List of World Athletics Championships records

The World Athletics Championships is a biennial event which began in 1983. Organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the World Championships are a competition comprising track and field athletics events available to male and female athletes from any of the IAAF's 213 member federations. Championship records are set when an athlete achieves the best mark in an event at one of the editions of the Championships. World, area, and national records have been set at the championships over the course of its history.
Competitors at the World Championships come from around the globe and records have been broken by athletes from all six continents. The United States has been the most successful competitor at the World Championships in both medals and records.
Four athletes hold multiple records:

Usain Bolt holds records in the 100 and 200 metres as well as the 4 × 100 relay
Michael Johnson holds individual and relay records in the 400 metres
Jackie Joyner-Kersee broke both the heptathlon and long jump records
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone holds records in the 400 meters, 400 metres hurdles as well as the 4 × 400 relay

Men

Key to tables:
Note: World records in bold are current world records, those in bold italics are former world records

Statistics are correct as of September 2025

National record

Note:World records in bold are current world records, those in bold italics are former world records

Statistics are correct as of September 2025

Area record

National record

Athlete's personal best

Note: World records in bold are current world records, those in bold italics are former world records

Event

Record

Athlete

Nation

Date

Championships

Place

[Mixed 4 × Men's 400 metres world record progression|400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]

3:08.80 WR