World record progression 100 metres breaststroke
This is a listing of the history of the World Record in the 100 breaststroke swimming event.
The first world record in long course swimming was recognized by the International Swimming Federation in 1961, while the women's world record times were officially acknowledged in 1958. In the short course swimming events the world's governing body has recognized world records since 3 March 1991.
All-time top 25
Men long course
- Correct as of September 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 56.88 | Adam Peaty | 21 July 2019 | Gwangju | ||
| 2 | 57.10 | Peaty #2 | 4 August 2018 | Glasgow | |||
| 3 | 57.13 | Peaty #3 | 7 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 4 | 57.14 | Peaty #4 | 22 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 5 | 57.37 | Peaty #5 | 26 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 6 | 57.39 | Peaty #6 | 14 April 2021 | London | |||
| 7 | 57.47 | Peaty #7 | 24 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 8 | 57.55 | Peaty #8 | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 9 | 57.56 | Peaty #9 | 24 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 10 | 57.59 | Peaty #10 | 21 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 11 | 57.62 | Peaty #11 | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 12 | 57.63 | Peaty #12 | 25 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 13 | 57.66 | Peaty #13 | 18 May 2021 | Budapest | |||
| 14 | 57.67 | Peaty #14 | 17 May 2021 | Budapest | |||
| 2 | 15 | 57.69 | Qin Haiyang | 24 July 2023 | Fukuoka | ||
| 2 | 15 | 57.69 | Qin Haiyang | 6 October 2023 | Berlin | ||
| 17 | 57.70 | Peaty #15 | 14 April 2021 | London | |||
| 18 | 57.75 | Peaty #16 | 23 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 19 | 57.76 | Qin #3 | 25 September 2023 | Hangzhou | |||
| 20 | 57.79 | Peaty #17 | 18 April 2017 | Sheffield | |||
| 3 | 21 | 57.80 | Arno Kamminga | 24 July 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 22 | 57.82 | Qin #4 | 23 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 22 | 57.82 | Qin #5 | 20 October 2023 | Budapest | |||
| 24 | 57.87 | Peaty #18 | 16 April 2019 | Glasgow | |||
| 25 | 57.89 | Peaty #19 | 3 August 2018 | Glasgow | |||
| 4 | 58.14 | Michael Andrew | 13 June 2021 | Omaha | |||
| 5 | 58.26 | Nicolò Martinenghi | 19 June 2022 | Budapest | |||
| 5 | 58.26 | Nicolò Martinenghi | 12 August 2022 | Rome | |||
| 6 | 58.29 | Ilya Shymanovich | 24 March 2019 | Marseille | |||
| 7 | 58.36 | Nic Fink | 30 June 2023 | Indianapolis | |||
| 8 | 58.46 | Cameron van der Burgh | 29 July 2012 | London | |||
| 8 | 58.46 | James Wilby | 22 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 10 | 58.53 | Kirill Prigoda | 27 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 11 | 58.58 | Brenton Rickard | 27 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 12 | 58.63 | Yan Zibei | 22 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 13 | 58.64 | Hugues Duboscq | 27 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 13 | 58.64 | Kevin Cordes | 23 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 15 | 58.67 | Ihor Borysyk | 13 June 2009 | Kharkiv | |||
| 16 | 58.71 | Alexander Dale Oen | 25 July 2011 | Shanghai | |||
| 17 | 58.72 | Evgenii Somov | 16 May 2024 | Atlanta | |||
| 18 | 58.73 | Federico Poggio | 14 April 2023 | Riccione | |||
| 18 | 58.73 | Sun Jiajun | 20 April 2024 | Shenzhen | |||
| 20 | 58.74 | Andrew Wilson | 14 June 2021 | Omaha | |||
| 20 | 58.74 | Lucas Matzerath | 23 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 22 | 58.78 | Yasuhiro Koseki | 16 June 2018 | Monaco | |||
| 23 | 58.79 | Christian Sprenger | 29 July 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 24 | 58.80 | Samuel Williamson | 10 June 2024 | Brisbane | |||
| 25 | 58.83 | Anton Chupkov | 26 October 2020 | Kazan |
Men short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 55.28 | Ilya Shymanovich | 26 November 2021 | Eindhoven | ||
| 2 | 55.32 | Shymanovich #2 | 19 November 2021 | Eindhoven | |||
| 3 | 55.34 | Shymanovich #3 | 19 December 2020 | Brest | |||
| 2 | 4 | 55.41 | Adam Peaty | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 5 | 55.45 | Shymanovich #4 | 3 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 3 | 6 | 55.47 | Qin Haiyang | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 7 | 55.49 | Peaty #2 | 15 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 7 | 55.49 | Shymanovich #5 | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 4 | 7 | 55.49 | Kirill Prigoda | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 10 | 55.51 | Prigoda #2 | 9 November 2025 | Kazan | |||
