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 |