# List of world records in athletics

World records in athletics are ratified by World Athletics. Athletics records comprise the best performances in the sports of track and field, road running and racewalking.
Records are kept for all events contested at the Olympic Games and some others. Unofficial records for some other events are kept by track and field statisticians. The only non-metric track distance for which official records are kept is the mile run.

## Criteria

The criteria which must be satisfied for ratification of a world record are defined by World Athletics in Part III of the Competition Rules. These criteria also apply to national or other restricted records and also to performances submitted as qualifying marks for eligibility to compete in major events such as the Olympic Games.
The criteria include:
* The dimensions of the track and equipment used must conform to standards. In road events, the course must be accurately measured, by a certified measurer.
* Except in road events (road running and race walking), the performance must be set in a single-sex race, with the sole exception of the mixed-sex 4 × 400 m relay, introduced by World Athletics in 2017.
* All team members in a relay race must be of the same nationality.
* Pacemakers are allowed, provided they have not been lapped; lapped athletes must give way.
* Drug testing immediately after the performance is now required for ratification of a record. Existing records which predate this requirement are still extant. Athletes who pass the immediate test but are later found to have been using banned substances have their performances invalidated.
* In running events up to 200 m in distance and in horizontal jump events, wind assistance is permitted only up to 2.0 m/s. In decathlon or heptathlon, average wind assistance of less than 2.0 m/s is required across all applicable disciplines; and maximum of 4.0 m/s in any one event. As an exception, according to rule 36.2, specific event organizers may choose to ignore wind velocity readings exclusively for their specific event records (e.g. a performance in a 100 m race at a meeting with a wind reading of +2.4 m/s may be considered that specific meeting record, but will not be considered as a world record).
* In running events up to 800 m in distance, photo finish fully automatic timing is required.
* There is no restriction on altitude; since the thinner atmosphere of higher altitude provides less air resistance, locations such as Mexico City and Sestriere have previously been the sites of records in the sprint and jump events. See effects of high altitude on humans. Records set at high altitude venues are often marked with an "A" though that does not disqualify it as a record. Under those circumstances, a "sea level" best is also tracked by statisticians. Long-distance races run at altitude, with less oxygen available to the athlete, have been shown to be to the athlete's disadvantage.
* In road events, the course is not required to be a circuit, but the overall decrease in elevation between the start and finish shall not exceed 1:1000, i.e. 1 m/km.
* In road events, the start and finish points of a course, measured along a theoretical straight line between them, shall not be further apart than 50% of the race distance.

## Bonus payments

Witnessing a world record brings great pleasure for athletics fans, and athletes' personal sponsors and promoters of major meetings such as the Diamond League and its predecessor, the IAAF Golden League have offered bonuses to athletes breaking a record.
Some middle-distance runners have specialized in acting as pacemakers in longer races, receiving a fee without even finishing the race, and possibly a bonus if a record results. This is a useful occupation for athletes who are capable of running accurately to a specified pace, but not capable of the fastest times to become champions in their own right.
In the pole vault record bonuses create an incentive for an athlete capable of beating a record by a large margin to instead break it by the minimum amount (one centimetre), multiple times, at multiple meetings, in order to accumulate multiple bonuses. This was done by Sergey Bubka and Yelena Isinbayeva in the men's and women's pole vault respectively, and some commentators have complained that neither athlete ever posted as high a mark as they were capable of. Since 2020, Armand Duplantis has been emulating the practice. In most other disciplines, this issue does not arise, since it is practically impossible to deliberately break a record by a small margin.

## World records

World Athletics (then IAAF) commenced the recognition of world records in 1912, and indoor world records after 1987. In 2000, IAAF rule 260.18a (formerly 260.6a) was amended, so that "world records" (as opposed to "indoor world records") can be set in a facility "with or without roof". This rule was not applied retroactively, and has, thus far, only affected the men's and women's pole vault, women's 2,000 m and women's triple jump. The women's vault record has been advanced 9 times indoors by three different women, each ratified as a world record. The last record to be set indoors was in 2004. Sergey Bubka's 1993 pole vault world indoor record of 6.15 m was not considered to be a world record, because it was set before the new rule came into effect. Bubka's world record of 6.14 m, set outdoors in 1994, was surpassed 7 times indoors by two different men since 2000, most recently by Armand Duplantis in 2025 with a 6.27 m mark.
In 2023, World Athletics decided to introduce the new term 'short track' to replace the previous term 'indoor' to describe events and performances that are set on a 200m track. For track and combined events, the term "indoor world records" were changed to "short track world records". In some field events, including long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault, and shot put, indoor world records were eliminated. These changes came into effect on 1 November 2023.
As new events are advanced to world record status, World Athletics might delay declaring initial performances as the official world record until sufficient athletes have had the opportunity to perform.

### Key to tables

Awaiting ratification  not ratified or later rescinded by World Athletics
h = hand timing
+ = en route to a longer distance
A = affected by altitude
OT = oversized track
X = annulled due to doping violations
# = not officially ratified by World Athletics
a = aided road course according to IAAF rule 260.28
i = set indoors