| 5 | 11 | 55.54 | Caspar Corbeau | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 12 | 55.55 | Corbeau #2 | 23 October 2025 | Toronto | |||
| 6 | 13 | 55.56 | Nic Fink | 4 December 2021 | Eindhoven | ||
| 14 | 55.59 | Shymanovich #6 | 4 December 2021 | Eindhoven | |||
| 14 | 55.59 | Corbeau #3 | 7 November 2025 | Ghent | |||
| 16 | 55.60 | Shymanovich #7 | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 7 | 17 | 55.61 | Cameron van der Burgh | 15 November 2009 | Berlin | ||
| 17 | 55.61 | Qin #2 | 31 October 2024 | Singapore | |||
| 19 | 55.63 | Shymanovich #8 | 19 September 2021 | Naples | |||
| 8 | 19 | 55.63 | Nicolo Martinenghi | 4 November 2021 | Kazan | ||
| 21 | 55.69 | Shymanovich #9 | 15 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 22 | 55.70 | Shymanovich #10 | 17 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||
| 23 | 55.72 | Shymanovich #11 | 31 October 2024 | Singapore | |||
| 24 | 55.73 | Qin #3 | 18 October 2024 | Shanghai | |||
| 9 | 25 | 55.74 | Emre Sakçı | 10 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 10 | 55.77 | Yuya Hinomoto | 16 October 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 11 | 55.79 | Arno Kamminga | 4 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 12 | 55.91 | Denis Petrashov | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 13 | 56.11 | Yasuhiro Koseki | 26 October 2019 | Tokyo | |||
| 13 | 56.11 | Yasuhiro Koseki | 31 October 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 14 | 56.15 | Fabio Scozzoli | 16 December 2017 | Copenhagen | |||
| 15 | 56.16 | Oleg Kostin | 19 November 2017 | Kazan | |||
| 15 | 56.16 | Fabian Schwingenschlögl | 28 October 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 15 | 56.16 | Sun Jiajun | 18 October 2024 | Shanghai | |||
| 18 | 56.21 | Simone Cerasuolo | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 19 | 56.25 | Felipe França Silva | 4 September 2014 | Guaratinguetá | |||
| 19 | 56.25 | Danil Semianinov | 21 November 2022 | Kazan | |||
| 21 | 56.27 | Taku Taniguchi | 19 October 2024 | Tokyo | |||
| 21 | 56.27 | Luka Mladenovic | 3 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 23 | 56.28 | Carles Coll | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 24 | 56.29 | Robin van Aggele | 11 December 2009 | Istanbul | |||
| 24 | 56.29 | Ian Finnerty | 17 November 2019 | College Park |
Women long course
- Correct as of September 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 1:04.13 | Lilly King | 25 July 2017 | Budapest | ||
| 2 | 2 | 1:04.35 | Rūta Meilutytė | 29 July 2013 | Barcelona | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1:04.36 | Yulia Yefimova | 24 July 2017 | Budapest | ||
| 4 | 4 | 1:04.39 | Tang Qianting | 21 April 2024 | Shenzhen | ||
| 5 | 1:04.42 | Meilutytė #2 | 30 July 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 5 | 6 | 1:04.45 | Jessica Hardy | 7 August 2009 | Federal Way | ||
| 7 | 1:04.52 | Meilutytė #3 | 29 July 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 8 | 1:04.53 | King #2 | 24 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 9 | 1:04.62 | Meilutytė #4 | 25 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 10 | 1:04.67 | Meilutytė #5 | 24 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 11 | 1:04.68 | Tang #2 | 20 April 2024 | Shenzhen | |||
| 12 | 1:04.72 | King #3 | 14 June 2021 | Omaha | |||
| 13 | 1:04.75 | King #4 | 30 June 2023 | Indianapolis | |||
| 14 | 1:04.79 | King #5 | 15 June 2021 | Omaha | |||
| 15 | 1:04.82 | Yefimova #2 | 17 June 2017 | Canet-en-Roussillon | |||
| 6 | 15 | 1:04.82 | Tatjana Smith | 25 July 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 7 | 17 | 1:04.84 | Rebecca Soni | 27 July 2009 | Rome | ||
| 18 | 1:04.91 | Soni #2 | 25 July 2011 | Shanghai | |||
| 8 | 19 | 1:04.92 | Evgeniia Chikunova | 19 April 2023 | Kazan | ||
| 20 | 1:04.93 | Soni #3 | 28 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 20 | 1:04.93 | Soni #4 | 19 August 2010 | Irvine | |||
| 20 | 1:04.93 | King #6 | 8 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 20 | 1:04.93 | King #7 | 23 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 24 | 1:04.95 | King #8 | 30 June 2017 | Indianapolis | |||
