The first world record in the women's pole vault was recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1994. The inaugural record, 4.05 metres by Sun Caiyun of China set in 1992, was the world's best mark as of December 31, 1994.
| rowspan="11" |Ruth Spencer
| rowspan="33" |
| rowspan="11" |Painesville
|14 May 1910
|-
|
|-
|
|-
|
| rowspan="2" |Sun Caiyun
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |Nanjing, China
|21 May 1992
|1
|-
|
|Pocatello, U.S.
|19 Feb 2000
|2
|-
|i
|Athens, Greece
|22 February 2004
|2
|-
|i
|Zürich, Switzerland
|28 August 2009
|17
|-
|}
See also
- Men's pole vault world record progression
- Women's pole vault indoor world record progression
- List of pole vaulters who reached 5 metres