### Men

| Event | Perf. | W | N | Average Speed | Pts | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | R | V | P |
| Event | Perf. | W | N | mph (kph) | Pts | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | R | V | P |
| 50 m | 5.55 | | i X | 20.15 (32.43) | 1276 | Ben Johnson | CAN | 31 Jan 1987 | | Ottawa | CAN | | | |
| 50 m | 5.56 | | i A | 20.12 (32.37) | 1269 | Donovan Bailey | CAN | 9 Feb 1996 | Bill Cosby Invitational | Reno | USA | | | |
| 50 m | 5.56 | | i # | 20.12 (32.37) | 1269 | Maurice Greene | USA | 13 Feb 1999 | | Los Angeles | USA | | | |
| 60 m | 6.34 | | i A | 21.17 (34.07) | 1304 | Christian Coleman | USA | 18 Feb 2018 | USA Championships | Albuquerque | USA | | | P |
| 100 m | 9.58 | +0.9 | | 23.35 (37.58) | 1356 | Usain Bolt | JAM | 16 Aug 2009 | World Championships | Berlin | GER | | | P |
| 200 m | 19.19 | −0.3 | | 23.31 (37.52) | 1352 | Usain Bolt | JAM | 20 Aug 2009 | World Championships | Berlin | GER | | | P |
| 200 m sh | 19.92 | | i | 22.46 (36.15) | 1303 | Frankie Fredericks | NAM | 18 Feb 1996 | Meeting Pas de Calais | Liévin | FRA | | | |
| 400 m | 43.03 | | | 20.79 (33.47) | 1321 | Wayde van Niekerk | RSA | 14 Aug 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro | BRA | | | P |
| 400 m sh | 44.57 | | i | 20.076 (32.309) | 1273 | Kerron Clement | USA | 12 Mar 2005 | NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Championships | Fayetteville | USA | | | |
| 400 m sh | 44.52 | | i # | 20.098 (32.345) | 1277 | Michael Norman | USA | 10 Mar 2018 | NCAA Division I Championships | College Station | USA | | | |
| 400 m sh | 44.49 | | i | 20.112 (32.367) | 1279 | Christopher Morales Williams | CAN | 24 Feb 2024 | SEC Championships | Fayetteville | USA | | | |
| 800 m | 1:40.91 | | | 17.734 (28.540) | 1301 | David Rudisha | KEN | 9 Aug 2012 | Olympic Games | London | GBR | | | P |
| 800 m sh | 1:42.67 | | i | 17.430 (28.051) | 1305 | Wilson Kipketer | DEN | 9 Mar 1997 | World Championships | Paris | FRA | | | |
| 1000 m | 2:11.96 | | | 16.952 (27.281) | 1250 | Noah Ngeny | KEN | 5 Sep 1999 | Rieti Meeting | Rieti | ITA | | | P |
| 1000 m sh | 2:14.20 | | i | 16.669 (26.826) | 1274 | Ayanleh Souleiman | DJI | 17 Feb 2016 | Globen Galan | Stockholm | SWE | | | |
| 1500 m | 3:26.00 | | | 16.288 (26.214) | 1302 | Hicham El Guerrouj | MAR | 14 Jul 1998 | Golden Gala | Rome | ITA | | | P |
| 1500 m sh | 3:30.60 | | i | 15.933 (25.641) | 1292 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 17 Feb 2022 | Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais | Liévin | FRA | | | |
| 1500 m sh | 3:29.63+ | | i | 16.006 (25.760) | 1306 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 13 Feb 2025 | Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais | Liévin | FRA | | | |
| Mile | 3:43.13 | | | 16.134 (25.965) | 1292 | Hicham El Guerrouj | MAR | 7 Jul 1999 | Golden Gala | Rome | ITA | | | P |
| Mile sh | 3:47.01 | | i | 15.858 (25.522) | 1304 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | 3 March 2019 | Bruce Lehane Invitational | Boston | USA | | | |
| Mile sh | 3:46.63 | | i | 15.885 (25.564) | 1309 | Yared Nuguse | USA | 8 Feb 2025 | Millrose Games | New York City | USA | | | |
| Mile sh | 3:45.14 | | i | 15.990 (25.734) | 1330 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 13 Feb 2025 | Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais | Liévin | FRA | | | |
| Mile (Road) | 3:56.13 | | | 15.25 (24.54) | 1123 | Hobbs Kessler | USA | 1 Oct 2023 | World Road Running Championships | Riga | LAT | | | P |
| Mile (Road) | 3:54.56 | | | 15.35 (24.70) | 1142 | Emmanuel Wanyonyi | KEN | 27 Apr 2024 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach | GER | | | P |
| Mile (Road) | 3:51.3 | | h | 15.56 (25.05) | 1184 | Elliot Giles | GBR | 1 Sep 2024 | New Balance KO Meile | Düsseldorf | GER | | | P |
| 2000 m | 4:43.13 | | | 15.80 (25.43) | 1307 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 8 Sep 2023 | Memorial van Damme | Brussels | BEL | | | P |
| 3000 m | 7:17.55 | | | 15.337 (24.683) | 1320 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 25 Aug 2024 | Kamila Skolimowska Memorial | Chorzów | POL | | | P |
| 3000 m sh | 7:23.81 | | i | 15.121 (24.335) | 1306 | Lamecha Girma | ETH | 15 Feb 2023 | Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais | Liévin | FRA | | | |
| 3000 m sh | 7:22.91 | | i | 15.152 (24.384) | 1312 | Grant Fisher | USA | 8 Feb 2025 | Millrose Games | New York City | USA | | | |
| 5000 m | 12:35.36 | | | 14.807 (23.830) | 1302 | Joshua Cheptegei | UGA | 14 Aug 2020 | Herculis | Monaco | MON | | | P |
| 5000 m sh | 12:49.60 | | i | 14.533 (23.389) | 1303 | Kenenisa Bekele | ETH | 20 Feb 2004 | Aviva Indoor Grand Prix | Birmingham | GBR | | | |
| 5000 m sh | 12:44.09 | | i | 14.638 (23.557) | 1325 | Grant Fisher | USA | 14 Feb 2025 | BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational | Boston | USA | | | |
| 5 km (road) | 12:49.00 | | | 14.54 (23.41) | 1250 | Berihu Aregawi | ETH | 31 Dec 2021 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona | ESP | | | P |
| 10,000 m | 26:11.00 | | | 14.239 (22.915) | 1306 | Joshua Cheptegei | UGA | 7 Oct 2020 | | Valencia | ESP | | | P |
| 10 km (road) | 26:38.00 | | | 13.99 (22.52) | 1262 | Joshua Cheptegei | UGA | 1 Dec 2019 | 10K Valencia Trinidad Alfonso | Valencia | ESP | | | P |
| 10 km (road) | 26:33.00 | | | 14.04 (22.60) | 1270 | Berihu Aregawi | ETH | 11 Mar 2023 | | Laredo | ESP | | | P |
| 10 km (road) | 26:24.00 | | | 14.12 (22.73) | 1285 | Rhonex Kipruto | KEN | 12 Jan 2020 | 10K Valencia Ibercaja | Valencia | ESP | | | P |
| Half marathon | 57:31.00 | | | 13.67 (22.01) | 1288 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | 21 Nov 2021 | EDP Lisbon Half Marathon | Lisbon | POR | | | P |
| Half marathon | 57:30.00 | | | 13.68 (22.01) | 1289 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | 27 Oct 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia | ESP | | | P |
| Half marathon | 56:42.00 | | | 13.87 (22.33) | 1323 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | 16 Feb 2025 | Barcelona Half Marathon | Barcelona | ESP | | | P |
| One hour (track) | 21,330 m | | | 13.254 (21.330) | N/A | Mo Farah | GBR | 4 Sep 2020 | Diamond League | Brussels | BEL | | | P |
| Marathon | 2:00:35 | | | 13.046 (20.995) | 1322 | Kelvin Kiptum | KEN | 8 Oct 2023 | Chicago Marathon | Chicago | USA | | | P |
| Marathon | 1:59:40.2 | | | 13.136 (21.156) | N/A | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN | 12 Oct 2019 | INEOS 1:59 Challenge | Vienna | AUT | | | P |
| 50 km (road) | 2:38:43.00 | | | 11.74 (18.90) | N/A | CJ Albertson | USA | 8 Oct 2022 | Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run | San Francisco | USA | | | |
| 100 km (road) | 6:05:35.00 | | | 10.198 (16.412) | N/A | Aleksandr Sorokin | LTU | 14 May 2023 | World's Fastest Run | Vilnius | LTU | | | P |
| 50 m hurdles | 6.25 | | i | 17.90 (28.8) | 1272 | Mark McKoy | CAN | 5 Mar 1986 | | Kobe | JPN | | | |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.27 | | i A | 18.46 (29.71) | 1284 | Grant Holloway | USA | 16 Feb 2024 | USA Championships | Albuquerque | USA | | | P |
| 110 m hurdles | 12.80 | +0.3 | | 19.22 (30.94) | 1294 | Aries Merritt | USA | 7 Sep 2012 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels | BEL | | | P |
| 400 m hurdles | 45.94 | | | 19.48 (31.35) | 1341 | Karsten Warholm | NOR | 3 Aug 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo | JPN | | | P |
| 3000 m steeplechase | 7:52.11 | | | 14.215 (22.876) | 1295 | Lamecha Girma | ETH | 9 Jun 2023 | Meeting de Paris | Paris | FRA | | | P |
| High jump | 2.45 m | | | | 1314 | Javier Sotomayor | CUB | 27 Jul 1993 | Gran Premio Diputación | Salamanca | ESP | | | P |
| Pole vault | 6.27 m | | i | | 1342 | Armand Duplantis | SWE | 28 Feb 2025 | All Star Perche | Clermont-Ferrand | FRA | | | P |
| Long jump | 8.95 m | +0.3 | | | 1346 | Mike Powell | USA | 30 Aug 1991 | World Championships | Tokyo | JPN | | | P |
| Triple jump | 18.29 m | +1.3 | | | 1303 | Jonathan Edwards | GBR | 7 Aug 1995 | World Championships | Gothenburg | SWE | | | P |
| Shot put | 23.56 m | | | | 1334 | Ryan Crouser | USA | 27 May 2023 | USATF LA Grand Prix | Los Angeles | USA | | | P |
| Discus throw | 74.35 m | | | | 1325 | Mykolas Alekna | LTU | 14 Apr 2024 | Oklahoma Throws Series | Ramona | USA | | . | P |
| Hammer throw | 86.74 m | | | | 1307 | Yuriy Sedykh | URS | 30 Aug 1986 | European Championships | Stuttgart | FRG | | | P |
| Javelin throw | 98.48 m | | | | 1365 | Jan Železný | CZE | 25 May 1996 | | Jena | GER | | | P |
| Heptathlon sh | 6645 pts | | i | | 1269 | Ashton Eaton | USA | 10 Mar 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul | TUR | | | |
| Decathlon | 9126 pts | | | | 1302 | Kevin Mayer | FRA | 16 Sep 2018 | Décastar | Talence | FRA | | | P |
| 5000 m walk sh | 18:07.08 | | i | 10.289 (16.558) | 1220 | Mikhail Shchennikov | RUS | 14 Feb 1995 | Russian Winter Meeting | Moscow | RUS | | | |
| 20,000 m walk (track) | 1:17:25.60 | | | 9.630 (15.499) | 1247 | Bernardo Segura | MEX | 7 May 1994 | | Bergen | NOR | | | |
| 20 km walk (road) | 1:16:36.00 | | | 9.734 (15.666) | 1266 | Yusuke Suzuki | JPN | 15 Mar 2015 | Asian Race Walking Championships | Nomi | JPN | | | P |
| 20 km walk (road) | 1:16:10.00 | | | | | Toshikazu Yamanishi | JPN | 16 Feb 2025 | Japanese 20km Race Walking Championships | Kobe | JPN | | | P |
| 2 hours walk (track) | 29,572 m | | + | 9.188 (14.786) | N/A | Maurizio Damilano | ITA | 3 Oct 1992 | | Cuneo | ITA | | | |
| 30,000 m walk (track) | 2:01:44.10 | | | 9.188 (14.786) | N/A | Maurizio Damilano | ITA | 3 Oct 1992 | | Cuneo | ITA | | | |
| 35 km walk (road) | 2:21:47 | | | | | Masatora Kawano | JPN | 27 Oct 2024 | All Japan Race Walking competition | Takahata | JPN | | | |
| 35 km walk (road) | 2:21:31 | | | 9.221 (14.839) | 1257 | Vladimir Kanaykin | RUS | 19 Feb 2006 | Winter Russian Race Walking Championships | Sochi | RUS | | | |
| 50,000 m walk (track) | 3:35:27.20 | | | 8.652 (13.924) | N/A | Yohann Diniz | FRA | 12 Mar 2011 | | Reims | FRA | | | |
| 50 km walk (road) | 3:32:33.00 | | | 8.770 (14.114) | 1269 | Yohann Diniz | FRA | 15 Aug 2014 | European Championships | Zürich | SUI | | | P |
| 4 × 100 m relay | 36.84 | | | 24.288 (39.088) | 1318 | Nesta Carter Michael Frater Yohan Blake Usain Bolt | JAM | 11 Aug 2012 | Olympic Games | London | GBR | | | P |
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:18.63 | | | 22.759 (36.627) | 1272 | Nickel Ashmeade Warren Weir Jermaine Brown Yohan Blake | JAM | 24 May 2014 | World Relays | Nassau | BAH | | | P |
| 4 × 200 m relay sh | 1:22.11 | | i | 21.795 (35.075) | 1195 | Linford Christie Darren Braithwaite Ade Mafe John Regis | GBR | 3 Mar 1991 | | Glasgow | GBR | | | |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 2:54.29 | | | 20.535 (33.048) | 1288 | Andrew Valmon Quincy Watts Butch Reynolds Michael Johnson | USA | 22 Aug 1993 | World Championships | Stuttgart | GER | [k] [111][112] | | P |
| 4 × 400 m relay sh | 3:01.51 | | i | 19.719 (31.734) | 1228 | Amere Lattin Obi Igbokwe Jermaine Holt Kahmari Montgomery | USA | 9 Feb 2019 | Clemson's Tiger Paw Invitational | Clemson | USA | | | |
| 4 × 400 m relay sh | 3:00.77 | | i | 19.799 (31.864) | 1239 | Zach Shinnick Rai Benjamin Ricky Morgan Jr. Michael Norman | USA ATG USA USA | 10 Mar 2018 | NCAA Division I Championships | College Station | USA | [114] [115] | | |
| 4 × 400 m relay sh | 3:01.39 | | i # | 19.732 (31.755) | 1230 | Ilolo Izu Robert Grant Devin Dixon Mylik Kerley | USA | 10 Mar 2018 | NCAA Division I Championships | College Station | USA | | | |
| 4 × 400 m relay sh | 3:01.43 | | | 19.727 (31.748) | 1229 | Kunle Fasasi Grant Holloway Chantz Sawyers Benjamin Lobo Vedel | NGR USA JAM DEN | 10 Mar 2018 | NCAA Division I Championships | College Station | USA | | | |
| 4 × 800 m relay | 7:02.43 | | | 16.945 (27.271) | 1244 | Joseph Mutua William Yiampoy Ismael Kombich Wilfred Bungei | KEN | 25 Aug 2006 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels | BEL | | | |
| 4 × 800 m relay sh | 7:11.30 | | i | 16.597 (26.710) | 1268 | Joe McAsey Kyle Merber Chris Giesting Jesse Garn | USA | 25 Feb 2018 | BU Last Chance Meet | Boston | USA | [117] [118] | | |
| Distance medley relay | 9:15.50 | | | 16.108 (25.923) | N/A | Kyle Merber Brycen Spratling Brandon Johnson Ben Blankenship | USA | 3 May 2015 | World Relays | Nassau | BAH | | | |
| Distance medley relay | 9:14.58 | | | 16.134 (25.966) | N/A | Brannon Kidder Brandon Miller Isaiah Harris Henry Wynne | USA | 19 April 2024 | Oregon Relays | Eugene | USA | | | |
| 4 × 1500 m relay | 14:22.22 | | | 15.566 (25.052) | 1311 | Collins Cheboi Silas Kiplagat James Kiplagat Magut Asbel Kiprop | KEN | 25 May 2014 | World Relays | Nassau | BAH | | | |
| Road relay 42.195 km | 1:57:06.00 | | | 13.434 (21.620) | N/A | Josephat Ndambiri Martin Mathathi Daniel Muchunu Mwangi Mekubo Mogusu Onesmus Nyerre John Kariuki | KEN | 23 Nov 2005 | Chiba Ekiden | Chiba | JPN | | | |