| 9 | 24 | 1:04.95 | Lydia Jacoby | 27 July 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 10 | 1:05.03 | Katie Meili | 25 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 11 | 1:05.09 | Leisel Jones | 20 March 2006 | Melbourne | |||
| 12 | 1:05.19 | Reona Aoki | 2 March 2022 | Tokyo | |||
| 12 | 1:05.19 | Anna Elendt | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 14 | 1:05.27 | Kate Douglass | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 15 | 1:05.32 | Ji Liping | 29 August 2009 | Beijing | |||
| 16 | 1:05.35 | Katy Freeman | 7 August 2009 | Federal Way | |||
| 17 | 1:05.37 | Annie Lazor | 14 June 2021 | Omaha | |||
| 17 | 1:05.37 | Angharad Evans | 20 April 2025 | London | |||
| 19 | 1:05.44 | Benedetta Pilato | 21 June 2024 | Rome | |||
| 20 | 1:05.47 | Qi Hui | 19 October 2009 | Jinan | |||
| 20 | 1:05.47 | Lara van Niekerk | 2 August 2022 | Birmingham | |||
| 22 | 1:05.48 | Kaitlyn Dobler | 30 June 2023 | Indianapolis | |||
| 23 | 1:05.51 | Mona McSharry | 28 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 24 | 1:05.53 | Satomi Suzuki | 14 September 2025 | Kusatsu | |||
| 25 | 1:05.61 | Anita Bottazzo | 28 July 2025 | Singapore |
Women short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 1:02.36 | Rūta Meilutytė | 12 October 2013 | Moscow | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1:02.36 | Alia Atkinson | 6 December 2014 | Doha | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1:02.36 | Alia Atkinson | 26 August 2016 | Chartres | ||
| 3 | 4 | 1:02.37 | Tang Qianting | 11 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 5 | 1:02.38 | Tang #2 | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 6 | 1:02.40 | Atkinson #3 | 21 October 2016 | Singapore | |||
| 7 | 1:02.43 | Meilutytė #2 | 5 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 8 | 1:02.46 | Meilutytė #3 | 6 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 4 | 9 | 1:02.50 | Lilly King | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 10 | 1:02.53 | Tang #3 | 19 October 2024 | Shanghai | |||
| 11 | 1:02.54 | Atkinson #4 | 1 November 2014 | Singapore | |||
| 12 | 1:02.66 | Atkinson #5 | 15 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 12 | 1:02.66 | Tang #4 | 25 September 2024 | Wuhan | |||
| 14 | 1:02.67 | Atkinson #6 | 11 August 2017 | Eindhoven | |||
| 14 | 1:02.67 | King #2 | 15 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 16 | 1:02.68 | Atkinson #7 | 29 October 2016 | Hong Kong | |||
| 5 | 17 | 1:02.70 | Rebecca Soni | 19 December 2009 | Manchester | ||
| 18 | 1:02.74 | Atkinson #8 | 16 November 2018 | Singapore | |||
| 19 | 1:02.77 | Meilutytė #4 | 4 November 2022 | Indianapolis | |||
| 19 | 1:02.77 | Tang #5 | 26 September 2024 | Wuhan | |||
| 21 | 1:02.80 | Atkinson #9 | 5 October 2018 | Budapest | |||
| 21 | 1:02.80 | King #3 | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 23 | 1:02.82 | Tang #6 | 25 October 2024 | Incheon | |||
| 6 | 23 | 1:02.82 | Eneli Jefimova | 3 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 25 | 1:02.86 | Atkinson #10 | 28 October 2014 | Tokyo | |||
| 7 | 1:02.90 | Kate Douglass | 11 October 2025 | Carmel | |||
| 8 | 1:02.91 | Yulia Yefimova | 3 September 2016 | Moscow | |||
| 9 | 1:02.92 | Katie Meili | 30 August 2016 | Berlin | |||
| 10 | 1:03.00 | Leisel Jones | 14 November 2009 | Berlin | |||
| 11 | 1:03.30 | Jessica Hardy | 14 November 2009 | Berlin | |||
| 12 | 1:03.41 | Alina Zmushka | 12 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 13 | 1:03.45 | Angharad Evans | 11 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 14 | 1:03.50 | Sophie Hansson | 20 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||
| 15 | 1:03.53 | Evgeniia Chikunova | 24 November 2022 | Kazan | |||
| 16 | 1:03.55 | Benedetta Pilato | 15 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 17 | 1:03.57 | Molly Hannis | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 18 | 1:03.61 | Florine Gaspard | 2 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 19 | 1:03.69 | Annie Lazor | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 20 | 1:03.71 | Nika Godun | 24 November 2022 | Kazan | |||
| 21 | 1:03.73 | Sarah Katsoulis | 21 November 2009 | Singapore | |||
| 22 | 1:03.74 | Rikke Møller Pedersen | 10 August 2013 | Berlin | |||
| 23 | 1:03.80 | Breeja Larson | 20 October 2019 | Lewisville | |||
| 24 | 1:03.84 | Mona McSharry | 24 October 2025 | Toronto | |||
| 25 | 1:03.88 | Anna Elendt | 11 October 2025 | Carmel | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |