The following tables shows the world record progression in the men's and women's 3000 metres.
World Athletics (formerly known as the IAAF) ratified its first world record in the event in 1912.
Key
Men
Outdoor From 1912–2025, 27 world records have been ratified by World Athletics outdoors in the event. The current world record holder is Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, with his time of 7:17.55 set in 2024.
Pre-IAAF era, to 1912 TimeAthleteDatePlace9:02.419 June 1904Paris, France8:55.027 October 1907Norrköping, Sweden8:54.021 August 1908Stockholm, Sweden8:49.611 June 1911Colombes, France8:48.524 September 1911Oulunkylä, Finland8:46.624 May 1912Stockholm, Sweden
IAAF era, from 1912 TimeAthleteDatePlace8:36.812 July 1912Stockholm, Sweden8:33.27 August 19188:28.627 August 1922Turku, Finland8:27.67 June 1925Halmstad, Sweden8:25.424 May 1926Berlin, Germany8:20.413 July 1926Stockholm, Sweden8:18.819 June 1932Antwerp, Belgium8:18.424 July 1934Stockholm, Sweden8:14.816 September 19368:09.014 August 19408:01.228 August 19427:58.812 August 1949Gävle, Sweden7:55.614 May 1955Budapest, Hungary7:55.622 June 1956Trondheim, Norway7:52.84 September 1956Malmö, Sweden7:49.227 June 1962Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France7:49.0+23 June 1965Melun, France7:46.05 August 1965Erfurt, East Germany7:39.627 August 1965Helsingborg, Sweden7:37.614 September 1972Aarhus, Denmark7:35.23 August 1974Gateshead, England7:32.127 June 1978Oslo, Norway7:29.4520 August 1989Cologne, West Germany7:28.9616 August 1992Cologne, Germany7:25.112 August 1994Monte Carlo, Monaco7:20.671 September 1996Rieti, Italy7:17.5525 August 2024Chorzów, Poland (+) – indicates en route time during longer race.
Auto times to the hundredth of a second were accepted by the IAAF for events up to and including 10,000 m from 1981.
Indoor From 1973–2025, World Athletics has ratified 7 world records in the event indoors for men. The current short track world record of 7:22.91 by Grant Fisher has not yet been ratified. TimeAthleteDatePlace7:39.218 February 1973Berlin, Germany7:37.5120 February 1992Seville, Spain7:35.1512 February 1995Ghent, Belgium7:30.724 February 1996Stuttgart, Germany7:26.1525 January 1998Karlsruhe, Germany7:24.906 February 1998Budapest, Hungary7:23.8115 February 2023Liévin, France7:22.918 February 2025New York City, United States
Women
Outdoor The first record officially recognised by World Athletics (formerly the IAAF) was set on 6 July 1974 by Lyudmila Bragina from the Soviet Union.
As of June 21, 2009, the IAAF has ratified nine world records in the outdoor event.
Pre-IAAF, to 1974 TimeAthleteDatePlace14:44.41927—10:56.022 May 1954London, United Kingdom10:55.225 June 1955London, United Kingdom10:25.827 August 1955London, United Kingdom10:16.225 August 1956London, United Kingdom10:16.027 October 1956London, United Kingdom9:44.023 July 1966Don Mills, Canada9:42.811 May 1969Formia, Italy9:38.02 September 1969Milan, Italy9:26.910 July 1971Bakersfield, United States9:23.416 July 1971London, United Kingdom9:09.211 May 1972Formia, Italy8:53.012 August 1972Moscow, Soviet Union
IAAF era, from 1974 TimeAthleteDatePlace8:52.8*6 July 1974Durham, United States8:46.624 June 1975Oslo, Norway8:45.421 June 1976Oslo, Norway8:27.2*7 August 1976College Park, United States8:26.7825 July 1982Kiev, Soviet Union8:22.6226 August 1984Leningrad, Soviet Union8:22.0612 September 1993Beijing, PR China8:12.1912 September 1993Beijing, PR China8:06.1113 September 1993Beijing, PR China * - indicates ratified time. Auto times for Bragina's 8:52.8 and 8:27.2 were 8:52.74 and 8:27.12 respectively.
Indoor World Athletics has ratified seven short track world records for the women's 3000 metres. TimeAthleteDatePlace8:39.798 February 1986Cosford8:33.824 March 1989Budapest8:32.8818 February 2001Birmingham8:29.153 February 2002Stuttgart8:27.8617 February 2006Moscow8:23.723 February 2007Stuttgart8:16.606 February 2014Stockholm
References
ARRS Statistics (Internet Archive)