| 04 | Yunxia Qu |  | 8:12.18 | | 13 sept 1993 | Beijing (CHN) |
| 05 | Linli Zhang |  | 8:16.50 | | 13 sept 1993 | Beijing (CHN) |
| 06 | Genzebe Dibaba |  | 8:16.60 | | 6 feb 2014 | Globe Arena, Stockholm (SWE) (i) |
| 07 | Gudaf Tsegay |  | 8:16.69 | | 25 feb 2023 | Utilita Arena Birmingham, Birmingham (GBR) (i) |
| 08 | Sifan Hassan |  | 8:18.49 | | 30 jun 2019 | Cobb Track and Angell Field, Palo Alto, CA (USA) |
| 09 | Francine Niyonsaba |  | 8:19.08 | | 28 ago 2021 | Stade Charléty, Paris (FRA) |
| 10 | Ejgayehu Taye |  | 8:19.52 | | 28 ago 2021 | Stade Charléty, Paris (FRA) |
| 11 | Liyan Ma |  | 8:19.78 | | 12 sept 1993 | Beijing (CHN) |
| 12 | Freweyni Hailu |  | 8:19.98 | | 13 feb 2025 | Arena Stade Couvert, Liévin (FRA) (i) |
| 13 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen |  | 8:20.07 | | 30 jun 2019 | Cobb Track and Angell Field, Palo Alto, CA (USA) |
| 14 | Letesenbet Gidey |  | 8:20.27 | | 30 jun 2019 | Cobb Track and Angell Field, Palo Alto, CA (USA) |
| 15 | Hellen Obiri |  | 8:20.68 | | 9 may 2014 | Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) |
| 16 | Elle St. Pierre |  | 8:20.87 | | 2 mar 2024 | Glasgow Arena, Glasgow (GBR) (i) |
| 17 | Mercy Cherono |  | 8:21.14 | | 9 may 2014 | Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) |
| 18 | Gabriela Szabo |  | 8:21.42 | | 19 jul 2002 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) |
| 19 | Diribe Welteji |  | 8:21.50 | | 22 ago 2024 | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) |
| 20 | Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi |  | 8:21.53 | | 28 ago 2021 | Stade Charléty, Paris (FRA) |
| 21 | Sonia O'Sullivan |  | 8:21.64 | | 15 jul 1994 | Crystal Palace, London (GBR) |
| 22 | Li-rong Zhang |  | 8:21.84 | | 13 sept 1993 | Beijing (CHN) |
| 23 | Paula Radcliffe |  | 8:22.20 | | 19 jul 2002 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) |
| 24 | Almaz Ayana |  | 8:22.22 | | 14 jun 2015 | Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR) |
| 25 | Tatyana Kazankina |  | 8:22.62 | | 26 ago 1984 | Leningrad (URS) |
| 26 | Beatrice Chepkoech |  | 8:22.68 | | 2 mar 2024 | Glasgow Arena, Glasgow (GBR) (i) |
| 27 | Hirut Meshesha |  | 8:22.72 | | 4 may 2025 | Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL (USA) |
| 28 | Agnes Jebet Tirop |  | 8:22.92 | | 25 sept 2020 | Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) |
| 29 | Medina Eisa |  | 8:23.08 | | 4 may 2025 | Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL (USA) |
| 30 | Agnes Jebet Ngetich |  | 8:23.14 | | 4 may 2025 | Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL (USA) |
| 31 | Edith Masai |  | 8:23.23 | | 19 jul 2002 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) |
| 32 | Dawit Seyaum |  | 8:23.24 | | 17 feb 2022 | Arena Stade Couvert, Liévin (FRA) (i) |
| 33 | Olga Yegorova |  | 8:23.26 | | 17 ago 2001 | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) |
| 34 | Janeth Chepngetich |  | 8:23.48 | | 22 ago 2024 | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) |
| 35 | Meseret Defar |  | 8:23.72 | | 3 feb 2007 | Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart (GER) (i) |
| 36 | Meselech Melkamu |  | 8:23.74 | | 3 feb 2007 | Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart (GER) (i) |
| 37 | Georgia Griffith |  | 8:24.20 | | 30 may 2024 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 38 | Likina Amebaw |  | 8:24.29 | | 30 may 2024 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 39 | Jessica Hull |  | 8:24.39 | | 2 mar 2024 | Glasgow Arena, Glasgow (GBR) (i) |
| 40 | Tsigie Gebreselama |  | 8:24.40 | | 22 ago 2024 | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) |
| 41 | Viola Jelagat Kibiwot |  | 8:24.41 | | 9 may 2014 | Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) |
| 42 | Alicia Monson |  | 8:25.05 | | 11 feb 2023 | Armory Track&Field Center, New York, NY (USA) (i) |
| 43 | Elise Cranny |  | 8:25.10 | | 22 ago 2024 | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) |
| 44 | Hyvin Kiyeng |  | 8:25.13 | | 25 sept 2020 | Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) |
| 45 | Sentayehu Ejigu |  | 8:25.27 | | 6 feb 2010 | Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart (GER) (i) |
| 46 | Birke Haylom |  | 8:25.37 | | 13 feb 2025 | Arena Stade Couvert, Liévin (FRA) (i) |
| 47 | Yelena Zadorozhnaya |  | 8:25.40 | | 29 jun 2001 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 48 | Tatyana Tomashova |  | 8:25.56 | | 29 jun 2001 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 49 | Berhane Adere |  | 8:25.62 | | 17 ago 2001 | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) |
| 50 | Karissa Schweizer |  | 8:25.70 | | 27 feb 2020 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) (i) |