### Women

| Event | Perf. | W | N | Average Speed mph (km/h) | Pts | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | R | P |
| 50 m | 5.96 | | i + | 18.76 (30.20) | 1245 | Irina Privalova | RUS | 9 Feb 1995 | | Madrid | ESP | | |
| 60 m | 6.92 | | i | 19.40 (31.21) | 1248 | Irina Privalova | RUS | 11 Feb 1993 | | Madrid | ESP | | |
| 60 m | 6.92 | | i | 19.40 (31.21) | 1248 | Irina Privalova | RUS | 9 Feb 1995 | | Madrid | ESP | | |
| 100 m | 10.49 | 0.0 | | 21.32 (34.32) | 1314 | Florence Griffith Joyner | USA | 16 Jul 1988 | US Olympic Trials | Indianapolis | USA | | P |
| 200 m | 21.34 | +1.3 | | 20.97 (33.74) | 1308 | Florence Griffith Joyner | USA | 29 Sep 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul | KOR | | P |
| 200 m sh | 21.87 | | i | 20.46 (32.92) | 1288 | Merlene Ottey | JAM | 13 Feb 1993 | Meeting Pas de Calais | Liévin | FRA | | |
| 400 m | 47.60 | | | 18.80 (30.25) | 1304 | Marita Koch | GDR | 6 Oct 1985 | World Cup | Canberra | AUS | | P |
| 400 m sh | 49.17 | | i | 18.198 (29.286) | 1272 | Femke Bol | NED | 2 Mar 2024 | World Championships | Glasgow | GBR | | |
| 800 m | 1:53.28 | | | 15.80 (25.42) | 1286 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | TCH | 26 Jul 1983 | | Munich | FRG | | P |
| 800 m sh | 1:55.82 | | i | 15.451 (24.866) | 1255 | Jolanda Čeplak | SLO | 3 Mar 2002 | European Championships | Vienna | AUT | | |
| 1000 m | 2:28.98 | | | 15.015 (24.164) | 1251 | Svetlana Masterkova | RUS | 23 Aug 1996 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels | BEL | | P |
| 1000 m sh | 2:30.94 | | i | 14.82 (23.851) | 1246 | Maria Mutola | MOZ | 25 Feb 1999 | GE Galan | Stockholm | SWE | | |
| 1500 m | 3:49.04 | | | 14.650 (23.577) | 1295 | Faith Kipyegon | KEN | 7 Jul 2024 | Meeting de Paris | Paris | FRA | | P |
| 1500 m sh | 3:53.09 | | i | 14.395 (23.167) | 1285 | Gudaf Tsegay | ETH | 9 Feb 2021 | Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais | Liévin | FRA | | |
| Mile | 4:07.64 | | | 14.537 (23.395) | 1286 | Faith Kipyegon | KEN | 21 Jul 2023 | Herculis | Monaco | MON | | P |
| Mile sh | 4:13.31 | | i | 14.212 (22.872) | 1273 | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 17 Feb 2016 | Globen Galan | Stockholm | SWE | | |
| Mile (Road) | 4:20.98 | | Wo | 13.714 (22.071) | 1185 | Diribe Welteji | ETH | 1 Oct 2023 | World Road Running Championships | Riga | LAT | | P |
| 2000 m | 5:19.70 | | | 13.994 (22.521) | 1252 | Jessica Hull | AUS | 12 Jul 2024 | Herculis | Monaco | MON | | P |
| 3000 m | 8:06.11 | | | 13.805 (22.217) | 1293 | Wang Junxia | CHN | 13 Sep 1993 | Chinese National Games | Beijing | CHN | | P |
| 3000 m sh | 8:16.60 | | i | 13.514 (21.748) | 1281 | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 6 Feb 2014 | XL Galan | Stockholm | SWE | | |
| 5000 m | 14:00.21 | | | 13.312 (21.423) | 1282 | Gudaf Tsegay | ETH | 17 Sep 2023 | Prefontaine Classic | Eugene | USA | | P |
| 5000 m sh | 14:18.86 | | i | 13.023 (20.958) | 1270 | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 19 Feb 2015 | XL Galan | Stockholm | SWE | | |
| 5 km (road) | 14:13.00 | | Wo | 13.11 (21.10) | 1256 | Beatrice Chebet | KEN | 31 Dec 2023 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona | ESP | | P |
| 5 km (road) | 14:13.00 | | +Mx | 13.11 (21.10) | 1256 | Agnes Ngetich | KEN | 14 Jan 2024 | 10K Valencia Ibercaja | Valencia | ESP | | P |
| 5 km (road) | 13:54.00 | | Mx | 13.411 (21.583) | 1295 | Beatrice Chebet | KEN | 31 Dec 2024 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona | ESP | | P |
| 10,000 m | 28:54.14 | | | 12.899 (20.760) | 1309 | Beatrice Chebet | KEN | 25 May 2024 | Prefontaine Classic | Eugene | USA | | P |
| 10 km (road) | 28:46.00 | | Mx | 12.96 (20.86) | 1317 | Agnes Ngetich | KEN | 14 Jan 2024 | 10K Valencia Ibercaja | Valencia | ESP | | P |
| 10 km (road) | 30:01.00 | | Wo | 12.42 (19.99) | 1247 | Agnes Tirop | KEN | 12 Sep 2021 | Adizero Road to Records | Herzogenaurach | GER | | P |
| 10 km (road) | 29:26.00 | | Wo | 12.67 (20.39) | 1279 | Agnes Ngetich | KEN | 18 Nov 2023 | Urban Trail de Lille | Lille | FRA | | P |
| 10 km (road) | 29:24.00 | | Wo | 12.68 (20.41) | N/A | Agnes Ngetich | KEN | 10 Sep 2023 | Brașov Running Festival | Brașov | ROM | | P |
| One hour (track) | 18,930 m | | | 11.763 (18.930) | N/A | Sifan Hassan | NED | 4 Sep 2020 | Diamond League | Brussels | BEL | | P |
| Half marathon | 1:02:52 | | Mx | 12.512 (20.135) | 1281 | Letesenbet Gidey | ETH | 24 Oct 2021 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia | ESP | | P |
| Half marathon | 1:05:16 | | Wo | 12.055 (19.400) | 1229 | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 17 Oct 2020 | World Half Marathon Championships | Gdynia | POL | | P |
| Marathon | 2:09:56.00 | | Mx | 12.107 (19.485) | 1339 | Ruth Chepng'etich | KEN | 13 Oct 2024 | Chicago Marathon | Chicago | USA | | P |
| Marathon | 2:16:16.00 | | Wo | 11.544 (18.580) | 1272 | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 21 Apr 2024 | London Marathon | London | GBR | | P |
| 50 km (road) | 2:59:54.00 | | Mx | 10.36 (16.68) | N/A | Desiree Linden | USA | 13 Apr 2021 | Brooks Running 50 km & Marathon | Dorena Lake | USA | | |
| 50 km (road) | 3:00:30.00 | | Wo | 10.33 (16.62) | N/A | Emane Seifu Hayile | ETH | 26 Feb 2023 | Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers Ultramarathon | Gqeberha | RSA | | |
| 100 km (road) | 6:33:11.00 | | Mx | 9.4822 (15.260) | N/A | Tomoe Abe | JPN | 25 Jun 2000 | Lake Saroma Ultramarathon | Yūbetsu | JPN | | |
| 50 m hurdles | 6.58 | | i | 17.00 (27.36) | 1231 | Cornelia Oschkenat | GDR | 20 Feb 1988 | | East Berlin | GDR | | |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.65 | | i | 17.55 (28.24) | 1242 | Devynne Charlton | BAH | 3 Mar 2024 | World Championships | Glasgow | USA | | P |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.63 | | i X | 17.59 (28.31) | N/A | Lyudmila Narozhilenko | RUS | 4 Mar 1993 | | Seville | ESP | | |
| 100 m hurdles | 12.12 | +0.9 | | 18.457 (29.703) | 1272 | Tobi Amusan | NGR | 24 Jul 2022 | World Championships | Eugene | USA | | P |
| 400 m hurdles | 50.37 | | | 17.764 (28.588) | 1322 | Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone | USA | 8 Aug 2024 | Olympic Games | Saint-Denis | FRA | | P |
| 3000 m steeplechase | 8:44.32 | | | 12.799 (20.598) | 1285 | Beatrice Chepkoech | KEN | 20 Jul 2018 | Herculis | Monaco | MON | | P |
| High jump | 2.10 m | | | | 1319 | Yaroslava Mahuchikh | UKR | 7 Jul 2024 | Meeting de Paris | Paris | FRA | | P |
| Pole vault | 5.06 m | | | | 1290 | Yelena Isinbayeva | RUS | 28 Aug 2009 | Weltklasse Zürich | Zürich | SUI | | P |
| Long jump | 7.52 m | +1.4 | | | 1333 | Galina Chistyakova | URS | 11 Jun 1988 | Brothers Znamensky Memorial | Leningrad | URS | | P |
| Triple jump | 15.74 m | N/A | i | | 1297 | Yulimar Rojas | VEN | 20 Mar 2022 | World Championships | Belgrade | SRB | | P |
| Shot put | 22.63 m | | | | 1372 | Natalya Lisovskaya | URS | 7 Jun 1987 | Brothers Znamensky Memorial | Moscow | URS | | P |
| Discus throw | 76.80 m | | | | 1382 | Gabriele Reinsch | GDR | 9 Jul 1988 | East Germany–Italy tournament | Neubrandenburg | GDR | | P |
| Hammer throw | 82.98 m | | | | 1303 | Anita Włodarczyk | POL | 28 Aug 2016 | Kamila Skolimowska Memorial | Warsaw | POL | | P |
| Javelin throw | 72.28 m | | | | 1306 | Barbora Špotáková | CZE | 13 Sep 2008 | World Athletics Final | Stuttgart | GER | | P |
| Pentathlon sh | 5055 pts | | i | | 1254 | Nafi Thiam | BEL | 3 Mar 2023 | European Championships | Istanbul | TUR | | |
| Heptathlon | 7291 pts | | | | 1331 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | USA | 24 Sep 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul | KOR | | P |
| Decathlon | 8358 pts | | | | N/A | Austra Skujytė | LTU | 15 Apr 2005 | Audrey Walton Combined Events | Columbia | USA | | P |
| 3000 m walk sh | 11:40.33 | | i | 9.582 (15.421) | 1207 | Claudia Iovan | ROU | 30 Jan 1999 | | Bucharest | ROU | | |
| 3000 m walk sh | 11:35.34 | | i # | 9.651 (15.532) | 1217 | Gillian O'Sullivan | IRL | 15 Feb 2003 | | Belfast | GBR | | |
| 10,000 m walk (track) | 41:56.23 | | | 8.890 (14.307) | 1196 | Nadezhda Ryashkina | URS | 24 Jul 1990 | Goodwill Games | Seattle | USA | | |
| 10,000 m walk (track) | 41:37.90 | | | 8.955 (14.412) | 1207 | Gao Hongmiao | CHN | 7 Apr 1994 | | Beijing | CHN | | |
| 20,000 m walk (track) | 1:26:52.30 | | | 8.583 (13.814) | 1193 | Olimpiada Ivanova | RUS | 6 Sep 2001 | Goodwill Games | Brisbane | AUS | | |
| 20 km walk (road) | 1:23:49 | | | 8.896 (14.317) | 1248 | Yang Jiayu | CHN | 20 Mar 2021 | Chinese Race Walking Championships | Huangshan | CHN | | P |
| 20 km walk (road) | 1:23:39 | | | 8.914 (14.346) | 1251 | Elena Lashmanova | RUS | 9 Jun 2018 | Russian Race Walking Championships | Cheboksary | RUS | | P |
| 35 km walk (road) | 2:37:15 | | | 8.298 (13.355) | 1262 | María Pérez | ESP | 21 May 2023 | European Race Walking Team Championships | Poděbrady | Czech Republic | | |
| 50,000 m walk (track) | 4:29:45.560 | | | 6.910 (11.121) | N/A | Katie Burnett | USA | 13 Jul 2019 | National Invitational Racewalks | San Diego | USA | | |
| 50 km walk (road) | 3:59:15 | | | 7.791 (12.539) | 1244 | Liu Hong | CHN | 9 Mar 2019 | Chinese Race Walk Grand Prix | Huangshan | CHN | | P |
| 50 km walk (road) | 3:57:08 | | | 7.861 (12.651) | 1256 | Klavdiya Afanasyeva | RUS | 15 Jun 2019 | Russian Race Walking Championships | Cheboksary | RUS | | P |
| 4 × 100 m relay | 40.82 | | | 21.92 (35.277) | 1273 | Tianna Madison Allyson Felix Bianca Knight Carmelita Jeter | USA | 10 Aug 2012 | Olympic Games | London | GBR | | P |
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:27.46 | | | 20.461 (32.929) | 1233 | LaTasha Jenkins LaTasha Colander-Richardson Nanceen Perry Marion Jones | USA | 29 Apr 2000 | Penn Relays | Philadelphia | USA | | |
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:27.05 | | | 20.558 (33.084) | 1241 | Dina Asher-Smith Rhasidat Adeleke Lanae-Tava Thomas Julien Alfred | GBR IRL JAM LCA | 30 Mar 2024 | Texas Relays | Austin | USA | | |
| 4 × 200 m relay sh | 1:32.41 | | i | 19.365 (31.166) | 1181 | Yekaterina Kondratyeva Irina Khabarova Yuliya Pechonkina Yuliya Gushchina | RUS | 29 Jan 2005 | Aviva International Match | Glasgow | GBR | | |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:15.17 | | | 18.338 (29.513) | 1267 | Tatyana Ledovskaya Olga Nazarova Mariya Pinigina Olga Bryzgina | URS | 1 Oct 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul | KOR | | P |
| 4 × 400 m relay sh | 3:23.37 | | i | 17.599 (28.323) | 1220 | Olesya Krasnomovets Olga Zaytseva Olga Kotlyarova Yuliya Gushchina | RUS | 28 Jan 2006 | Aviva International Match | Glasgow | GBR | |
| 4 × 400 m relay sh | 3:21.75 | | i A | 17.740 (28.550) | 1234 | Amber Anning Joanne Reid Rosey Effiong Britton Wilson | GBR JAM USA USA | 11 Mar 2023 | NCAA Division I Championships | Albuquerque | USA | [230] [231] | |
| 4 × 800 m relay | 7:50.17 | | | 15.225 (24.502) | 1260 | Irina Podyalovskaya Nadezhda Olizarenko Lyubov Gurina Lyudmila Borisova | URS | 5 Aug 1984 | | Moscow | URS | | |
| 4 × 800 m relay sh | 8:05.89 | | i | 14.732 (23.709) | 1295 | Chrishuna Williams Raevyn Rogers Charlene Lipsey Ajeé Wilson | USA | 3 Feb 2018 | Millrose Games | New York City | USA | [233] [234] | |
| Distance medley relay | 10:36.50 | | | 14.058 (22.624) | N/A | Treniere Moser Sanya Richards-Ross Ajeé Wilson Shannon Rowbury | USA | 2 May 2015 | World Relays | Nassau | BAH | |
| 4 × 1500 m relay | 16:27.02 | | | 13.598 (21.884) | 1260 | Colleen Quigley Elise Cranny Karissa Schweizer Shelby Houlihan | USA | 31 Jul 2020 | Bowerman TC Intrasquad Meet IV | Portland | USA | | |
| Road relay 42.195 km | 2:11:41.00 | | Mx | 11.946 (19.226) | N/A | Jiang Bo Dong Yanmei Zhao Fengting Ma Zaijie Lan Lixin Li Na | CHN | 28 Feb 1998 | | Beijing | CHN | | |
| Road relay 42.195 km | 2:16:04.00 | | Wo | 11.561 (18.606) | N/A | Genet Gebregiogios Birhane Adere Ayelech Worku Gete Wami Getenesh Urge Luchia Yischak | ETH | 13 Apr 1996 | | Copenhagen | DEN | | |

