The first world record in the men's 50 metres freestyle in long course (50 metre pool) swimming was recognized by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1976. In short course (25 metre pool) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.
The drop in world record times in 2008-2009 coincided with the introduction of polyurethane suits from Speedo (LZR, 50% polyurethane) in 2008 and by Arena (X-Glide), Adidas (Hydrofoil) and Italian swimming suit manufacturer Jaked (all 100% polyurethane) in 2009. FINA's ban on non-textile suit came into effect in January 2010. FINA also released a list of approved suits.
Men
Long course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23.86 | † | Jonty Skinner | South Africa | 14 August 1976 | US National Championships | Philadelphia, United States | |
| 2 | 23.74 | Joe Bottom | United States | 3 July 1977 | Canada Cup | Etobicoke, Canada | ||
| 3 | 23.72 | Ron Manganiello | United States | 29 July 1978 | - | Miami, United States | ||
| 4 | 23.70 | Klaus Steinbach | West Germany | 23 July 1979 | - | Freiburg, West Germany | ||
| 5 | 23.66 | Chris Cavanaugh | United States | 2 February 1980 | International Invitational | Amersfoort, Netherlands | ||
| 6 | 23.12 | h | Chris Cavanaugh | United States | 10 April 1980 | US Spring National Championships | Austin, United States | |
| 7 | 22.96 | h | Rowdy Gaines | United States | 10 April 1980 | US Spring National Championships | Austin, United States | |
| 8 | 22.83 | h | Bruce Stahl | United States | 10 April 1980 | US Spring National Championships | Austin, United States | |
| 8 | 22.83 | =, h | Joe Bottom | United States | 15 August 1980 | Hawaiian Invitational | Honolulu, United States | |
| 10 | 22.71 | Joe Bottom | United States | 15 August 1980 | Hawaiian Invitational | Honolulu, United States | ||
| 11 | 22.54 | h | Robin Leamy | United States | 15 August 1981 | US National Championships | Brown Deer, United States | |
| 12 | 22.52 | Dano Halsall | Switzerland | 21 July 1985 | Swiss Championships | Bellinzona, Switzerland | ||
| 13 | 22.40 | Tom Jager | United States | 6 December 1985 | USS Invitational | Austin, United States | ||
| 14 | 22.33 | Matt Biondi | United States | 26 June 1986 | USA World Championship Trials | Orlando, United States | ||
| 14 | 22.33 | = | Matt Biondi | United States | 30 July 1987 | US National Championships | Clovis, United States | |
| 16 | 22.32 | Tom Jager | United States | 13 August 1987 | Pan Pacific Championships | Brisbane, Australia | ||
| 17 | 22.23 | Tom Jager | United States | 25 March 1988 | US Spring National Championships | Orlando, United States | ||
| - | 22.18 | [A] | Peter Williams | South Africa | 10 April 1988 | CSCA Invitational | Indianapolis, United States | |
| 18 | 22.14 | Matt Biondi | United States | 24 September 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | ||
| 19 | 22.12 | Tom Jager | United States | 20 August 1989 | Pan Pacific Championships | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 20 | 21.98 | sf | Tom Jager | United States | 24 March 1990 | US Sprint Championships | Nashville, United States | |
| 21 | 21.81 | Tom Jager | United States | 24 March 1990 | US Sprint Championships | Nashville, United States | ||
| 22 | 21.64 | tt | Alexander Popov | Russia | 16 June 2000 | Russian Championships | Moscow, Russia | |
| 23 | 21.56 | Eamon Sullivan | Australia | 17 February 2008 | NSW Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 24 | 21.50 | sf | Alain Bernard | France | 23 March 2008 | European Championships | Eindhoven, Netherlands | |
| 25 | 21.41 | sf | Eamon Sullivan | Australia | 27 March 2008 | Australian Championships | Sydney, Australia | |
| 26 | 21.28 | Eamon Sullivan | Australia | 28 March 2008 | Australian Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 27 | 20.94 | Frédérick Bousquet | France | 26 April 2009 | French Championships | Montpellier, France | ||
| 28 | 20.91 | César Cielo | Brazil | 18 December 2009 | Brazilian Championships | São Paulo, Brazil |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
- ^ Peter Williams' time of 22.18 was not ratified as a world record, as South Africa was banned from international competition during this period.
