World record progression 50 metres breaststroke
World records in the 50-metre breaststroke competitive swimming event are recorded for men and women in 50-metre pools and 25-metre pools.
All-time top 25
Men long course
- Correct as of January 2026
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 25.95 | Adam Peaty | 25 July 2017 | Budapest | ||
| 2 | 25.99 | Peaty #2 | 26 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 3 | 26.06 | Peaty #3 | 24 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 4 | 26.09 | Peaty #4 | 8 August 2018 | Glasgow | |||
| 5 | 26.10 | Peaty #5 | 25 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 6 | 26.11 | Peaty #6 | 23 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 2 | 7 | 26.20 | Qin Haiyang | 25 July 2023 | Fukuoka | ||
| 8 | 26.21 | Peaty #7 | 22 May 2021 | Budapest | |||
| 9 | 26.23 | Peaty #8 | 7 August 2018 | Glasgow | |||
| 10 | 26.25 | Qin #2 | 29 September 2023 | Hangzhou | |||
| 10 | 26.25 | Qin #3 | 12 December 2023 | Jinan | |||
| 3 | 12 | 26.27 | Ludovico Viberti | 27 June 2025 | Rome | ||
| 13 | 26.28 | Peaty #9 | 23 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 4 | 13 | 26.28 | Ilya Shymanovich | 6 April 2023 | Brest | ||
| 15 | 26.29 | Qin #4 | 26 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 15 | 26.29 | Qin #5 | 7 October 2023 | Berlin | |||
| 17 | 26.30 | Qin #6 | 7 October 2023 | Berlin | |||
| 17 | 26.30 | Qin #7 | 21 October 2023 | Budapest | |||
| 19 | 26.32 | Shymanovich #2 | 20 April 2023 | Kazan | |||
| 5 | 19 | 26.32 | Samuel Williamson | 14 February 2024 | Doha | ||
| 6 | 21 | 26.33 | Felipe Lima | 9 June 2019 | Monaco | ||
| 6 | 21 | 26.33 | Nicolò Martinenghi | 16 August 2022 | Rome | ||
| 23 | 26.34 | Peaty #10 | 21 May 2021 | Budapest | |||
| 23 | 26.34 | Qin #8 | 25 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 25 | 26.35 | Qin #9 | 29 September 2023 | Jinan | |||
| 8 | 26.42 | João Gomes Júnior | 21 April 2019 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 8 | 26.42 | Simone Cerasuolo | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 10 | 26.45 | Nic Fink | 21 June 2022 | Budapest | |||
| 11 | 26.46 | Ivan Kozhakin | 17 April 2025 | Kazan | |||
| 12 | 26.52 | Michael Andrew | 28 April 2022 | Greensboro | |||
| 13 | 26.54 | Cameron van der Burgh | 25 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 14 | 26.57 | Van Mathias | 15 January 2026 | Austin | |||
| 15 | 26.61 | Sun Jiajun | 6 May 2023 | Hangzhou | |||
| 16 | 26.62 | Melvin Imoudu | 27 April 2024 | Berlin | |||
| 16 | 26.62 | Kirill Prigoda | 30 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 18 | 26.64 | Chris Smith | 11 December 2025 | Pretoria | |||
| 19 | 26.65 | Taku Taniguchi | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 20 | 26.66 | Andrey Nikolaev | 29 April 2022 | Kazan | |||
| 21 | 26.70 | Damir Dugonjič | 4 August 2015 | Kazan | |||
| 21 | 26.70 | Fabio Scozzoli | 23 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 23 | 26.71 | Koen de Groot | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 24 | 26.72 | Luka Mladenovic | 26 June 2025 | Šamorín | |||
| 24 | 26.72 | Michael Houlie | 4 December 2025 | Austin |
Men short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 24.95 | Emre Sakçı | 27 December 2021 | Gaziantep | ||
| 2 | 2 | 25.25 | Cameron van der Burgh | 14 November 2009 | Berlin | ||
| 2 | 2 | 25.25 | Ilya Shymanovich | 7 November 2021 | Kazan | ||
| 4 | 25.29 | Sakçı #2 | 5 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 4 | 5 | 25.37 | Nicolò Martinenghi | 6 November 2021 | Kazan | ||
| 6 | 25.38 | Sakçı #3 | 6 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 5 | 6 | 25.38 | Nic Fink | 18 December 2022 | Melbourne | ||
| 5 | 6 | 25.38 | Qin Haiyang | 19 October 2024 | Shanghai | ||
| 9 | 25.39 | Shymanovich #2 | 18 December 2020 | Brest | |||
| 9 | 25.39 | Sakçı #4 | 7 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 11 | 25.41 | van der Burgh #2 | 16 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 7 | 11 | 25.41 | Adam Peaty | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 11 | 25.41 | Shymanovich #3 | 18 December 2020 | Brest | |||
| 11 | 25.41 | Shymanovich #4 | 2 September 2021 | Naples | |||
