The World record progression 1,500 m speed skating women as recognised by the International Skating Union:
| Name | Result | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zofia Nehringowa | 3:28.0 | 27 January 1929 | Warsaw |
| Zofia Nehringowa | 3:10.4 | 10 January 1932 | Davos |
| Synnøve Lie | 3:08.1 | 7 March 1932 | Oslo |
| Verné Lesche | 2:49.0 | 26 February 1933 | Helsinki |
| Undis Blikken | 2:40.0 | 12 February 1934 | Oslo |
| Laila Schou Nilsen | 2:38.1 | 23 January 1937 | Oslo |
| Randi Thorvaldsen | 2:37.5 | 25 February 1950 | Gjøvik |
| Rimma Zhukova | 2:36.7 | 17 March 1950 | Kirov |
| Maria Isakova | 2:29.5 | 12 February 1951 | Medeo |
| Khalida Shegoleyeva | 2:25.5 | 30 January 1953 | Medeo |
| Lidia Skoblikova | 2:25.2 | 12 February 1960 | Squaw Valley |
| Inga Artamonova | 2:19.0 | 27 January 1962 | Medeo |
| Ans Schut | 2:18.5 | 22 February 1969 | Inzell |
| Nina Statkevich | 2:17.8 | 17 January 1970 | Medeo |
| Atje Keulen-Deelstra | 2:17.2 | 14 March 1970 | Inzell |
| Stien Kaiser | 2:15.8 | 15 January 1971 | Davos |
| Tatyana Averina | 2:14.00 | 1 April 1974 | Medeo |
| Tatyana Averina | 2:09.90 | 11 March 1975 | Medeo |
| Khalida Vorobyeva | 2:07.18 | 10 April 1978 | Medeo |
| Natalya Petrusyova | 2:06.01 | 3 January 1981 | Medeo |
| Natalya Petrusyova | 2:05.39 | 27 March 1981 | Medeo |
| Natalya Petrusyova | 2:04.04 | 25 March 1983 | Medeo |
| Karin Enke | 2:03.42 | 9 February 1984 | Sarajevo |
| Andrea Schöne | 2:03.34 | 24 March 1984 | Medeo |
| Karin Kania | 2:02.23 | 6 March 1986 | Inzell |
| Karin Kania | 1:59.30 | 22 March 1987 | Medeo |
| Catriona Le May Doan | 1:57.87 | 29 November 1997 | Calgary |
| Marianne Timmer | 1:57.58 | 16 February 1998 | Nagano |
| Anni Friesinger | 1:56.95 | 29 March 1998 | Calgary |
| Annamarie Thomas | 1:55.50 | 20 March 1999 | Calgary |
| Anni Friesinger | 1:54.38 | 4 March 2001 | Calgary |
| Anni Friesinger | 1:54.02 | 20 February 2002 | Salt Lake City |
| Cindy Klassen | 1:53.87 | 9 January 2005 | Salt Lake City |
| Cindy Klassen | 1:53.77 | 28 October 2005 | Calgary |
| Anni Friesinger | 1:53.22 | 6 November 2005 | Calgary |
| Cindy Klassen | 1:51.79 | 20 November 2005 | Salt Lake City |