Short course
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.76 | Nils Rudolph | East Germany | 10 February 1990 | FINA World Cup | Bonn, West Germany | ||
| 2 | 21.64 | Steve Crocker | United States | 21 March 1992 | - | Dallas, United States | ||
| 3 | 21.60 | Mark Foster | Great Britain | 17 February 1993 | World Cup | Sheffield, United Kingdom | ||
| 4 | 21.50 | Alexander Popov | Russia | 13 March 1994 | World Cup | Desenzano del Garda, Italy | ||
| 5 | 21.48 | h | Mark Foster | Great Britain | 13 December 1998 | European Championships | Sheffield, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 21.31 | Mark Foster | Great Britain | 13 December 1998 | European Championships | Sheffield, United Kingdom | ||
| 6 | 21.31 | h | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 23 March 2000 | NCAA Men's Division I Championships | Minneapolis, United States | |
| 7 | 21.21 | Anthony Ervin | United States | 23 March 2000 | NCAA Men's Division I Championships | Minneapolis, United States | ||
| 8 | 21.13 | Mark Foster | Great Britain | 28 January 2001 | World Cup | Paris, France | ||
| 9 | 21.10 | Frédérick Bousquet | France | 25 Mar 2004 | NCAA Men's Division I Championships | East Meadow, United States | ||
| 10 | 20.98 | h | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 12 Aug 2006 | Invitational | Hamburg, Germany | |
| 11 | 20.93 | Stefan Nystrand | Sweden | 18 November 2007 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 12 | 20.81 | Duje Draganja | Croatia | 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | ||
| 13 | 20.64 | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 7 September 2008 | South African Championships | Germiston, South Africa | ||
| 14 | 20.48 | sf | Amaury Leveaux | France | 11 December 2008 | European Championships | Rijeka, Croatia | |
| 15 | 20.30 | sf | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 8 August 2009 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 16 | 20.26 | Florent Manaudou | France | 5 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | ||
| 17 | 20.24 | Caeleb Dressel | United States | 20 December 2019 | International Swimming League | Las Vegas, United States | ||
| 18 | 20.16 | Caeleb Dressel | United States | 21 November 2020 | International Swimming League | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 19 | 20.08 | h | Jordan Crooks | Cayman Islands | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 20 | 19.90 | sf | Jordan Crooks | Cayman Islands | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
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 | 26.99 | r, † | Kornelia Ender | East Germany | 26 July 1975 | World Championships | Cali, Colombia | |
| 2 | 26.95 | Johanna Malloy | Canada | 16 August 1977 | Canadian Summer Games | St. John's, NL, Canada | ||
| 3 | 26.74 | Anne Jardin | Canada | 19 August 1978 | Canadian Championships | Etobicoke, Canada | ||
| 4 | 26.61 | h | Cynthia Woodhead | United States | 10 April 1980 | US Spring National Championships | Austin, United States | |
| 5 | 26.53 | h | Kelly Asplund | United States | 10 April 1980 | US Spring National Championships | Austin, United States | |
| 6 | 26.32 | h | Jill Sterkel | United States | 10 April 1980 | US Spring National Championships | Austin, United States | |
| 7 | 25.96 | Jill Sterkel | United States | 10 April 1980 | US Spring National Championships | Austin, United States | ||
| 8 | 25.79 | tt | Jill Sterkel | United States | 3 April 1981 | Longhorn Invitational | Austin, United States | |
| 9 | 25.69 | h | Dara Torres | United States | 29 January 1983 | Speedo International | Amersfoort, Netherlands | |
| 10 | 25.64 | Annemarie Verstappen | Netherlands | 9 July 1983 | Dutch Championships | Amersfoort, Netherlands | ||
| 11 | 25.62 | Dara Torres | United States | 5 August 1983 | US National Championships | Clovis, United States | ||
| 12 | 25.61 | r | Dara Torres | United States | 21 July 1984 | Pre-Olympic meet | Mission Viejo, United States | |
| 13 | 25.50 | h | Tamara Costache | Romania | 16 July 1986 | Romanian Championships | Bucharest, Romania | |
| 14 | 25.34 | Tamara Costache | Romania | 16 July 1986 | Romanian Championships | Bucharest, Romania | ||