| 15 | 25.42 | Martinenghi #2 | 18 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 15 | 25.42 | Qin #2 | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 17 | 25.43 | van der Burgh #3 | 8 August 2009 | Pietermaritzburg | |||
| 17 | 25.43 | Sakçı #5 | 9 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 17 | 25.43 | Shymanovich #5 | 6 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 8 | 20 | 25.45 | Roland Schoeman | 14 November 2009 | Berlin | ||
| 21 | 25.47 | Shymanovich #6 | 25 November 2021 | Eindhoven | |||
| 21 | 25.47 | Qin #3 | 1 November 2024 | Singapore | |||
| 23 | 25.48 | Peaty #2 | 15 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 23 | 25.48 | Shymanovich #7 | 21 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 9 | 23 | 25.48 | Kirill Prigoda | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 10 | 25.51 | Vladimir Morozov | 4 December 2019 | Glasgow | |||
| 11 | 25.52 | Caspar Corbeau | 18 October 2025 | Westmont | |||
| 11 | 25.52 | Simone Cerasuolo | 6 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 13 | 25.61 | Oleg Kostin | 19 December 2024 | Saint Petersburg | |||
| 14 | 25.62 | Fabio Scozzoli | 13 December 2017 | Copenhagen | |||
| 14 | 25.62 | Fabio Scozzoli | 13 December 2017 | Copenhagen | |||
| 15 | 25.63 | Felipe França Silva | 7 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 16 | 25.66 | Chris Smith | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 17 | 25.69 | Michael Houlie | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 18 | 25.71 | Ludovico Viberti | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 19 | 25.72 | Sun Jiajun | 28 September 2024 | Wuhan | |||
| 20 | 25.75 | Finlay Brooks | 18 October 2025 | Westmont | |||
| 21 | 25.80 | Felipe Lima | 16 December 2018 | Hangzhou | |||
| 21 | 25.80 | João Gomes Júnior | 21 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||
| 21 | 25.80 | Yan Zibei | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 24 | 25.81 | Michael Andrew | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 25 | 25.84 | Arno Kamminga | 4 December 2019 | Glasgow |
Women long course
- Correct as of November 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 29.16 | Rūta Meilutytė | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | ||
| 2 | 2 | 29.30 | Benedetta Pilato | 22 May 2021 | Budapest | ||
| 2 | 29.30 | Meilutytė #2 | 29 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 4 | 29.35 | Pilato #2 | 23 May 2021 | Budapest | |||
| 3 | 5 | 29.40 | Lilly King | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | ||
| 5 | 29.40 | Meilutytė #3 | 18 February 2024 | Doha | |||
| 7 | 29.42 | Meilutytė #4 | 17 February 2024 | Doha | |||
| 8 | 29.44 | Meilutytė #5 | 16 August 2022 | Rome | |||
| 9 | 29.48 | Meilutytė #6 | 3 August 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 10 | 29.50 | Pilato #3 | 22 May 2021 | Budapest | |||
| 4 | 11 | 29.51 | Tang Qianting | 18 February 2024 | Doha | ||
| 5 | 12 | 29.52 | Yulia Yefimova | 4 August 2013 | Barcelona | ||
| 13 | 29.54 | Meilutytė #7 | 2 August 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 14 | 29.55 | Meilutytė #8 | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 15 | 29.56 | Meilutytė #9 | 8 October 2023 | Berlin | |||
| 16 | 29.57 | Yefimova #2 | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 17 | 29.58 | Pilato #4 | 13 April 2022 | Riccione | |||
| 17 | 29.58 | Pilato #5 | 30 November 2023 | Riccione | |||
| 19 | 29.59 | Meilutytė #10 | 4 August 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 19 | 29.59 | Meilutytė #11 | 17 August 2022 | Rome | |||
| 19 | 29.59 | Pilato #6 | 9 March 2024 | Riccione | |||
| 22 | 29.60 | King #2 | 29 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 22 | 29.60 | Pilato #7 | 29 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 24 | 29.61 | Pilato #8 | 18 December 2020 | Riccione | |||
| 25 | 29.62 | King #3 | 10 June 2018 | Santa Clara | |||
| 25 | 29.62 | Pilato #9 | 3 April 2021 | Riccione | |||
| 6 | 29.71 | Molly Hannis | 13 January 2018 | Austin | |||
| 7 | 29.72 | Lara van Niekerk | 6 April 2022 | Gqeberha | |||
| 8 | 29.80 | Jessica Hardy | 7 August 2009 | Federal Way | |||
| 8 | 29.80 | Jessica Hardy | 4 August 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 9 | 29.81 | Lydia Jacoby | 29 June 2023 | Indianapolis | |||
