| World Records | 3:50.07 | Genzebe DIBABA | 08 FEB 1991 |  ETH | Monaco (Stade Louis II) | 17 JUL 2015 |
| World Leading 2018 | 3:56.68 | Genzebe DIBABA | 08 FEB 1991 | ETH | Chorzów (POL) | 08 JUN 2018 |
| IAAF World Championships Record | 3:58.52 | Tatyana TOMASHOVA | 01 JUL 1975 | RUS | Paris Saint-Denis (Stade de France) | 31 AUG 2003 |
| Olympic Games Records | 3:53.96 | Paula IVAN | 20 JUL 1963 | ROU | Seoul (Olympic Stadium) | 01 OCT 1988 |
| IAAF World Championships Record | 4:00.84 | Maryam Yusuf JAMAL | 16 SEP 1984 | BRN | Athína (Olympic Stadium) | 17 SEP 2006 |
| Area Records – AFRICA | 3:50.07 | Genzebe DIBABA | 08 FEB 1991 | ETH | Monaco (Stade Louis II) | 17 JUL 2015 |
| Area Records – ASIA | 3:50.46 | Yunxia QU | 25 DEC 1972 | CHN | Beijing (NOCAS) | 11 SEP 1993 |
| Area Records – EUROPE | 3:52.47 | Tatyana KAZANKINA | 17 DEC 1951 | URS | Zürich (Letzigrund) | 13 AUG 1980 |
| Area Records – NORTH,CENTRAL AMERICA&C. | 3:56.29 | Shannon ROWBURY | 19 SEP 1984 | USA | Monaco (Stade Louis II) | 17 JUL 2015 |
| Area Records – OCEANIA | 4:00.86 | Linden HALL | 20 JUN 1991 | AUS | Eugene (USA) | 26 MAY 2018 |
| Area Records – SOUTH AMERICA | 4:05.67 | Letitia VRIESDE | 05 OCT 1964 | SUR | Tokyo (Olympic Stadium) | 31 AUG 199 |
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