| 15 | 25.31 | Tamara Costache | Romania | 1 August 1986 | Balkan Games | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| 16 | 25.28 | Tamara Costache | Romania | 23 August 1986 | World Championships | Madrid, Spain | ||
| 17 | 24.98 | Yang Wenyi | China | 11 April 1988 | Asian Championships | Guangzhou, China | ||
| 18 | 24.79 | Yang Wenyi | China | 31 July 1992 | Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| 19 | 24.51 | Le Jingyi | China | 11 September 1994 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | ||
| 19 | 24.51 | =, h | Inge de Bruijn | Netherlands | 26 May 2000 | Super Speedo Grand Prix | Sheffield, United Kingdom | |
| 21 | 24.48 | Inge de Bruijn | Netherlands | 4 June 2000 | Dutch Championships | Drachten, Netherlands | ||
| 22 | 24.39 | Inge de Bruijn | Netherlands | 10 June 2000 | Trofeu Jose Finkel | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
| 23 | 24.13 | sf | Inge de Bruijn | Netherlands | 22 September 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | |
| 24 | 24.09 | Marleen Veldhuis | Netherlands | 24 March 2008 | European Championships | Eindhoven, Netherlands | ||
| 25 | 23.97 | Libby Trickett | Australia | 29 March 2008 | Australian Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 26 | 23.96 | Marleen Veldhuis | Netherlands | 19 April 2009 | Amsterdam Swim Cup | Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||
| 27 | 23.73 | Britta Steffen | Germany | 2 August 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | ||
| 28 | 23.67 | sf | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 29 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 29 | 23.61 | sf | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 29 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan |
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 | 24.75 | Franziska van Almsick | Germany | 4 November 1992 | - | Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany | ||
| 2 | 24.62 | h | Le Jingyi | China | 3 December 1993 | World Championships | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | |
| 3 | 24.23 | Le Jingyi | China | 3 December 1993 | World Championships | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | ||
| 4 | 24.09 | Therese Alshammar | Sweden | 11 December 1999 | European Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | ||
| 5 | 23.59 | Therese Alshammar | Sweden | 18 March 2000 | World Championships | Athens, Greece | ||
| 6 | 23.58 | Marleen Veldhuis | Netherlands | 17 November 2007 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 7 | 23.25 | Marleen Veldhuis | Netherlands | 13 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | ||
| 8 | 23.24 | Ranomi Kromowidjojo | Netherlands | 7 August 2013 | World Cup | Eindhoven, Netherlands | ||
| 8 | 23.24 | = | Ranomi Kromowidjojo | Netherlands | 12 December 2015 | Duel in the Pool | Indianapolis, United States | |
| 10 | 23.10 | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 2 August 2017 | World Cup | Moscow, Russia | ||
| 11 | 22.93 | Ranomi Kromowidjojo | Netherlands | 7 August 2017 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 12 | 22.87 | sf | Gretchen Walsh | United States | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 13 | 22.83 | Gretchen Walsh | United States | 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
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 50 m freestyle times and the top 25 athletes: |
| - denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 50 m freestyle times |
| - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 50 m freestyle times, by repeat athletes |
| - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 50 m freestyle times |
Men long course
- Correct as of August 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 20.91 | César Cielo | Brazil | 18 December 2009 | São Paulo | |
| 2 | 2 | 20.94 | Frédérick Bousquet | France | 26 April 2009 | Montpellier | |
| 3 | 21.02 | Cielo #2 | 17 December 2009 | São Paulo | |||
| 3 | 4 | 21.04 | Caeleb Dressel | United States | 27 July 2019 | Gwangju | |
| 20 June 2021 | Omaha | ||||||
| 4 | 6 | 21.06 | Cameron McEvoy | Australia | 29 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |
