The world record progression 500 m speed skating women as recognised by the International Skating Union:
| Name | Result | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
 Zofia Nehringowa |
1:02.0 | 15 February 1931 | Warsaw |
 Liselotte Landbeck |
58.7 | 9 January 1932 | Davos |
 Synnøve Lie |
56.0 | 20 March 1932 | Brandbu |
| Liselotte Landbeck |
51.5 | 20 January 1933 | Davos |
| Liselotte Landbeck |
51.3 | 13 January 1934 | Davos |
| Synnøve Lie |
50.3 | 12 February 1934 | Oslo |
| Laila Schou Nilsen |
49.3 | 27 February 1935 | Oslo |
| Laila Schou Nilsen |
46.4 | 30 January 1937 | Davos |
 Tamara Rylova |
45.6 | 11 January 1955 | Medeo |
| Inga Artamonova |
44.9 | 27 January 1962 | Medeo |
| Tatyana Sidorova |
44.7 | 3 February 1968 | Davos |
 Ruth Schleiermacher |
44.6 | 4 February 1969 | Davos |
| Tatyana Sidorova |
43.29 | 9 January 1970 | Medeo |
| Tatyana Sidorova |
43.22 | 17 January 1970 | Medeo |
 Anne Henning |
42.91 | 20 February 1971 | Inzell |
| Anne Henning |
42.75 | 21 February 1971 | Inzell |
| Anne Henning |
42.5 | 7 January 1972 | Davos |
| Sheila Young |
41.8 | 19 January 1973 | Davos |
| Tatyana Averina |
41.70 | 11 March 1975 | Medeo |
| Lyubov Sadchikova |
41.69 | 21 March 1975 | Medeo |
| Tatyana Averina |
41.06 | 29 March 1975 | Medeo |
| Sheila Young |
40.91 | 31 January 1976 | Davos |
| Sheila Young |
40.68 | 13 March 1976 | Inzell |
| Christa Rothenburger |
40.28 | 27 March 1981 | Medeo |
| Christa Rothenburger |
40.18 | 28 March 1981 | Medeo |
| Christa Rothenburger |
39.69 | 25 March 1983 | Medeo |
| Karin Kania |
39.52 | 21 March 1986 | Medeo |
| Bonnie Blair |
39.43 | 19 March 1987 | Heerenveen |
| Christa Rothenburger |
39.39 | 6 December 1987 | Calgary |
| Bonnie Blair |
39.10 | 22 February 1988 | Calgary |
| Bonnie Blair |
38.99 | 26 March 1994 | Calgary |
| Bonnie Blair |
38.69 | 2 February 1995 | Calgary |
 Catriona Le May Doan |
37.90 | 22 November 1997 | Calgary |
| Catriona Le May Doan |
37.90 | 23 November 1997 | Calgary |
| Catriona Le May Doan |
37.71 | 28 December 1997 | Calgary |
| Catriona Le May Doan |
37.55 | 29 December 1997 | Calgary |
| Catriona Le May Doan |
37.40 | 6 January 2001 | Calgary |
| Catriona Le May Doan |
37.29 | 9 March 2001 | Salt Lake City |
| Catriona Le May Doan |
37.29 | 8 December 2001 | Calgary |
| Catriona Le May Doan |
37.22 | 9 December 2001 | Calgary |
 Jenny Wolf |
37.04 | 10 March 2007 | Salt Lake City |
| Jenny Wolf |
37.02 | 16 November 2007 | Calgary |
| Jenny Wolf |
37.00 | 11 December 2009 | Salt Lake City |
 Yu Jing |
36.94 | 29 January 2012 | Calgary |
 Lee Sang-hwa |
36.80 | 20 January 2013 | Calgary |
| Lee Sang-hwa |
36.74 | 9 November 2013 | Calgary |
| Lee Sang-hwa |
36.57 | 15 November 2013 | Salt Lake City |
| Lee Sang-hwa |
36.36 | 16 November 2013 | Salt Lake City |