Men · World record
Half Marathon
The current record and its documented progression: 11 ratified records from 1998 to 2026, with 1 pending ratification, 25 listed as world bests before ratification, 7 otherwise annotated shown in place.
Current record
56:42
Jacob KiplimoUGABarcelona · 16 Feb 2025
1 year standing48 s improvementAll-time top 25 →
Record progression
Each step is a documented record; hollow marks were rescinded, not ratified or are pending
56:511:07:01
Documented records
11 ratified · 1 pending · 25 world bests · 7 annotated · most recent first · Wikipedia (EN) revision 1372025709, imported 2 Sep 2026
| Mark | Athlete | Nation | Venue | Date | Stood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56:51 | Yomif Kejelcha Pending | ETH | Buenos Aires | 23 Aug 2026 | |
| 57:20 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | Lisbon | 8 Mar 2026 | 180 d |
| 57:30 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | Valencia | 27 Oct 2024 | 1 yr |
| 57:31 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | Lisbon | 21 Nov 2021 | 2 yrs |
| 57:32 | Kibiwott Kandie | KEN | Valencia | 6 Dec 2020 | 350 d |
| 58:01 | Geoffrey Kamworor | KEN | Copenhagen | 15 Sep 2019 | 1 yr |
| 58:18 | Abraham Kiptum | KEN | Valencia | 28 Oct 2018 | 322 d |
| 58:23 | Zersenay Tadese | ERI | Lisbon | 21 Mar 2010 | 8 yrs |
| 58:33 | Samuel Wanjiru | KEN | The Hague | 17 Mar 2007 | 3 yrs |
| 58:53 | Samuel Wanjiru World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | KEN | Ras al-Khaimah | 9 Feb 2007 | |
| 59:07 | Paul Malakwen Kosgei AnnotatedRecognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians | KEN | Berlin | 2 Apr 2006 | |
| 58:55 | Haile Gebrselassie | ETH | Tempe | 15 Jan 2006 | 1 yr |
| 59:05 | Zersenay Tadese World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptanceNoted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c. | ERI | South Shields | 18 Sep 2005 | |
| 59:16 | Samuel Wanjiru | KEN | Rotterdam | 11 Sep 2005 | 126 d |
| 59:06 | Paul Tergat World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptanceNoted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c. | KEN | Lisbon | 26 Mar 2000 | |
| 59:17 | Paul Tergat | KEN | Milan | 4 Apr 1998 | 7 yrs |
| 59:43 | António Pinto World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptanceNoted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c. | POR | Lisbon | 15 Mar 1998 | |
| 59:56 | Shem Kororia AnnotatedRecognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians | KEN | Košice | 4 Oct 1997 | |
| 1:00:13 | Paul Tergat AnnotatedRecognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians | KEN | Milan | 15 Apr 1994 | |
| 59:47 | Moses Tanui World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | KEN | Milan | 3 Apr 1993 | |
| 1:00:24 | Benson Masya AnnotatedRecognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians | KEN | The Hague | 3 Apr 1993 | |
| 1:00:06 | Steve Moneghetti World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptanceNoted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c. | AUS | Tokyo | 24 Jan 1993 | |
| 1:00:46 | Dionicio Cerón AnnotatedRecognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians | MEX | Philadelphia | 16 Sep 1990 | |
| 1:00:10 | Matthews Temane World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptanceNoted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c. | RSA | East London | 25 Jul 1987 | |
| 1:00:43 | Michael Musyoki World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptanceNoted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c. | KEN | South Shields | 8 Jun 1986 | |
| 1:00:55 | Mark Curp World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | USA | Philadelphia | 15 Sep 1985 | |
| 1:01:14 | Steve Jones World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | GBR | Birmingham | 11 Aug 1985 | |
| 1:01:32 | Paul Cummings World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | USA | Dayton | 25 Sep 1983 | |
| 1:01:36 | Michael Musyoki World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | KEN | Philadelphia | 19 Sep 1982 | |
| 1:01:47 | Herb Lindsay World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | USA | Manchester, Vermont | 20 Sep 1981 | |
| 1:02:16 | Stan Mavis World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | USA | New Orleans | 27 Jan 1980 | |
| 1:02:32 | Kirk Pfeffer World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | USA | Las Vegas | 7 Dec 1979 | |
| 1:02:36 | Nick Rose World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | GBR | Dayton | 14 Oct 1979 | |
| 1:02:47 | Tony Simmons World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | GBR | Welwyn Garden City | 24 Jun 1978 | |
| 1:02:37 | Toshihiro Matsumoto AnnotatedRecognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians | JPN | Beppu, Ōita | 6 Feb 1977 | |
| 1:02:57 | Miruts Yifter World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | ETH | Coamo | 6 Feb 1977 | |
| 1:03:46 | Jose Reveyn World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | BEL | The Hague | 27 Mar 1976 | |
| 1:03:46 | Juan Rafael Angel Perez World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | CRC | Coamo | 8 Feb 1976 | |
| 1:03:53 | Derek Graham World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | IRL | Belfast | 2 May 1970 | |
| 1:03:22 | Derek Clayton World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptanceNoted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c. Noted by the IAAF as set en route to longer distances. | AUS | Fukuoka Marathon | 3 Dec 1967 | |
| 1:05:42 | Pete Ravald World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | GBR | Freckleton | 18 Jun 1966 | |
| 1:05:44 | Ron Hill World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptance | GBR | Freckleton | 19 Jun 1965 | |
| 1:04:28 | Abebe Bikila World bestListed by the World Athletics as a world best prior to official acceptanceNoted by the IAAF as set on an uncertified or aided course which does not fulfill the criteria specified in IAAF Rule 260.28.b or 260.28.c. Noted by the IAAF as set en route to longer distances. | ETH | Tokyo | 21 Oct 1964 | |
| 1:07:01 | Brian Hill-Cottingham AnnotatedRecognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians | GBR | Romford | 9 Apr 1960 |
Rows link to a profile only where the athlete appears on a published list. Struck marks were rescinded or never ratified, and A marks a performance at altitude; both come from the source article's own key and markers, and eras are kept as it lists them. Nothing is inferred.