| 7 | 21.07 | Dressel #3 | 1 August 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 8 | 21.08 | Cielo #3 | 1 August 2009 | Rome | |||
| 5 | 9 | 21.11 | Ben Proud | Great Britain | 8 August 2018 | Glasgow | |
| 10 | 21.13 | McEvoy #2 | 16 February 2024 | Doha | |||
| 11 | 21.14 | Cielo #4 | 9 July 2009 | Indianapolis | |||
| McEvoy #3 | 2 August 2025 | Singapore | |||||
| 13 | 21.15 | Dressel #4 | 29 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 14 | 21.16 | Proud #2 | 29 June 2018 | Rome | |||
| 15 | 21.17 | Bousquet #2 | 28 June 2009 | Pescara | |||
| 16 | 21.18 | Dressel #5 | 27 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 6 | 17 | 21.19 | Ashley Callus | Australia | 26 November 2009 | Canberra | |
| Florent Manaudou | France | 8 August 2015 | Kazan | ||||
| 8 | 19 | 21.20 | George Bovell | Trinidad and Tobago | 31 July 2009 | Rome | |
| 20 | 21.21 | Bousquet #3 | 31 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| Bousquet #4 | 1 August 2009 | Rome | |||||
| 9 | 22 | 21.23 | Alain Bernard | France | 26 April 2009 | Montpellier | |
| 22 | 21.23 | McEvoy #4 | 16 February 2024 | Doha | |||
| 24 | 21.24 | Callus #2 | 26 November 2009 | Canberra | |||
| 10 | 25 | 21.25 | Amaury Leveaux | France | 1 August 2009 | Rome | |
| 25 | 21.25 | McEvoy #5 | 28 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| Proud #3 | 6 April 2024 | London | |||||
| McEvoy #6 | 2 August 2024 | Paris | |||||
| 11 | 21.27 | Bruno Fratus | Brazil | 29 July 2017 | Budapest | ||
| Vladimir Morozov | Russia | 15 August 2019 | Singapore | ||||
| 13 | 21.28 | Eamon Sullivan | Australia | 28 March 2008 | Sydney | ||
| 14 | 21.29 | Duje Draganja | Croatia | 31 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 15 | 21.32 | Jack Alexy | United States | 1 August 2025 | Singapore | ||
| 16 | 21.37 | Nathan Adrian | United States | 7 August 2015 | Kazan | ||
| Andrea Vergani | Italy | 8 August 2018 | Glasgow | ||||
| 18 | 21.38 | Vladyslav Bukhov | Ukraine | 16 February 2024 | Doha | ||
| 19 | 21.40 | Cullen Jones | United States | 31 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| Anthony Ervin | United States | 12 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | ||||
| 21 | 21.41 | Michael Andrew | United States | 24 June 2022 | Budapest | ||
| 22 | 21.42 | Krisztián Takács | Hungary | 31 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 23 | 21.43 | Egor Kornev | Russia | 16 April 2025 | Kazan | ||
| 24 | 21.44 | Kristian Gkolomeev | Greece | 9 August 2018 | Glasgow | ||
| Andrej Barna | Serbia | 1 August 2025 | Singapore |
Men short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 19.90 | Jordan Crooks | Cayman Islands | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |
| 2 | 20.08 | Crooks #2 | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 2 | 3 | 20.16 | Caeleb Dressel | United States | 21 November 2020 | Budapest | |
| 3 | 4 | 20.18 | Ben Proud | Great Britain | 7 December 2023 | Otopeni | |
| 5 | 20.19 | Crooks #3 | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 6 | 20.24 | Dressel #2 | 20 December 2019 | Las Vegas | |||
| 4 | 7 | 20.26 | Florent Manaudou | France | 5 December 2014 | Doha | |
| 8 | 20.28 | Dressel #3 | 15 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 5 | 9 | 20.30 | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 8 August 2009 | Pietermaritzburg | |
| 6 | 10 | 20.31 | Vladimir Morozov | Russia | 15 December 2017 | Copenhagen | |
| 10 | 20.31 | Crooks #4 | 16 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 6 | 10 | 20.31 | Joshua Liendo | Canada | 23 October 2025 | Toronto | |
| 13 | 20.33 | Morozov #2 | 14 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 14 | 20.36 | Crooks #5 | 16 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 15 | 20.39 | Morozov #3 | 14 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 8 | 15 | 20.39 | Egor Kornev | Russia | 20 December 2025 | Saint Petersburg | |
| 17 | 20.40 | Morozov #4 | 6 December 2019 | Glasgow | |||
| Proud #2 | 3 December 2021 | Eindhoven | |||||
| 19 | 20.43 | Dressel #4 | 14 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 20 | 20.45 | Morozov #5 | 15 December 2017 | Copenhagen | |||
