The African records in swimming are the fastest times ever by a swimmer representing an African country. These records are ratified by Africa Aquatics (previously CANA) the African Aquatic Confederation
All records were set in finals unless noted otherwise.
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 21.67 | = | Roland Schoeman | 16 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | ||
| 50 m freestyle | 21.67 | =, sf | Roland Schoeman | 2 August 2013 | World Championships | Barcelona, Spain | [1] | |
| 100 m freestyle | 47.79 | h | Lyndon Ferns | 29 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [2] | |
| 200 m freestyle | 1:45.20 | Chad le Clos | 8 August 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | [3] | ||
| 400 m freestyle | 3:40.70 | Ahmed Hafnaoui | 23 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | [4] | ||
| 800 m freestyle | 7:35.27 | Oussama Mellouli | 29 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [5] | ||
| 1500 m freestyle | 14:31.54 | Ahmed Hafnaoui | 30 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | [6] | ||
| 50m backstroke | 24.17 | Pieter Coetze | 3 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [7] | ||
| 100m backstroke | 51.85 | CR | Pieter Coetze | 29 July 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [8] | |
| 200m backstroke | 1:53.36 | Pieter Coetze | 1 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [9] | ||
| 50m breaststroke | 26.54 | h | Cameron van der Burgh | 25 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [10] | |
| 100m breaststroke | 58.46 | Cameron van der Burgh | 29 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | [11] [12] | ||
| 200m breaststroke | 2:09.61 | sf | Neil Versfeld | 30 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [13] | |
| 50m butterfly | 22.80 | Abdelrahman Sameh | 18 May 2025 | Mare Nostrum | Monte Carlo, Monaco | [14] | ||
| 100m butterfly | 50.56 | Chad le Clos | 8 August 2015 | World Championships | Kazan, Russia | [15] | ||
| 200m butterfly | 1:52.96 | Chad le Clos | 31 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | [16] | ||
| 200m individual medley | 1:57.03 | sf | Darian Townsend | 25 April 2009 | French Championships | Montpellier, France | [17] | |
| 400m individual medley | 4:10.53 | Oussama Mellouli | 29 June 2009 | Mediterranean Games | Pescara, Italy | [18] | ||
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:28.78 | 2 April 2003 | - | |||||
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:11.93 |
| 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [19] | ||
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 7:08.01 | h |
| 31 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [20] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:31.53 | h |
| 2 August 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [21] |
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 24.62 | sf | Farida Osman | 29 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [22] | |
| 100m freestyle | 54.23 | Erin Gallagher | 9 April 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | [23] | ||
| 200m freestyle | 1:56.80 | r | Aimee Canny | 12 April 2024 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [24] | |
| 400m freestyle | 4:07.92 | Karin Prinsloo | 31 January 2014 | Aquatic Super Series | Perth, Australia | [25] | ||
| 800m freestyle | 8:25.71 | Wendy Trott | 14 June 2012 | Trofeo Sette Colli | Rome, Italy | |||
| 1500m freestyle | 16:05.63 | h | Wendy Trott | 25 July 2011 | World Championships | Shanghai, China | [26] | |
| 50m backstroke | 27.91 | Olivia Nel | 22 July 2025 | World University Games | Berlin, Germany | [27] | ||
| 100m backstroke | 58.77 | sf | Kirsty Coventry | 11 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | ||
| 200m backstroke | 2:04.81 | Kirsty Coventry | 1 August 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [28] | ||
| 50m breaststroke | 29.72 | h, CR | Lara van Niekerk | 6 April 2022 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [29] | |
| 100m breaststroke | 1:04.82 | h, CR | Tatjana Schoenmaker | 25 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [30] | |
| 200m breaststroke | 2:18.95 | CR | Tatjana Schoenmaker | 30 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [31] | |
| 50m butterfly | 25.38 | Farida Osman | 24 June 2022 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [32] | ||
| 100m butterfly | 57.32 | Erin Gallagher | 12 April 2024 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |||
| 200m butterfly | 2:09.41 | h | Katheryn Meaklim | 12 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | ||
| 200m individual medley | 2:08.59 | Kirsty Coventry | 13 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | |||
| 400m individual medley | 4:29.89 | Kirsty Coventry | 9 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | |||
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:45.66 |
| | 10 April 2014 | South African Championships | South Africa | ||
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:40.29 |
| 10 April 2021 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [33] | ||
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 8:01.56 | h |
| 28 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [34] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:59.47 | h |
| 3 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [35] |
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×100 m freestyle relay | 3:28.51 |
| 21 July 2025 | World University Games | Berlin, Germany | [36] | ||
| 4×100 m medley relay | 3:44.38 |
| 2 August 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom | [37] |
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 20.30 | Roland Schoeman | 8 August 2009 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [38] | ||
| 100m freestyle | 45.78 | Chad le Clos | 6 August 2017 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [39] | ||
| 200m freestyle | 1:40.65 | Matthew Sates | 3 October 2021 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [40] | ||
