | Ledecky #22 | 28 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 24 | 15:37.35 | Ledecky #23 | 19 June 2024 | Indianapolis | |||
| 25 | 15:37.99 | Ledecky #24 | 14 January 2023 | Knoxville | |||
| 3 | 15:38.88 | Lotte Friis | Denmark | 30 July 2013 | Barcelona | ||
| 4 | 15:39.14 | Lani Pallister | Australia | 14 June 2025 | Adelaide | ||
| 5 | 15:40.14 | Lauren Boyle | New Zealand | 4 August 2015 | Kazan | ||
| 6 | 15:40.35 | Anastasiia Kirpichnikova | France[B] | 31 July 2024 | Paris | ||
| 7 | 15:41.16 | Isabel Gose | Germany | 31 July 2024 | Paris | ||
| 8 | 15:41.41 | Erica Sullivan | United States | 28 July 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 9 | 15:41.49 | Wang Jianjiahe | China | 26 July 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 10 | 15:42.54 | Kate Ziegler | United States | 17 June 2007 | Mission Viejo | ||
| 11 | 15:42.91 | Sarah Köhler | Germany | 28 July 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 12 | 15:43.94 | Li Bingjie | China | 19 May 2025 | Shenzhen | ||
| 13 | 15:44.89 | Katie Grimes | United States | 20 June 2022 | Budapest | ||
| 14 | 15:44.93 | Alessia Filippi | Italy | 28 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 15 | 15:46.13 | Maddy Gough | Australia | 15 June 2021 | Adelaide | ||
| 16 | 15:47.09 | Boglárka Kapás | Hungary | 4 August 2015 | Kazan | ||
| 17 | 15:47.26 | Jazmin Carlin | Great Britain | 26 June 2013 | Sheffield | ||
| 18 | 15:50.89 | Mireia Belmonte | Spain | 25 July 2017 | Budapest | ||
| 19 | 15:51.68 | Delfina Pignatiello | Argentina | 15 June 2019 | Barcelona | ||
| 20 | 15:52.10 | Janet Evans | United States | 26 March 1988 | Orlando | ||
| 21 | 15:52.17 | Jessica Ashwood | Australia | 4 August 2015 | Kazan | ||
| 22 | 15:52.37 | Camelia Potec | Romania | 26 April 2009 | Montpellier | ||
| 23 | 15:54.19 | Ashley Twichell | United States | 23 July 2019 | Gwangju | ||
| 24 | 15:54.30 | Kristel Kobrich | Chile | 29 July 2013 | Barcelona | ||
| 25 | 15:54.48 | Ajna Késely | Hungary | 22 July 2019 | Gwangju |
Women short course
- Correct as of November 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 15:08.24 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 29 October 2022 | Toronto | |
| 2 | 2 | 15:13.83 | Lani Pallister | Australia | 19 October 2025 | Westmont | |
| 3 | 3 | 15:18.01 | Sarah Köhler | Germany | 16 November 2019 | Berlin | |
| 4 | 4 | 15:18.30 | Anastasiia Kirpichnikova | Russia[B] | 5 November 2021 | Kazan | |
| 5 | 5 | 15:19.71 | Mireia Belmonte | Spain | 12 December 2014 | Sabadell | |
| 6 | 15:20.12 | Kirpichnikova #2 | 8 December 2023 | Otopeni | |||
| 7 | 15:21.43 | Pallister #2 | 16 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 6 | 8 | 15:22.68 | Lauren Boyle | New Zealand | 9 August 2014 | Wellington | |
| 9 | 15:24.63 | Pallister #3 | 24 August 2022 | Sydney | |||
| 7 | 10 | 15:24.69 | Isabel Gose | Germany | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |
| 11 | 15:25.50 | Gose #2 | 19 November 2023 | Wuppertal | |||
| 12 | 15:26.08 | Kirpichnikova #3 | 4 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 13 | 15:26.95 | Belmonte #2 | 29 November 2013 | Castellón de la Plana | |||
| 14 | 15:28.33 | Pallister #4 | 29 November 2020 | Brisbane | |||
| 8 | 15 | 15:28.65 | Lotte Friis | Denmark | 28 November 2009 | Birkerød | |
| 9 | 16 | 15:29.74 | Simona Quadarella | Italy | 5 March 2021 | Rome | |
| 24 April 2021 | Pietralata | ||||||
| 18 | 15:29.93 | Quadarella #3 | 7 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 19 | 15:30.14 | Quadarella #4 | 13 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 10 | 20 | 15:30.22 | Erika Fairweather | New Zealand | 19 October 2025 | Westmont | |
| 11 | 21 | 15:31.19 | Maddy Gough | Australia | 26 September 2020 | Brisbane | |
| 12 | 22 | 15:32.90 | Kate Ziegler | United States | 12 October 2007 | Essen | |
| 23 | 15:33.40 | Quadarella #5 | 14 November 2024 | Riccione | |||
| 24 | 15:33.42 | Kirpichnikova #4 | 26 October 2023 | Angers | |||
| 25 | 15:34.16 | Quadarella #6 | 5 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 13 | 15:34.31 | Kareena Lee | Australia | 29 November 2020 | Brisbane | ||
| 14 | 15:36.43 | Martina Caramignoli | Italy | 5 March 2021 | Rome | ||
| 15 | 15:37.78 | Erika Villaecija | Spain | 26 November 2009 | Castellón de la Plana | ||
| 16 | 15:38.64 | Phoebe Hines | Australia | 29 November 2020 | Brisbane | ||
| 17 | 15:40.05 | Leonie Beck | Germany | 25 October 2019 | Wuppertal | ||
| 18 | 15:40.52 | Moesha Johnson | Australia | 29 November 2020 | Brisbane | ||
| 19 | 15:41.29 | Jillian Cox | United States | 13 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 20 | 15:41.80 | Li Bingjie | China | 28 October 2022 | Beijing | ||
| 21 | 15:42.05 | Katie Grimes | United States | 4 November 2022 | Indianapolis | ||
| 22 | 15:42.14 | Kseniya Misharina | Russia | 10 November 2025 | Kazan | ||
| 23 | 15:42.18 | Caitlin Deans | New Zealand | 19 October 2025 | Westmont | ||
| 24 | 15:42.39 | Laure Manaudou | France | 20 November 2004 | La Roche-sur-Yon | ||
| 25 | 15:43.31 | Petra Schneider | East Germany | 10 January 1982 | Gainesville |
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