| 10 | 29.83 | Eneli Jefimova | 21 April 2025 | Helsinki | |||
| 11 | 29.86 | Arianna Castiglioni | 28 May 2022 | Naples | |||
| 12 | 29.95 | Breeja Larson | 4 August 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 13 | 29.99 | Katie Meili | 30 July 2017 | Budapest | |||
| 14 | 30.02 | Imogen Clark | 30 July 2022 | Birmingham | |||
| 14 | 30.02 | Anita Bottazzo | 29 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 16 | 30.05 | Jennie Johansson | 9 August 2015 | Kazan | |||
| 16 | 30.05 | Chelsea Hodges | 30 July 2022 | Birmingham | |||
| 16 | 30.05 | McKenzie Siroky | 7 June 2025 | Indianapolis | |||
| 19 | 30.09 | Tatjana Smith | 9 April 2024 | Gqeberha | |||
| 20 | 30.10 | Anna Elendt | 26 May 2022 | Barcelona | |||
| 20 | 30.10 | Satomi Suzuki | 8 October 2023 | Shizuoka | |||
| 22 | 30.11 | Rebecca Soni | 2 August 2009 | Rome | |||
| 22 | 30.11 | Alia Atkinson | 9 August 2015 | Kazan | |||
| 22 | 30.11 | Yang Chang | 17 November 2025 | Shenzhen | |||
| 25 | 30.16 | Sarah Katsoulis | 2 August 2009 | Rome |
Women short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 28.37 | Rūta Meilutytė | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | ||
| 2 | 28.39 | Meilutytė #2 | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 3 | 28.50 | Meilutytė #3 | 18 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 4 | 28.54 | Meilutytė #4 | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 2 | 5 | 28.56 | Alia Atkinson | 6 October 2018 | Budapest | ||
| 6 | 28.60 | Meilutytė #5 | 23 October 2022 | Berlin | |||
| 7 | 28.64 | Atkinson #2 | 26 October 2016 | Tokyo | |||
| 8 | 28.70 | Meilutytė #6 | 5 November 2022 | Indianapolis | |||
| 3 | 9 | 28.71 | Yulia Yefimova | 10 November 2013 | Tokyo | ||
| 4 | 10 | 28.76 | Tang Qianting | 20 October 2024 | Shanghai | ||
| 5 | 11 | 28.77 | Lilly King | 21 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 6 | 12 | 28.80 | Jessica Hardy | 14 November 2009 | Berlin | ||
| 13 | 28.81 | Meilutytė #7 | 3 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 7 | 13 | 28.81 | Benedetta Pilato | 21 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 7 | 13 | 28.81 | Eneli Jefimova | 7 December 2025 | Lublin | ||
| 16 | 28.82 | Tang #2 | 29 September 2024 | Wuhan | |||
| 17 | 28.84 | Meilutytė #8 | 4 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 17 | 28.84 | Atkinson #3 | 12 August 2017 | Eindhoven | |||
| 19 | 28.86 | King #2 | 16 October 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 19 | 28.86 | Pilato #2 | 14 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 19 | 28.86 | King #3 | 17 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 19 | 28.86 | Pilato #3 | 10 December 2023 | Otopeni | |||
| 19 | 28.86 | Tang #3 | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 19 | 28.86 | Tang #4 | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 25 | 28.87 | Tang #5 | 2 November 2024 | Singapore | |||
| 9 | 29.04 | Molly Hannis | 16 October 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 10 | 29.09 | Arianna Castiglioni | 25 September 2021 | Naples | |||
| 10 | 29.09 | Lara van Niekerk | 18 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 12 | 29.17 | Imogen Clark | 16 December 2023 | Sheffield | |||
| 13 | 29.22 | Dominika Sztandera | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 14 | 29.30 | Anna Elendt | 18 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 15 | 29.31 | Jasmine Nocentini | 9 December 2023 | Otopeni | |||
| 16 | 29.33 | Ida Hulkko | 5 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 17 | 29.34 | Anastasia Gorbenko | 17 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||
| 17 | 29.34 | Nika Godun | 17 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 17 | 29.34 | Florine Gaspard | 7 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 20 | 29.37 | Katie Meili | 31 August 2016 | Berlin | |||
| 21 | 29.44 | Veera Kivirinta | 14 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 22 | 29.49 | Alina Zmushka | 21 November 2022 | Kazan | |||
| 23 | 29.50 | Sarah Katsoulis | 22 November 2009 | Singapore | |||
| 24 | 29.51 | Martina Carraro | 18 October 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 25 | 29.53 | Sophie Hansson | 18 November 2023 | Sheffield |