### Mixed

| Event | Perf. | N | Avg Speed (mph, kph) | Pts | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | R | V | P |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:07.41 | | 19.098 (30.735) | | Vernon Norwood (44.47) Shamier Little (49.32) Bryce Deadmon (44.17) Kaylyn Brown (49.45) | USA | 2 August 2024 | Olympic Games | Saint-Denis | FRA | | | P |
| 4 × 400 m relay sh | 3:12.44 | | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | | | |

## World best performances

Records in events without World Athletics-ratified world records are typically referred to as world best performances or world bests.
While races over imperial measured distances were very common in the first half of the 20th century, only the mile remains common today due to its historical prominence in track and field: all other imperial measured distance races became increasingly rare, and the IAAF deleted these events from the world record books in 1976.
In November 2019, World Athletics (WA; formerly IAAF) also deleted several long-distance events (track distances of 20,000 metres, 25,000 metres and 30,000 metres and road distances of 15 km, 20 km, 25 km and 30 km) from the world record books.
Some road racing distances and indoor variations of outdoor events fall outside of WA's lists, and records set in uncommon events usually do not adhere to the strict criteria found in WA-ratifiable events: one example is the 150 metres record, which was set by Usain Bolt on a specially-made straight track, while previous performances (such as the Bailey–Johnson 150-metre race) were completed on a traditional circuit which included a partial bend in the track.
The 40-yard dash, a standard acceleration evaluation for American football players, does not fall within the usual criteria of athletics racing events. In most 40-yard dashes, reaction times are not recorded as timing starts only once the player is in motion, and the standards for timing a "football 40" are so lax and inconsistent that a real world record cannot be claimed.
Performances are also hand-timed and calculated to 1/100 of a second, although studies have shown human beings simply cannot react consistently or accurately enough for this to be a valid method, and even those using light beams are timed by the motion of the athlete, removing the normal factor of reaction time; further, football 40-yard dashes are usually run on a turf surface as opposed to an all weather track. All of these factors make track and "football 40" performances essentially impossible to compare.
The world best time for a "football 40" is 4.17 by Deion Sanders, while the extrapolated best for an Olympic-level athlete (including reacting to a starting gun) is 4.24 by Maurice Greene at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. Under conventional football timing on a turf field in 2017, Christian Coleman reportedly ran a 4.12.

### Outdoor events
#### Men

| Event | Perf. | W | N | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Avg Speed (mph, kph) | Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | P |
| 50 m | 5.40 | +0.2 | + | Bruny Surin | CAN | 20.71 (33.33) | N/A | 22 Aug 1999 | World Championships | Seville | ESP |
| 60 m | 6.25 | +0.2 | + | Bruny Surin | CAN | 21.48 (34.56) | N/A | 22 Aug 1999 | World Championships | Seville | ESP |
| 60 m | 6.31 | +0.9 | + | Usain Bolt | JAM | 21.27 (34.23) | N/A | 16 Aug 2009 | World Championships | Berlin | GER |
| 60 m | 6.29 | +0.9 | + | Su Bingtian | CHN | 21.34 (34.34) | N/A | 1 Aug 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo | JPN |
| 100 y | 9.00 | | h | Ivory Crockett | USA | 22.7 (36.6) | N/A | 11 May 1974 | | Knoxville | USA |
| 100 y | 9.00 | | h | Houston McTear | USA | 22.7 (36.6) | N/A | 9 May 1975 | | Winter Park | USA |
| 100 y | 9.07 | −0.5 | + | Asafa Powell | JAM | 22.55 (36.29) | N/A | 27 May 2010 | Golden Spike Ostrava | Ostrava | CZE |
| 150 m | 14.44 | −0.3 | + | Usain Bolt | JAM | 23.24 (37.40) | N/A | 20 Aug 2009 | World Championships | Berlin | GER |
| 150 m straight | 14.35 | +1.1 | | Usain Bolt | JAM | 23.38 (37.63) | N/A | 17 May 2009 | Manchester City Games | Manchester | GBR |
| 200 m straight | 19.41 | −0.4 | | Tyson Gay | USA | 23.05 (37.09) | N/A | 16 May 2010 | Manchester City Games | Manchester | GBR |
| 220 y (straight) | 19.50 | +1.9 | h | Tommie Smith | USA | 23.08 (37.14) | N/A | 7 May 1966 | Video on YouTube | San Jose, California | USA |
| 220 y (straight) | 19.54 | −0.4 | | Tyson Gay | USA | 23.03 (37.06) | N/A | 16 May 2010 | Manchester City Games | Manchester | GBR |
| 300 m | 30.69 | | A | Letsile Tebogo | BOT | 21.866 (35.191) | 1286 | 17 Feb 2024 | Simbine Curro Classic Shoot-Out | Pretoria | RSA |
| 440 y | 44.50 | | | John Smith | USA | 20.23 (32.55) | N/A | 26 Jun 1971 | USA Championships | Eugene | USA |
| 500 m | 57.69 | | | David Rudisha | KEN | 19.388 (31.201) | N/A | 10 Sep 2016 | Great North CityGames | Newcastle | GBR |
| 600 m | 1:12.81 | | | Johnny Gray | USA | 18.434 (29.666) | 1239 | 24 May 1986 | | Santa Monica | USA |
| 1600 m | 3:41.84c | | | Hicham El Guerrouj | MAR | 16.134 (25.966) | N/A | 7 Jul 1999 | Golden Gala | Rome | ITA |
| 3200 m | 7:51.35c | | | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 15.187 (24.440) | N/A | 9 Jun 2023 | Meeting de Paris | Paris | FRA |
| Two miles | 7:54.10 | | | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 15.187 (24.441) | 1304 | 9 Jun 2023 | Meeting de Paris | Paris | FRA | P |
| 8 km (road) | 21:11.00 | | + | Rhonex Kipruto | KEN | 14.080 (22.659) | N/A | 12 Jan 2020 | 10K Valencia Ibercaja | Valencia | ESP |
| 15 km (road) | 40:07.00 | | + | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | 13.940 (22.435) | N/A | 16 Feb 2025 | Barcelona Half Marathon | Barcelona | ESP |
| 10 miles (road) | 44:04.00 | | | Benard Kibet | KEN | 13.616 (21.912) | 1257 | 4 Dec 2022 | Kōsa 10-Miler | Kōsa | JAP |
| 20,000 m (track) | 56:20.02 | | + | Bashir Abdi | BEL | 13.236 (21.302) | N/A | 4 Sep 2020 | Diamond League | Brussels | BEL |
| 20 km (road) | 53:42.00 | | + | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | 13.885 (22.346) | N/A | 16 Feb 2025 | Barcelona Half Marathon | Barcelona | ESP |
| 25,000 m (track) | 1:12:25.40 | | + | Moses Mosop | KEN | 12.870 (20.712) | N/A | 3 Jun 2011 | Prefontaine Classic | Eugene | USA |
| 25 km (road) | 1:11:08.00 | | + | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN | 13.103 (21.087) | N/A | 25 Sep 2022 | Berlin Marathon | Berlin | GER |
| 30,000 m (track) | 1:26:47.40 | | | Moses Mosop | KEN | 12.887 (20.740) | N/A | 3 Jun 2011 | Prefontaine Classic | Eugene | USA |
| 30 km (road) | 1:25:40.00 | | + | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN | 13.056 (21.012) | N/A | 25 Sep 2022 | Berlin Marathon | Berlin | GER |
| 35 km (road) | 1:40:10.00 | | + | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN | 13.027 (20.965) | N/A | 25 Sep 2022 | Berlin Marathon | Berlin | GER |
| 40 km (road) | 1:54:23.00 | | + | Kelvin Kiptum | KEN | 13.038 (20.982) | N/A | 8 Oct 2023 | Chicago Marathon | Chicago | USA |
| 100,000 m (track) | 6:05:41.00 | | | Aleksandr Sorokin | LTU | 10.195 (16.408) | N/A | 23 Apr 2022 | Centurion Running Track 100 Mile | Bedfordshire | GBR |
| 100 miles (track) | 11:14:56.00 | | + | Aleksandr Sorokin | LTU | 8.890 (13.307) | N/A | 24 Apr 2021 | Centurion Running Track 100 Mile | Ashford | UK |
| 100 miles (road) | 10:51:39.00 | | + | Aleksandr Sorokin | LTU | 9.207 (14.818) | N/A | 6 Jan 2022 | Spartanion Race | Tel Aviv | ISR |
| 12-hour run (track) | 170,309 m | | | Aleksandr Sorokin | LTU | 8.819 (14.192) | N/A | 24 Apr 2021 | Centurion Running Track 100 Mile | Ashford | UK |
| 12-hour run (road) | 177,410 m | | | Aleksandr Sorokin | LTU | 9.186 (14.784) | N/A | 6 Jan 2022 | Spartanion Race | Tel Aviv | ISR |
| 24-hour run (road) | 319,614 m | | | Aleksandr Sorokin | LTU | 8.275 (13.317) | N/A | 18 Sep 2022 | IAU 24 Hour European Championships | Verona | ITA |
| 2000 m steeplechase | 5:10.68 | | | Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad | FRA | 14.400 (23.175) | 1248 | 30 Jun 2010 | Alma Athlé Tour | Reims | FRA |
| 2500 m steeplechase | 7:34.4 | | h | George Orton | CAN | 12.307 (19.806) | N/A | 15 Jul 1900 | Olympic Games | Paris | FRA |
| 2590 m steeplechase | 7:39.6 | | h | James Lightbody | USA | 12.606 (20.287) | N/A | 29 Aug 1904 | Olympic Games | St. Louis | USA |
| 3460 m steeplechase | 10:33.4 | | h | Volmari Iso-Hollo | FIN | 12.219 (19.665) | N/A | 1 Aug 1932 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles | USA |
| 4000 m steeplechase | 12:58.4 | | h | John Rimmer | GBR | 11.495 (18.500) | N/A | 16 Jul 1900 | Olympic Games | Paris | FRA |
| 200 m hurdles | 22.55 | | | Laurent Ottoz | ITA | 19.840 (31.929) | N/A | 31 May 1995 | | Milan | ITA |
| 200 m hurdles straight | 21.90 | +1.4 | h | Don Styron | USA | 20.429 (32.877) | N/A | 2 Apr 1960 | | Baton Rouge | USA |
| 200 m hurdles straight | 22.10 | +2.0 | | Andy Turner | GBR | 20.244 (32.579) | N/A | 15 May 2011 | Manchester City Games | Manchester | GBR |
| 200 m hurdles straight | 22.10 | +1.8 | | Louis Jacobus van Zyl | RSA | 20.244 (32.579) | N/A | 9 May 2015 | Manchester City Games | Manchester | GBR |
| 220 y hurdles straight | 21.90 | +1.4 | h | Don Styron | USA | 20.548 (33.069) | N/A | 2 Apr 1960 | | Baton Rouge | USA |
| 300 m hurdles | 33.26 | | | Karsten Warholm | NOR | 20.177 (32.471) | N/A | 4 Jun 2021 | Night of Highlights | Oslo | NOR | P |
| 440 y hurdles | 48.70 | | | Jim Bolding | USA | 18.48 (29.74) | N/A | 25 Jul 1974 | | Turin | ITA |
| Standing long jump | 12 ft 3 in | | | Byron Jones | USA | | N/A | 23 Feb 2015 | NFL Scouting Combine | Indianapolis | USA |
| Standing triple jump | 10.95 m | | | Tydree Lewis | USA | | N/A | 31 Oct 2011 | | | |
| Weight throw | 25.41 m | | | Lance Deal | USA | | N/A | 20 Feb 1993 | | Azusa | USA |
| Icosathlon | 14571 pts | | | Joseph Detmer | USA | | N/A | 25 Sep 2010 | World Championships | Lynchburg, Virginia | USA |
| 1500 m walk (track) | 5:12.00 | | + | Antanas Grigaliūnas | LTU | 10.755 (17.308) | N/A | 12 May 1990 | | Vilnius | LTU |
| Mile walk (track) | 5:31.08 | | | Tom Bosworth | GBR | 10.874 (17.499) | N/A | 9 Jul 2017 | London Grand Prix | London | GBR |
| 3000 m walk (track) | 10:47.11 | | | Giovanni De Benedictis | ITA | 10.370 (16.690) | 1209 | 19 May 1990 | | San Giovanni Valdarno | ITA |
| 5000 m walk (track) | 18:05.49 | | | Hatem Ghoula | TUN | 10.304 (16.582) | 1217 | 1 May 1997 | | Tunis | TUN |
| 5 km walk (road) | 18:21 | | | Robert Korzeniowski | POL | 10.159 (16.349) | 1194 | 15 Sep 1990 | | Bad Salzdetfurth | GER |
| 10,000 m walk (track) | 37:25.21 | | | Eiki Takahashi | JPN | 9.963 (16.034) | 1241 | 14 Nov 2020 | Juntendo University Long Distance meeting | Inzai | JPN |
| 10 km walk (road) | 37:11.00 | | | Roman Rasskazov | RUS | 10.027 (16.136) | 1252 | 28 May 2000 | | Saransk | RUS |
| 30 km walk (road) | 2:05:06.00 | | | Nathan Deakes | AUS | 8.941 (14.389) | 1227 | 27 Aug 2006 | Australian Race Walking Championships | Hobart | AUS |
| 50-mile walk (road) | 7:44:47.20 | | | Shaul Ladany | ISR | 6.455 (10.388) | N/A | 1972 | | New Jersey | USA |
| 4 × 110 y relay | 38.60 | | A | Earl McCullouch Fred Kuller O. J. Simpson Lennox Miller (JAM) | | 23.316 (37.524) | N/A | 17 Jun 1967 | NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Championships | Provo, Utah | USA |
| Swedish relay | 1:46.59 | | | Christopher Williams Usain Bolt Davian Clarke Jermaine Gonzales | JAM | 20.986 (33.774) | N/A | 25 Jul 2006 | DN Galan | Stockholm | SWE |
| Sprint medley relay (2-2-4-8) | 3:10.76 | | | Carl Lewis Ferran Tyler Benny Hollis Johnny Gray | USA | 18.762 (30.195) | N/A | 6 Apr 1985 | | Tempe | USA |
| 4 × mile relay | 15:49.08 | | | Eamonn Coghlan Ray Flynn Frank O'Mara Marcus O'Sullivan | IRL | 15.173 (24.418) | N/A | 17 Aug 1985 | | Dublin | IRL |
| 4 × 110m shuttle hurdle relay | 52.94 | | | Jason Richardson (hurdler) Aleec Harris Aries Merritt David Oliver | USA | 18.592 (29.921) | N/A | 25 Apr 2015 | Drake Relays | Des Moines | USA |