| Proud #3 | 19 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||||
| 22 | 20.46 | Crooks #6 | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 9 | 23 | 20.48 | Amaury Leveaux | France | 11 December 2008 | Rijeka | |
| 23 | 20.48 | Morozov #6 | 15 November 2018 | Singapore | |||
| 25 | 20.49 | Morozov #7 | 9 November 2018 | Tokyo | |||
| Proud #4 | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||||
| 10 | 20.51 | César Cielo | Brazil | 17 December 2010 | Dubai | ||
| Jack Alexy | United States | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | ||||
| 12 | 20.53 | Frédérick Bousquet | France | 10 December 2009 | Istanbul | ||
| 13 | 20.57 | Guilherme Caribé | Brazil | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 14 | 20.63 | Nyls Korstanje | Netherlands | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 15 | 20.64 | Alain Bernard | France | 14 December 2008 | Rijeka | ||
| 16 | 20.68 | Maxim Lobanovszkij | Hungary | 14 December 2019 | Kaposvár | ||
| Kyle Chalmers | Australia | 28 October 2021 | Kazan | ||||
| 18 | 20.69 | Marco Orsi | Italy | 5 December 2014 | Doha | ||
| 19 | 20.70 | Stefan Nystrand | Sweden | 15 November 2009 | Berlin | ||
| Duje Draganja | Croatia | 10 December 2009 | Istanbul | ||||
| Evgeny Sedov | Russia | 6 December 2014 | Doha | ||||
| Ryan Held | United States | 19 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | ||||
| Dylan Carter | Trinidad and Tobago | 16 December 2022 | Melbourne | ||||
| Jere Hribar | Croatia | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | ||||
| 7 December 2025 | Lublin | ||||||
| 25 | 20.72 | Szebasztián Szabó | Hungary | 4 November 2021 | Kazan | ||
| Chris Guiliano | United States | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | ||||
| Ilya Kharun | Canada | 17 October 2025 | Westmont |
Women long course
- Correct as of June 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 23.61 | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 29 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |
| 2 | 23.62 | Sjöström #2 | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 3 | 23.66 | Sjöström #3 | 3 August 2024 | Paris | |||
| 4 | 23.67 | Sjöström #4 | 29 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 5 | 23.69 | Sjöström #5 | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| Sjöström #6 | 18 February 2024 | Doha | |||||
| 7 | 23.71 | Sjöström #7 | 4 August 2024 | Paris | |||
| 2 | 8 | 23.73 | Britta Steffen | Germany | 2 August 2009 | Rome | |
| 9 | 23.74 | Sjöström #8 | 4 August 2018 | Glasgow | |||
| 3 | 10 | 23.75 | Pernille Blume | Denmark | 4 August 2018 | Glasgow | |
| 10 | 23.75 | Sjöström #9 | 23 June 2024 | Rome | |||
| 4 | 12 | 23.78 | Cate Campbell | Australia | 7 April 2018 | Gold Coast | |
| 12 | 23.78 | Sjöström #10 | 30 June 2019 | Malmö | |||
| 14 | 23.79 | C. Campbell #2 | 3 March 2018 | Gold Coast | |||
| 15 | 23.81 | C. Campbell #3 | 12 August 2018 | Tokyo | |||
| 5 | 15 | 23.81 | Emma McKeon | Australia | 1 August 2021 | Tokyo | |
| 17 | 23.82 | Sjöström #11 | 21 May 2023 | Monaco | |||
| 18 | 23.83 | Sjöström #12 | 10 April 2017 | Stockholm | |||
| Sjöström #13 | 7 September 2018 | Kazan | |||||
| 20 | 23.84 | C. Campbell #4 | 13 April 2016 | Adelaide | |||
| 21 | 23.85 | Sjöström #14 | 17 June 2017 | Canet-en-Roussillon | |||
| Sjöström #15 | 2 July 2017 | Borås | |||||
| 6 | 21 | 23.85 | Ranomi Kromowidjojo | Netherlands | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | |
| 21 | 23.85 | Blume #2 | 3 August 2018 | Glasgow | |||
| Sjöström #16 | 3 August 2024 | Paris | |||||
| 7 | 23.88 | Therese Alshammar | Sweden | 2 August 2009 | Rome | ||
| 8 | 23.91 | Kate Douglass | United States | 18 February 2024 | Doha | ||
| Gretchen Walsh | United States | 7 June 2025 | Indianapolis | ||||
| 10 | 23.95 | Katarzyna Wasick | Poland | 18 February 2024 | Doha | ||
| 11 | 23.96 | Marleen Veldhuis | Netherlands | 16 April 2009 | Amsterdam | ||
| Fran Halsall | Great Britain | 24 July 2014 | Glasgow | ||||
| 13 | 23.97 | Libby Trickett | Australia | 22 March 2008 | Sydney | ||
| Simone Manuel | United States | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | ||||