| 400m freestyle | 3:36.30 | Matthew Sates | 21 October 2022 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [41] | ||
| 800m freestyle | 7:31.93 | Ahmed Jaouadi | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [42] | ||
| 1500m freestyle | 14:10.94 | Ahmed Hafnaoui | 21 December 2021 | World Championships | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | [43] | ||
| 50m backstroke | 22.75 | Pieter Coetze | 1 November 2024 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | [44] | ||
| 100m backstroke | 49.35 | Pieter Coetze | 20 October 2024 | World Cup | Shanghai, China | [45] | ||
| 200m backstroke | 1:47.08 | George Du Rand | 7 November 2009 | World Cup | Moscow, Russia | |||
| 50m breaststroke | 25.25 | CR | Cameron van der Burgh | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 100m breaststroke | 55.61 | Cameron van der Burgh | 15 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |||
| 200m breaststroke | 2:02.56 | Neil Versfeld | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |||
| 50m butterfly | 21.87 | Roland Schoeman | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |||
| 100m butterfly | 48.08 | CR | Chad le Clos | 8 December 2016 | World Championships | Windsor, Canada | [46] | |
| 200m butterfly | 1:48.27 | Chad le Clos | 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [47] | ||
| 100m individual medley | 51.05 | CR | Gerhard Zandberg | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 200m individual medley | 1:50.15 | CR | Matthew Sates | 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [48] | |
| 400m individual medley | 3:57.40 | Oussama Mellouli | 16 December 2010 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | [49] | ||
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:24.14 |
| 14 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China | [50] | ||
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:12.87 | h |
| 3 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [51] | |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 6:52.13 |
| 4 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [52] | ||
| 4×50m medley relay | 1:32.56 |
| 20 December 2021 | World Championships | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | [53] | ||
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:30.83 | h |
| 21 December 2021 | World Championships | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | [54] |
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 24.14 | h | Caitlin De Lange | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [55] | |
| 100 m freestyle | 52.70 | sf | Erin Gallagher | 12 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China | [56] | |
| 200 m freestyle | 1:54.13 | Aimee Canny | 18 October 2024 | Virginia vs Florida Dual Meet | Charlottesville, United States | [57] | ||
| 400 m freestyle | 4:03.50 | Melissa Corfe | 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | |||
| 800 m freestyle | 8:22.05 | Jessica Pengelly | 4 November 2011 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | |||
| 1500 m freestyle | 16:09.12 | Stephanie Houtman | 13 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [58] | ||
| 50m backstroke | 26.85 | = | Kirsty Coventry | 13 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | [59] | |
| 50m backstroke | 26.85 | = | Jessica Thompson | 26 September 2025 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [60] | |
| 100m backstroke | 56.56 | Chanelle Van Wyk | 15 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |||
| 200m backstroke | 2:00.91 | Kirsty Coventry | 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | [61] | ||
| 50m breaststroke | 29.09 | Lara van Niekerk | 18 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [62] | ||
| 100m breaststroke | 1:03.89 | Tatjana Schoenmaker | 25 October 2020 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [63] | ||
| 200m breaststroke | 2:18.02 | Tatjana Schoenmaker | 26 October 2020 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [64] | ||
| 50m butterfly | 25.31 | Farida Osman | 17 November 2019 | International Swimming League | College Park, United States | [65] | ||
| 100m butterfly | 56.46 | Farida Osman | 20 December 2019 | International Swimming League | Las Vegas, United States | [66] | ||
| 200m butterfly | 2:04.24 | Mandy Loots | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | |||
| 100m individual medley | 57.69 | sf | Rebecca Meder | 12 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [67] | |
| 200m individual medley | 2:05.56 | Rebecca Meder | 12 October 2025 | World Cup | Carmel, United States | [68] | ||
| 400m individual medley | 4:22.88 | Katheryn Meaklim | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | |||
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:40.80 | h |
| 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [69] | |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:41.57 | h |
| 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [70] | |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 8:02.49 | h |
| 12 December 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | [71] | |
| 4×50m medley relay | 1:52.16 | h |
| 5 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [72] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:57.68 | h |
| 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [73] |
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×50 m freestyle relay | 1:33.19 |
| 6 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [74] | ||
| 4×50 m medley relay | 1:41.32 | h |
| 11 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [75] | |
| 4×100 m medley relay | 3:37.71 | h |
| 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [76] |
| Nation | Record tally | LC | SC | Total | LC | SC | Total | LC | SC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | Mixed | ||||||||
| 71 | 17 | 18 | 34 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| 9 | 6 | 2 | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | |||||||
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |||||
| Total | 91 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 2 | 3 | 5 |