#### Women

| Event | Perf. | W | N | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Avg Speed (mph, kph) | Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. |
| 50 m | 5.93 | −0.1 | + | Marion Jones | USA | 18.86 (30.35) | N/A | 22 Aug 1999 | World Championships | Seville | ESP |
| 60 m | 6.83 | +0.4 | + | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce | JAM | 19.65 (31.63) | N/A | 10 Aug 2022 | Monaco Diamond League | Monaco | MON |
| 100 y | 9.91 | +1.1 | + | Veronica Campbell-Brown | JAM | 20.64 (33.22) | N/A | 31 May 2011 | Golden Spike Ostrava | Ostrava | CZE |
| 150 m | 16.09 | +0.2 | + | Shericka Jackson | JAM | 20.85 (33.56) | N/A | 8 Sep 2023 | Memorial van Damme | Brussels | BEL |
| 150 m | 16.41 | +1.1 | | Brianna Rollins-McNeal | USA | 20.45 (32.91) | N/A | 20 Jul 2020 | AP Ranch High-Performance Invitational | Fort Worth | USA |
| 150 m straight | 16.23 | -0.7 | | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | BAH | 20.67 (33.27) | N/A | 20 May 2018 | Adidas Boost Boston Games | Boston | USA |
| 200 m straight | 21.76 | +0.5 | | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | BAH | 20.56 (33.09) | N/A | 4 Jun 2017 | Boost Boston Games | Somerville | USA |
| 300 m | 34.14 | | + | Marita Koch | GDR | 19.657 (31.634) | N/A | 6 Oct 1985 | World Cup | Canberra | AUS |
| 300 m | 34.41 | | | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | BAH | 19.503 (31.386) | 1269 | 20 June 2019 | Golden Spike Ostrava | Ostrava | CZE |
| 500 m | 1:05.90 | | | Tatana Kocembova | TCH | 16.972 (27.314) | N/A | 2 Aug 1984 | | Ostrava | TCH |
| 600 m | 1:21.63 | | | Mary Moraa | KEN | 16.523 (26.591) | 1248 | 1 Sep 2024 | ISTAF Berlin | Berlin | GER |
| 1600 m | 4:06.20c | | | Faith Kipyegon | KEN | 14.537 (23.396) | N/A | 21 Jul 2023 | Herculis | Monaco | MON |
| 3200 m | 8:55.45c | | | Meseret Defar | ETH | 13.369 (21.515) | N/A | 14 Sep 2007 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels | BEL |
| Two miles | 8:58.58 | | | Meseret Defar | ETH | 13.369 (21.515) | 1238 | 14 Sep 2007 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels | BEL |
| 4 miles (road) | 19:14.00 | | | Viola Kibiwot | KEN | 12.478 (20.082) | N/A | 13 Oct 2013 | 4 Mile of Groningen | Groningen | NED |
| 8 km (road) | 24:30.00 | | + | Mary Keitany | KEN | 12.174 (19.592) | N/A | 18 Feb 2011 | RAK Half Marathon | Ras al-Khaimah | UAE |
| 12 km (road) | 38:05.00 | | | Brillian Kipkoech | KEN | 11.748 (18.906) | N/A | 19 May 2019 | FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN | Cape Town | RSA |
| 15 km (road) | 44:15.00 | | Mx + | Agnes Jebet Ngetich | KEN | 12.638 (20.339) | 1277 | 27 October 2024 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia | ESP |
| 15 km (road) | 46:24.00 | | Wo + | Joyciline Jepkosgei | KEN | 12.053 (19.397) | N/A | 17 Oct 2020 | World Athletics Half Marathon Championships | Gdynia | POL |
| 10 miles (road) | 51:23.00 | | Wo | Keira D'Amato | USA | 11.677 (18.792) | 1165 | 24 Nov 2020 | Up Dawg Ten Miler | Washington, D.C. | USA |
| 10 miles (road) | 50:05.00 | | + | Mary Keitany | KEN | 11.98 (19.28) | N/A | 18 Feb 2011 | RAK Half Marathon | Ras al-Khaimah | UAE |
| 10 miles (road) | 49:21.00 | | + a | Brigid Kosgei | KEN | 12.158 (19.567) | N/A | 8 Sep 2019 | Great North Run | Newcastle upon Tyne–South Shields | GBR |
| 20,000 m (track) | 1:05:26.60 | | | Tegla Loroupe | KEN | 11.394 (18.337) | N/A | 3 Sep 2000 | | Borgholzhausen | GER |
| 20 km (road) | 59:35.00 | | Mx + | Letesenbet Gidey | ETH | 12.514 (20.140) | N/A | 24 Oct 2021 | Valencia Half Marathon | Valencia | ESP |
| 20 km (road) | 1:02:04.00 | | Wo + | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 12.014 (19.334) | N/A | 17 Oct 2020 | World Athletics Half Marathon Championships | Gdynia | POL |
| 25,000 m (track) | 1:27:05.84 | | | Tegla Loroupe | KEN | 10.701 (17.222) | N/A | 21 Sep 2002 | | Mengerskirchen | GER |
| 25 km (road) | 1:16:17.00 | | Mx + | Ruth Chepngetich | KEN | 12.218 (19.663) | N/A | 13 Oct 2024 | Chicago Marathon | Chicago | USA |
| 25 km (road) | 1:19:38.00 | | Wo + | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 11.704 (18.836) | N/A | 21 Apr 2024 | London Marathon | London | GBR |
| 30,000 m (track) | 1:45:50.00 | | | Tegla Loroupe | KEN | 10.568 (17.008) | N/A | 6 Jun 2003 | | Warstein | GER |
| 30 km (road) | 1:31:49.00 | | Mx + | Ruth Chepngetich | KEN | 12.181 (19.604) | N/A | 13 Oct 2024 | Chicago Marathon | Chicago | USA |
| 30 km (road) | 1:35:56.00 | | Wo + | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 11.659 (18.763) | N/A | 21 Apr 2024 | London Marathon | London | GBR |
| 35 km (road) | 1:47:32.00 | | Mx + | Ruth Chepngetich | KEN | 12.134 (19.528) | N/A | 13 Oct 2024 | Chicago Marathon | Chicago | USA |
| 35 km (road) | 1:52:39.00 | | Wo + | Mary Jepkosgei Keitany | KEN | 11.584 (18.642) | N/A | 23 Apr 2017 | London Marathon | London | GBR |
| 40 km (road) | 2:03:11.00 | | Mx + | Ruth Chepngetich | KEN | 12.106 (19.483) | N/A | 13 Oct 2024 | Chicago Marathon | Chicago | USA |
| 40 km (road) | 2:09:13.00 | | Wo + | Peres Jepchirchir | KEN | 11.541 (18.574) | N/A | 21 Apr 2024 | London Marathon | London | GBR |
| 50 miles (road) | 5:31:56.00 | | | Courtney Olsen | USA | | | 9 Nov 2024 | Tunnel Hill 50 Mile | Vienna | USA |
| 100 miles (road) | 12:42:40.00 | | | Camille Herron | USA | 7.867 (12.661) | N/A | 11 Nov 2017 | Tunnel Hill 100 Mile | Vienna | USA |
| 12-hour run (track) | 149,130 m | | + | Camille Herron | USA | 7.722 (12.428) | N/A | 9 Dec 2017 | Desert Solstice Track Invitational | Phoenix | USA |
| 12-hour run (road) | 153,600 m | | | Satu Lipiäinen | FIN | | N/A | 20 May 2023 | | Kokkola | FIN |
| 24-hour run (road) | 270,116 m | | | Camille Herron | USA | 6.993 (11.255) | N/A | 26–27 Oct 2019 | IAU 24 Hour World Championship | Albi | FRA |
| 48-hour run (road) | 435,366 m | | | Camille Herron | USA | 5.636 (9.070) | N/A | 25–27 Mar 2023 | Sri Chinmoy 48 Hour Festival | Bruce | AUS |
| 2000 m steeplechase | 5:47.42 | | | Beatrice Chepkoech | KEN | 12.877 (20.724) | 1242 | 10 Sep 2023 | Hanžeković Memorial | Zagreb | CRO |
| 200 m hurdles (bend) | 24.80 | +0.4 | h | Yadisleidy Pedroso | ITA | 18.040 (29.032) | N/A | 6 Apr 2013 | | Caserta | ITA |
| 200 m hurdles (bend) | 25.60 | −0.7 | h | Patricia Girard | FRA | 17.476 (28.125) | N/A | 23 Aug 2001 | | Nantes | FRA |
| 200 m hurdles (bend) | 25.79 | −0.6 | | Lauren Wells | AUS | 17.347 (27.918) | N/A | 21 Jan 2017 | AACT Combined Events Championships | Canberra | AUS |
| 200 m hurdles (straight) | 24.86 | +0.1 | | Shiann Salmon | JAM | 17.996 (28.962) | N/A | 23 May 2021 | Adidas Boost Boston Games | Boston | USA |
| 300 m hurdles | 36.86 | | | Femke Bol | NED | 18.206 (29.300) | N/A | 31 May 2022 | Ostrava Golden Spike | Ostrava | CZE |
| Tetradecathlon | 10798 pts | | | Milla Kelo | FIN | | N/A | 8 Sep 2002 | | Turku | FIN |
| 3000 m walk (track) | 11:48.24 | | | Ileana Salvador | ITA | 9.475 (15.249) | 1186 | 29 Aug 1993 | | Padua | ITA |
| 5000 m walk (track) | 20:01.80 | | | Eleonora Giorgi | ITA | 9.307 (14.978) | 1219 | 18 May 2014 | Italian Clubs League Meet | Misterbianco | ITA |
| 5 km walk (road) | 19:46 | | | Kjersti Plätzer | NOR | 9.431 (15.177) | 1239 | 27 Aug 2006 | Internationaler Geher-Cup | Hildesheim | GER |
| 10 km walk (road) | 41:04.00 | | | Yelena Nikolayeva | RUS | 9.078 (14.610) | 1228 | 20 Apr 1996 | Russian Championships | Sochi | RUS |
| 30 km walk (road) | 2:24:33.00 | | | Paola Pérez | ECU | 7.738 (12.452) | N/A | 22 Oct 2017 | | Hauppauge | USA |
| Sprint medley relay (1–1–2–4) | 1:35.20 | | | Destinee Brown Aaliyah Brown Kimberlyn Duncan Raevyn Rogers | USA | 18.798 (30.252) | N/A | 28 Apr 2018 | Penn Relays | Philadelphia | USA |
| Swedish relay (1–2–3–4) | 2:01.10 | | | Marina Zhirova Yelena Mizera Yelena Ruzina Tatyana Alekseyeva | RUS | 18.457 (29.703) | N/A | 5 June 1993 | | Portsmouth | GBR |
| Sprint medley relay (2-2-4-8) | 3:34.56 | | | Sherri-Ann Brooks Rosemarie Whyte Moya Thompson Kenia Sinclair | JAM | 16.681 (26.846) | N/A | 1 Apr 2009 | Penn Relays | Philadelphia | USA |
| 4 × mile relay | 18:39.58 | | | Brenda Bushnell Leann Warren Kathy Hayes Claudette Groenendaal | USA | 12.862 (20.699) | N/A | 5 May 1985 | | Eugene | USA |
| 4 × 100 m hurdles relay | 50.50 | | | Brianna Rollins Dawn Harper-Nelson Queen Harrison Kristi Castlin | USA | 17.718 (28.515) | N/A | 24 Apr 2015 | Drake Relays | Des Moines | USA |

#### Mixed

| Event | Perf. | N | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Avg Speed (mph, kph) | Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | R | V | P |
| Marathon Race Walk Relay | 2:50:31 | | Álvaro Martín María Pérez | ESP | 9.226 (14.847) | N/A | 7 August 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris | FRA | | | |
| Shuttle hurdle relay | 54.27 | | AK Sloboda, Varaždin Roko Farkaš Klara Koščak Janko Kišak Jana Koščak | CRO | | | 4 May 2024 | Croatian Relay Championships | Zagreb | CRO | | | |