| Liu Xiang | China | 26 September 2021 | Xi'an | ||||
| Meg Harris | Australia | 4 August 2024 | Paris | ||||
| 17 | 23.98 | Torri Huske | United States | 7 June 2025 | Indianapolis | ||
| 18 | 23.99 | Shayna Jack | Australia | 15 June 2024 | Brisbane | ||
| 19 | 24.00 | Abbey Weitzeil | United States | 1 July 2023 | Indianapolis | ||
| 20 | 24.07 | Dara Torres | United States | 17 August 2008 | Beijing | ||
| 21 | 24.11 | Aliaksandra Herasimenia | Belarus | 13 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| 22 | 24.12 | Bronte Campbell | Australia | 9 August 2015 | Kazan | ||
| 23 | 24.13 | Inge de Bruijn | Netherlands | 22 September 2000 | Sydney | ||
| 24 | 24.15 | Zhang Yufei | China | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | ||
| 25 | 24.17 | Claire Curzan | United States | 14 May 2021 | Cary |
Women short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 22.83 | Gretchen Walsh | United States | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |
| 2 | 22.87 | Walsh #2 | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 2 | 3 | 22.93 | Ranomi Kromowidjojo | Netherlands | 7 August 2017 | Berlin | |
| 3 | 4 | 23.00 | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 7 August 2017 | Berlin | |
| 5 | 23.02 | Walsh #3 | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 4 | 6 | 23.04 | Emma McKeon | Australia | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | |
| 7 | 23.05 | Kromowidjojo #2 | 12 December 2020 | Eindhoven | |||
| 5 | 7 | 23.05 | Kate Douglass | United States | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |
| 9 | 23.08 | Sjöström #2 | 18 November 2021 | Eindhoven | |||
| Sjöström #3 | 21 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||||
| 11 | 23.10 | Sjöström #4 | 2 August 2017 | Moscow | |||
| 6 | 11 | 23.10 | Katarzyna Wasick | Poland | 3 November 2022 | Indianapolis | |
| 11 | 23.10 | Walsh #4 | 18 October 2024 | Charlottesville | |||
| 14 | 23.12 | Sjöström #5 | 2 September 2021 | Naples | |||
| Sjöström #6 | 3 November 2021 | Kazan | |||||
| 16 | 23.17 | Sjöström #7 | 25 November 2021 | Eindhoven | |||
| 7 | 17 | 23.19 | Cate Campbell | Australia | 27 October 2017 | Adelaide | |
| 17 | 23.19 | Kromowidjojo #3 | 16 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 19 | 23.20 | Douglass #2 | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| Wasick #2 | 7 December 2025 | Lublin | |||||
| 21 | 23.21 | Sjöström #8 | 15 November 2018 | Singapore | |||
| Wasick #3 | 23 October 2025 | Toronto | |||||
| 23 | 23.22 | Sjöström #9 | 7 August 2017 | Berlin | |||
| 24 | 23.23 | Kromowidjojo #4 | 4 October 2018 | Budapest | |||
| Wasick #4 | 31 October 2024 | Singapore | |||||
| 8 | 23.25 | Marleen Veldhuis | Netherlands | 13 April 2008 | Manchester | ||
| 9 | 23.27 | Therese Alshammar | Sweden | 21 November 2009 | Singapore | ||
| 10 | 23.32 | Hinkelien Schreuder | Netherlands | 13 December 2009 | Istanbul | ||
| 11 | 23.34 | Maria Kameneva | Russia | 16 December 2022 | Saint Petersburg | ||
| 12 | 23.39 | Silvia Di Pietro | Italy | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 13 | 23.41 | Sara Curtis | Italy | 7 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| Béryl Gastaldello | France | 7 December 2025 | Lublin | ||||
| 15 | 23.44 | Fran Halsall | Great Britain | 19 December 2009 | Manchester | ||
| Abbey Weitzeil | United States | 18 September 2021 | Naples | ||||
| 17 | 23.45 | Alexandria Perkins | Australia | 17 October 2025 | Westmont | ||
| 18 | 23.49 | Jeanette Ottesen | Denmark | 12 December 2015 | Indianapolis | ||
| Pernille Blume | Denmark | 17 December 2017 | Copenhagen | ||||
| Taylor Ruck | Canada | 23 October 2025 | Toronto | ||||
| 21 | 23.52 | Michelle Coleman | Sweden | 6 December 2023 | Otopeni | ||
| 22 | 23.53 | Inge Dekker | Netherlands | 11 December 2009 | Istanbul | ||
| 23 | 23.61 | Mélanie Henique | France | 10 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 24 | 23.62 | Bronte Campbell | Australia | 7 December 2014 | Doha | ||
| 25 | 23.64 | Aliaksandra Herasimenia | Belarus | 16 December 2012 | Istanbul | ||
| Rozaliya Nasretdinova | Russia | 17 December 2017 | Kazan |
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