The women's 10,000 metres event featured at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. There were a total number of 24 participating athletes, with the final being held on 7 August 2001.
The winning margin was 0.04 seconds which as of June 2024 remains the narrowest winning margin in any 10,000 metres held at the World Athletics Championships or at the Olympics.
| Gold |  Derartu TuluEthiopia (ETH) | |
| Silver | Berhane Adere Ethiopia (ETH) | |
| Bronze | Gete Wami Ethiopia (ETH) |
| Rank | Name | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31:48.81 | |||
| 31:48.85 | |||
| 31:49.98 | |||
| 4. | 31:50.06 | ||
| 5. | 32:03.46 | ||
| 6. | 32:04.94 (SB) | ||
| 7. | 32:06.35 | ||
| 8. | 32:09.21 | ||
| 9. | 32:14.56 | ||
| 10. | 32:18.64 | ||
| 11. | 32:18.65 | ||
| 12. | 32:19.44 | ||
| 13. | 32:19.94 | ||
| 14. | 32:25.81 | ||
| 15. | 32:30.56 | ||
| 16. | 32:31.46 (NR) | ||
| 17. | 32:32.68 | ||
| 18. | 32:33.72 | ||
| 19. | 32:39.17 | ||
| 20. | 33:00.37 | ||
| 21. | 33:03.78 | ||
| 22. | 33:11.22 | ||
| 23. | 33:11.60 | ||
| 24. | 35:44.52 (PB) |