### Indoor events
#### Men

| Event | Perf. | N | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Avg Speed (mph, kph) | Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. |
| 30 m | 3.81 | | Churandy Martina | NED | 17.614 (28.347) | N/A | 14 Nov 2008 | Domino Day | Amsterdam | NED |
| 40 y | 4.12 | | Christian Coleman | USA | 19.9 (32.0) | N/A | 2 May 2017 | Trial | Knoxville | USA |
| 50 y | 5.22 | | Stanley Floyd | USA | 19.59 (31.53) | N/A | 22 Jan 1982 | | Los Angeles | USA |
| 50 y | 5.15 | X | Ben Johnson | CAN | 19.86 (31.96) | N/A | 29 Jan 1988 | | Toronto | CAN |
| 50 y | 5.00 | h | Kirk Clayton | USA | 20.5 (32.9) | N/A | 10 Jan 1970 | | Calgary | CAN |
| 50 y | 5.00 | h | Herb Washington | USA | 20.5 (32.9) | N/A | 2 Feb 1972 | | Toronto | CAN |
| 50 y | 5.00 | h | Mel Pender | USA | 20.5 (32.9) | N/A | 4 Mar 1972 | | Orlando | USA |
| 50 y | 5.00 | h | Mel Pender | USA | 20.5 (32.9) | N/A | 18 Mar 1972 | | Hamilton | CAN |
| 50 y | 5.00 | h | Herb Washington | USA | 20.5 (32.9) | N/A | 4 Feb 1973 | | Toronto | CAN |
| 50 y | 5.00 | h | Manfred Ommer | FRG | 20.5 (32.9) | N/A | 14 Mar 1975 | | Leverkusen | FRG |
| 60 y | 5.80 | h | Herb Washington | USA | 21.2 (34.1) | N/ | 12 Feb 1972 | | East Lansing | USA |
| 60 y | 5.80 | hA | Mel Pender | USA | 21.2 (34.1) | N/A | 25 May 1973 | | Salt Lake City | USA |
| 55 m | 5.99 | A | Obadele Thompson | BAR | 20.54 (33.06) | 1268 | 22 Feb 1997 | | Colorado Springs | USA |
| 70 y | 6.80 | h | Mel Pender | USA | 21.1 (33.9) | N/A | 27 Feb 1965 | Mason-Dixon Games | Louisville | USA |
| 70 y | 6.80 | h | Craig Wallace | USA | 21.1 (33.9) | N/A | 27 Feb 1965 | Mason-Dixon Games | Louisville | USA |
| 70 y | 6.80 | h | Larry Highbaugh | USA | 21.1 (33.9) | N/A | 14 Feb 1970 | Mason-Dixon Games | Louisville | USA |
| 70 y | 6.80 | h | Jim Green | USA | 21.1 (33.9) | N/A | 14 Feb 1970 | Mason-Dixon Games | Louisville | USA |
| 70 y | 6.80 | h | Mel Pender | USA | 21.1 (33.9) | N/A | 13 Feb 1971 | Mason-Dixon Games | Louisville | USA |
| 70 y | 6.80 | h | Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa | MAD | 21.1 (33.9) | N/A | 1 Jun 1973 | Mason-Dixon Games | Louisville | USA |
| 70 y | 6.80 | h | Warren Edmondson | USA | 21.1 (33.9) | N/A | 1 Jun 1973 | Mason-Dixon Games | Louisville | USA |
| 70 y | 6.80 | h | Harrington Jackson | USA | 21.1 (33.9) | N/A | 1 Jun 1973 | Mason-Dixon Games | Louisville | USA |
| 100 m | 9.98 | | Usain Bolt | JAM | 22.41 (36.07) | N/A | 23 Aug 2014 | Kamila Skolimowska Memorial | Warsaw | POL |
| 150 m | 14.99 | | Donovan Bailey | CAN | 22.38 (36.02) | N/A | 1 Jun 1997 | Bailey–Johnson 150-metre race | Toronto | CAN |
| 300 y | 29.27 | | Terron Wright | USA | 20.965 (33.739) | N/A | 7 Feb 1981 | | Bloomington | USA |
| 300 m | 31.56 | | Steven Gardiner | BAH | 21.264 (34.221) | 1260 | 28 Jan 2022 | South Carolina Invitational | Columbia | USA |
| 500 y | 53.90 | hA | Larry James | USA | 18.98 (30.54) | N/A | 25 May 1973 | ITA meet | Salt Lake City | USA |
| 500 m | 59.83 | | Abdalelah Haroun | QAT | 18.694 (30.085) | 1204 | 17 Feb 2016 | Globen Galan | Stockholm | SWE |
| 600 y | 1:05.75 | | Jenoah McKiver | USA | 18.666 (30.040) | N/A | 18 Jan 2025 | Corky Classic | Lubbock | USA |
| 600 m | 1:13.77 | | Donavan Brazier | USA | 18.194 (29.280) | 1277 | 24 Feb 2019 | USA Indoor Championships | Staten Island | USA |
| 1000 y | 2:04.39 | | Johnny Gray | USA | 16.444 (26.464) | N/A | 23 Feb 1986 | | San Diego | USA |
| 1600 m | 3:43.83c | | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 15.990 (25.734) | N/A | 13 Feb 2025 | Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais | Liévin | FRA |
| 2000 m | 4:49.99 | | Kenenisa Bekele | ETH | 15.428 (24.828) | 1280 | 17 Feb 2007 | Aviva Indoor Grand Prix | Birmingham | GBR |
| 3200 m | 7:57.88c | | Josh Kerr | GBR | 14.979 (24.106) | N/A | 11 Feb 2024 | Millrose Games | New York City | USA |
| Two miles | 8:00.67 | | Josh Kerr | GBR | 14.979 (24.107) | 1310 | 11 Feb 2024 | Millrose Games | New York City | USA |
| 10,000 m | 27:50.29 | | Mark Bett | KEN | 13.393 (21.553) | 1087 | 10 Feb 2002 | Indoor Flanders Meeting | Ghent | BEL |
| Marathon | 2:19:01 | | Malcolm Richards | USA | 11.316 (18.212) | N/A | 17 Mar 2018 | The Armory Indoor Marathon | New York City | USA |
| 2000 m steeplechase | 5:13.77 | | Paul Kipsiele Koech | KEN | 14.258 (22.947) | N/A | 13 Feb 2011 | Indoor Flanders Meeting | Ghent | BEL |
| 3000 m steeplechase | 8:17.46 | | Aleksandr Zagoruyko | URS | 13.490 (21.710) | N/A | 21 Feb 1982 | | Moscow | URS |
| 50 y hurdles | 5.88 | | Greg Foster | USA | 17.393 (27.992) | N/A | 17 Jan 1986 | | Los Angeles | USA |
| 60 y hurdles | 6.82 | | Renaldo Nehemiah | USA | 17.995 (28.961) | N/A | 30 Jan 1982 | | Dallas | USA |
| 55 m hurdles | 6.89 | | Renaldo Nehemiah | USA | 17.857 (28.737) | 1254 | 20 Jan 1979 | | New York City | USA |
| 110 m hurdles | 13.34 | | Allen Johnson | USA | 18.446 (29.685) | N/A | 14 Feb 1995 | | Moscow | RUS |
| 300 m hurdles | 34.26 | OT | Karsten Warholm | NOR | 19.588 (31.524) | N/A | 10 Feb 2018 | Avoimet Pirkanmaan | Tampere | FIN |
| 400 m hurdles | 48.78 | | Félix Sánchez | DOM | 18.343 (29.520) | N/A | 18 Feb 2012 | Meeting National Val-de-Reuil | Val-de-Reuil | FRA |
| High jump (indoor) | 2.43 m | | Javier Sotomayor | CUB | | 1296 | 4 Mar 1989 | World Championships | Budapest | HUN | P |
| Pole vault (indoor) | 6.27 m | | Armand Duplantis | SWE | | 1342 | 28 Feb 2025 | All Star Perche | Clermont-Ferrand | FRA | P |
| Long jump (indoor) | 8.79 m | | Carl Lewis | USA | | 1311 | 27 Jan 1984 | Millrose Games | New York City | USA | |
| Triple jump (indoor) | 18.07 m | | Hugues Fabrice Zango | BUR | | 1279 | 16 Jan 2021 | | Aubière | FRA | |
| Shot put (indoor) | 22.82 m | | Ryan Crouser | USA | | 1290 | 24 Jan 2021 | American Track League | Fayetteville | USA | |
| Discus throw (indoor) | 69.51 m | | Gerd Kanter | EST | | N/A | 22 Mar 2009 | World Record Indoor Challenge | Växjö | SWE |
| Weight throw (indoor) | 26.35 m | A | Daniel Haugh | USA | | N/A | 16 Feb 2024 | USA Championships | Albuquerque | USA |
| Javelin throw (indoor) | 85.78 m | | Matti Närhi | FIN | | N/A | 3 Mar 1996 | | Kajaani | FIN |
| 3000 m walk | 10:30.28 | | Tom Bosworth | GBR | 10.647 (17.135) | 1257 | 25 Feb 2018 | Glasgow Grand Prix | Glasgow | GBR |
| Two miles walk | 11:54.50 | | Valdas Kazlauskas | URS | 10.077 (16.217) | N/A | 24 Feb 1990 | | Kaunas | URS |
| 5000 m walk | 18:03.83 | | Sergey Shirobokov | RUS | 10.320 (16.608) | 1224 | 10 Mar 2022 | | Yaroslavl | RUS |
| 10,000 m walk | 38:23.73 | | Wang Zhen | CHN | 9.710 (15.627) | N/A | 8 Feb 2015 | | Genoa | ITA |
| 15,000 m walk | 1:00:03.90 | | Valdas Kazlauskas | URS | 9.310 (14.984) | N/A | 24 Jan 1987 | | Kaunas | URS |
| 20,000 m walk | 1:20:40.00 | OT | Ronald Weigel | GDR | 9.244 (14.876) | N/A | 27 Jan 1980 | | Senftenberg | GDR |
| Sprint medley relay (2-2-4-8) | 3:15.10 | | Mark Everett James Trapp Kevin Little Butch Reynolds | USA | 18.345 (29.523) | N/A | 14 Mar 1993 | World Indoor Championships | Toronto | CAN |
| Distance medley relay | 9:19.42 | | Cole Hocker Luis Peralta Charlie Hunter Cooper Teare | USA DOM AUS USA | 15.995 (25.741) | N/A | 29 Jan 2021 | Razorback Invitational | Fayetteville | USA |
| 4 × mile relay | 16:03.68 | | David Ribich (4:08.2) Henry Wynne (4:01.4) Brannon Kidder (3:56.8) Izaic Yorks (3:57.2) | USA | 14.943 (24.048) | N/A | 26 Jan 2019 | Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge | New York City | USA |
| 4 × 60y shuttle hurdle relay | 27.6 | A | T.G. Parker Joe Kahiapo Ahart Powers Dick McIntosh | USA | 17.787 (28.625) | N/A | 21 Feb 1975 | | Colorado Springs | USA |

#### Women

| Event | Perf. | N | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Avg Speed (mph, kph) | Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. |
| 50 y | 5.74 | | Evelyn Ashford | USA | 17.82 (28.68) | N/A | 18 Feb 1983 | | San Diego | USA |
| 60 y | 6.54 | | Evelyn Ashford | USA | 18.766 (30.200) | N/A | 7 Feb 1982 | USA Indoor Track and Field Championships | New York City | USA |
| 60 y | 6.54 | | Jeanette Bolden | USA | 18.766 (30.200) | N/A | 21 Feb 1986 | | Los Angeles | USA |
| 55 m | 6.56 | | Gwen Torrence | USA | 18.755 (30.183) | 1202 | 14 Mar 1987 | NCAA | Oklahoma City | USA |
| 100 y | 10.15 | | Heike Drechsler | GDR | 20.152 (32.432) | N/A | 8 Feb 1987 | | Senftenberg | GDR |
| 100 m | 11.15 | | Marita Koch | GDR | 20.062 (32.287) | N/A | 12 Jan 1980 | | East Berlin | GDR |
| 300 y | 32.63 | | Merlene Ottey | JAM | 18.806 (30.265) | N/A | 13 Mar 1982 | | Cedar Falls | USA |
| 300 m | 35.45 | | Irina Privalova | RUS | 18.930 (30.465) | 1250 | 17 Jan 1993 | | Moscow | RUS |
| 300 m | 35.45 | | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | BAH | 18.930 (30.465) | 1250 | 3 Feb 2018 | Millrose Games | New York City | USA |
| 500 y | 1:00.61 | A | Jearl Miles-Clark | USA | 16.874 (27.156) | N/A | 19 Feb 2000 | | Pocatello | USA |
| 500 m | 1:05.63 | | Femke Bol | NED | 17.042 (27.427) | 1234 | 4 Feb 2023 | New Balance Indoor Grand Prix | Boston | USA |
| 600 y | 1:16.76 | A | Michaela Rose | USA | 15.988 (25.731) | N/A | 20 Jan 2024 | Corky Classic | Lubbock | USA |
| 600 m | 1:23.41 | | Keely Hodgkinson | GBR | 16.091 (25.896) | 1215 | 28 Jan 2023 | Manchester World Indoor Tour | Manchester | GBR |
| 1000 y | 2:23.5 | | Joetta Clark | USA | 14.254 (22.940) | N/A | 9 Mar 1986 | | Gainesville | USA |
| 1600 m | 4:11.84c | | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 14.212 (22.872) | N/A | 17 Feb 2016 | Globen Galan | Stockholm | SWE |
| 2000 m | 5:23.75 | | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 13.819 (22.239) | 1257 | 7 Feb 2017 | Míting Internacional de Catalunya | Sabadell | ESP |
| 3200 m | 8:57.35c | | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 13.322 (21.439) | N/A | 15 Feb 2014 | Aviva Indoor Grand Prix | Birmingham | GBR |
| Two miles | 9:00.48 | | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 13.322 (21.439) | 1257 | 15 Feb 2014 | Aviva Indoor Grand Prix | Birmingham | GBR |
| 10,000 m | 32:44.97 | | Olga Michurina | RUS | 11.384 (18.321) | N/A | 23 Dec 1995 | | Saint Petersburg | RUS |
| Marathon | 2:40:55 | | Lindsey Scherf | USA | 9.776 (15.733) | N/A | 17 Mar 2018 | The Armory Indoor Marathon | New York City | USA |
| 55 m hurdles | 7.30 | A, | Tiffany Lott-Hogan | USA | 16.854 (27.123) | 1190 | 22 Feb 1997 | | Colorado Springs | USA |
| 100 m hurdles | 12.64 | | Ludmila Engquist | SWE | 17.697 (28.481) | N/A | 10 Feb 1997 | | Tampere | FIN |
| 300 m hurdles | 40.09 | OT | Stine Tomb | NOR | 16.739 (26.939) | N/A | 5 Feb 2011 | Finland-Sweden-Norway Indoor Match | Tampere | FIN |
| 400 m hurdles | 56.41 | | Sheena Tosta | USA | 15.862 (25.527) | N/A | 12 Feb 2011 | Meeting National | Val-de-Reuil | FRA |
| 2000 m steeplechase | 5:47.79 | | Maruša Mišmaš | SLO | 12.864 (20.702) | N/A | 19 Feb 2020 | Meeting Hauts de France Pas de Calais | Liévin | FRA |
| 3000 m steeplechase | 9:07.00 | | Tatyana Petrova | RUS | 12.268 (19.744) | N/A | 17 Feb 2006 | | Moscow | RUS |
| 3000 m steeplechase | 9:54.20 | | Marcela Lustigova | CZE | 11.294 (18.176) | N/A | 11 Feb 2010 | Botnia Games | Korsholm | FIN |
| High jump (indoor) | 2.08 m | | Kajsa Bergqvist | SWE | | 1299 | 4 Feb 2006 | Hochsprung mit Musik | Arnstadt | GER | |
| Pole vault (indoor) | 5.03 m | # | Jenn Suhr | USA | | 1280 | 30 Jan 2016 | Golden Eagle Multi and Invitational | Brockport | USA | P |
| Pole vault (indoor) | 5.02 m | A | Jenn Suhr | USA | | 1277 | 2 Mar 2013 | USA Championships | Albuquerque | USA | P |
| Long jump (indoor) | 7.37 m | | Heike Drechsler | GDR | | 1300 | 13 Feb 1988 | | Vienna | AUT | |
| Triple jump (indoor) | 15.74 m | | Yulimar Rojas | VEN | | 1297 | 20 Mar 2022 | World Championships | Belgrade | SRB |
| Shot put (indoor) | 22.50 m | | Helena Fibingerová | TCH | | 1364 | 19 Feb 1977 | | Jablonec | TCH | |
| Discus throw (indoor) | 65.23 m | Mx | Shanice Craft | GER | | N/A | 10 Feb 2023 | ISTAF Indoor | Berlin | GER |
| Weight throw (indoor) | 26.02 m | A | Deanna Price | USA | | N/A | 17 Feb 2023 | USA Championships | Albuquerque | USA |
| Javelin throw (indoor) | 57.75 m | | Anna Wessman | SWE | | N/A | 10 Mar 2012 | World Indoor Throwing | Växjö | SWE |
| Javelin throw (indoor) | 61.29 m | | Taina Uppa | FIN | | N/A | 28 Feb 1999 | | Korsholm | FIN |
| Mile walk | 6:16.72 | | Sada Eidikytė | URS | 9.556 (15.379) | N/A | 24 Feb 1990 | | Kaunas | URS |
| 3000 m walk | 11:35.34 | | Gillian O'Sullivan | IRL | 9.651 (15.532) | 1217 | 15 Feb 2003 | | Belfast | GBR |
| Two miles walk | 13:11.88 | | Ileana Salvador | ITA | 9.092 (14.633) | N/A | 14 Feb 1990 | | Genoa | ITA |
| 5000 m walk | 20:10.30 | | Vera Sokolova | RUS | 9.241 (14.872) | 1208 | 30 Dec 2010 | Mordovian Indoor Championships | Saransk | RUS |
| 10,000 m walk | 43:54.63 | | Yelena Ginko | BLR | 8.491 (13.664) | 1126 | 22 Feb 2008 | Belarusian Championships | Mogilev | BLR |
| 4 × 100 m relay | 44.39 | | Anne-Kathrin Elbe Anne Möllinger Cathleen Tschirch Marion Wagner | GER | 20.157 (32.440) | N/A | 31 Jan 2010 | BW-Bank Meeting | Karlsruhe | GER |
| Sprint medley relay (2-2-4-8) | 3:45.90 | | Joetta Clark Diggs Wendy Vereen Kim Batten Jearl Miles Clark | USA | 15.844 (25.498) | N/A | 14 Mar 1993 | World Indoor Championships | Toronto | CAN |
| Distance medley relay | 10:33.85 | | Heather McLean Kendall Ellis Roisin Willis Elle Purrier St. Pierre | USA | 14.117 (22.718) | N/A | 15 Apr 2022 | | Boston | USA |

### Combined event disciplines

World Athletics recognises world bests achieved in individual disciplines during a combined event. The below list includes disciplines in the decathlon (men) and heptathlon (women). Athletes must score at least 7000 points in a decathlon in order to have their performance recognised.

#### Men

| Event | Perf. | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Avg Speed (mph, kph) | Dec. Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. |
| 100 metres | 10.12 | Damian Warner | CAN | 22.104 (35.573) | 1066 | 25 May 2019 | Hypo-Meeting | Götzis | AUT |
| Long jump | 8.45 m | Simon Ehammer | SUI | | 1178 | 28 May 2022 | Hypo-Meeting | Götzis | AUT |
| Shot put | 19.17 m | Edy Hubacher | SUI | | 1048 | 5 Oct 1969 | | Bern | SUI |
| High jump | 2.28 m | Derek Drouin | CAN | | 1071 | 7 Apr 2017 | Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational | Santa Barbara | USA |
| High jump | 2.28 m | Aleksandr Shustov | RUS | | 1071 | 27 Feb 2012 | | Belgorod | RUS |
| 400 metres | 45.00 | Ashton Eaton | USA | 19.884 (32.000) | 1060 | 28 Aug 2015 | World Championships | Beijing | CHN |
| 110 metre hurdles | 13.36 | Damian Warner | CAN | 18.418 (29.641) | 1059 | 30 May 2021 | Hypo-Meeting | Götzis | AUT |
| Discus throw | 57.70 | Leo Neugebauer | GER | | 1032 | 6 Jun 2024 | NCAA Outdoor Championships | Eugene | USA |
| Pole vault | 5.76 m | Tim Lobinger | GER | | 1152 | 16 Sep 1999 | | Leverkusen | GER |
| Javelin throw | 79.80 m | Peter Blank | GER | | 1040 | 19 Jul 1992 | | Emmelshausen | GER |
| 1500 metres | 3:58.7h | Robert Baker | USA | 14.057 (22.623) | 963 | 3 Apr 1980 | | Austin | USA |

#### Women

| Event | Perf. | Athlete(s) | Nat. | Avg Speed (mph, kph) | Hep. Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. |
| 100 metre hurdles | 12.54 | Jessica Ennis | GBR | 17.838 (28.708) | 1195 | 3 Aug 2012 | Olympic Games | London | GBR |
| High jump | 2.02 m | Nafissatou Thiam | BEL | | 1264 | 22 Jun 2019 | Décastar | Talence | FRA |
| Shot put | 20.79 m | Eva Wilms | FRG | | 1252 | 28 Aug 1977 | | Hanover | FRG |
| 200 metres | 22.30 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | USA | 20.062 (32.287) | 1150 | 15 Jul 1988 | | Indianapolis | USA |
| Long jump | 7.27 m | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | USA | | 1264 | 23 Sep 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul | KOR |
| Javelin throw | 60.90 m | Barbora Špotáková | CZE | | 1072 | 16 Sep 2012 | Décastar | Talence | FRA |
| 800 metres | 2:01.84 | Nadine Debois | FRA | 14.688 (23.638) | 1087 | 27 Sep 1987 | Décastar | Talence | FRA |

## Javelin specifications

The men's javelin specification was changed with effect from 1986, and the women's from 2000. The purpose was to reduce the number of illegal flat landings, but a side-effect was to reduce the distance travelled. The prior world records in individual men's and women's javelin were invalidated, but the prior records in decathlon and heptathlon were not.
The old specification records for men's and women's javelin were as follows:
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nat. | Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | Ref(s) |
| Men's | 104.80 m | Uwe Hohn | GDR | N/A | 20 Jul 1984 | | East Berlin | GDR | |
| Women's | 80.00 m | Petra Felke | GDR | N/A | 9 Sep 1988 | | Potsdam | GDR | |

### Combined events

The current decathlon world record was set with the current javelin specification.
The best performance in heptathlon using the new specification javelin is:
| Performance | Athlete | Nat. | Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | Ref(s) |
| 7032 | Carolina Klüft | SWE | 1279 | 26 Aug 2007 | World Championships | Osaka | JPN | |
| 13.15 (+0.1 m/s) (100 m hurdles), 1.95 m (high jump), 14.81 m (shot put), 23.38 (+0.3 m/s) (200 m) / 6.85 m (+1.0 m/s) (long jump), 47.98 m (javelin), 2:12.56 (800 m) ||||||||
The best javelin throw in a heptathlon was also set using the old specification:
| Performance | Athlete | Nat. | Hep. Pts | Date | Meeting | Location | Ctry. | Ref(s) |
| 64.64 m | Tessa Sanderson | GBR | 1145 | 12 Jul 1981 | | Brussels | BEL | |