# IHF Men's U21 Handball World Championship

The IHF Men's U21 Handball World Championship (or the IHF Men's Junior World Championship) is the official competition for men's national handball teams of under-21 years category. It is being organized by the International Handball Federation since 1977. It takes place every two years in odd years.

## Tournaments

| Year | Host Country | Gold medal game | Gold medal game | Gold medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game |
| Year | Host Country | Gold | Score | Silver | Bronze | Score | Fourth place |
| 1977 Details | Sweden | Soviet Union | 24–10 | Hungary | Yugoslavia | 24–21 | Spain |
| 1979 Details | Denmark/Sweden | Soviet Union | 30–25 | Yugoslavia | Sweden | 25–20 | Denmark |
| 1981 Details | Portugal | Yugoslavia | 28–21 | Soviet Union | Czechoslovakia | 32–26 | Sweden |
| 1983 Details | Finland | Soviet Union | 32–17 | West Germany | Denmark | 31–28 | Sweden |
| 1985 Details | Italy | Soviet Union | 32–27 | Sweden | Yugoslavia | 23–22 | West Germany |
| 1987 Details | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 28–26 | Spain | Soviet Union | 34–18 | Sweden |
| 1989 Details | Spain | Soviet Union | 23–17 | Spain | Yugoslavia | 23–22 | West Germany |
| 1991 Details | Greece | Yugoslavia | 27–16 | Sweden | Soviet Union | 27–25 | Spain |
| 1993 Details | Egypt | Egypt | 22–19 | Denmark | Iceland | 21–20 | Russia |
| 1995 Details | Argentina | Russia | 29–28 OT | Spain | Portugal | 24–23 | Norway |
| 1997 Details | Turkey | Denmark | 29–23 | Ukraine | France | 28–24 | Poland |
| 1999 Details | Qatar | Denmark | 26–22 OT | Sweden | Egypt | 32–31 OT | France |
| 2001 Details | Switzerland | Russia | 31–27 | Spain | Sweden | 37–26 | Hungary |
| 2003 Details | Brazil | Sweden | 36–34 OT | Denmark | Slovenia | 35–33 | Spain |
| 2005 Details | Hungary | Denmark | 40–35 | Serbia and Montenegro | Hungary | 28–27 | Germany |
| 2007 Details | Macedonia | Sweden | 31–29 | Germany | Denmark | 27–26 | Croatia |
| 2009 Details | Egypt | Germany | 32–24 | Denmark | Slovenia | 35–24 | Egypt |
| 2011 Details | Greece | Germany | 27–18 | Denmark | Tunisia | 24–18 | Egypt |
| 2013 Details | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Sweden | 28–23 | Spain | France | 32–27 | Croatia |
| 2015 Details | Brazil | France | 26–24 | Denmark | Germany | 35–34 OT | Egypt |
| 2017 Details | Algeria | Spain | 39–38 OT | Denmark | France | 23–22 | Germany |
| 2019 Details | Spain | France | 28–23 | Croatia | Egypt | 37–27 | Portugal |
| 2021 Details | Hungary | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2023 Details | Germany/Greece | Germany | 30–23 | Hungary | Iceland | 27–23 | Serbia |
| 2025 Details | Poland | | | | | | |

## Medal table

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 2 | Denmark | 3 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| 3 | Sweden | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | Yugoslavia | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 5 | Germany | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | France | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | Russia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Spain | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Egypt | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | Hungary | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 11 | Croatia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Ukraine | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | West Germany | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Iceland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | Slovenia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 17 | Czechoslovakia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Portugal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Tunisia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (19 entries) | Totals (19 entries) | 23 | 23 | 23 | 69 |

## Participating nations

| Nation | 1977 | 1979 | 1981 | 1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2023 | 2025 | Years |
| Algeria | | | | | | 12th | 14th | | 13th | | | | 12th | 18th | | | 19th | 14th | 24th | 20th | 14th | | 22nd | Q | 12 |
| Angola | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | | | 21st | 21st | | | 26th | | 4 |
| Argentina | | | | | | | | | 11th | 17th | | | 20th | 16th | 11th | 13th | 6th | 20th | 16th | 13th | 13th | 21st | 25th | Q | 14 |
| Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | WD | | 1 |
| Austria | 14th | | | 15th | | | 11th | | 14th | | 19th | | | | | | | | | | | | | Q | 6 |
| Bahrain | | | | | | | | | | 17th | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 13th | Q | 4 |
| Belarus | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | | 13th | | | | 15th | | | 6th | | | | | 4 |
| Belgium | | 20th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Benin | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | | | | | | | 1 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | | | | | | 1 |
| Brazil | | | | | | | | 15th | | 17th | 16th | 13th | 11th | 8th | 16th | 16th | 9th | 11th | 6th | 10th | 18th | 12th | 16th | Q | 16 |
| Bulgaria | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Burkina Faso | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | | | | 1 |
| Canada | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22nd | | | | | | | 1 |
| Chile | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20th | 20th | | 21st | 23rd | 23rd | 23rd | 20th | 29th | | 8 |
| China | | | | | | | | 16th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Chinese Taipei | | 21st | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Congo | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | | | | 22nd | | | | | | 2 |
| Costa Rica | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31st | | 1 |
| Croatia | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 11th | 9th | 5th | | 4th | | | 4th | | 10th | 2nd | 8th | Q | 10 |
| Cuba | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28th | | 1 |
| Czech Republic | | | | | | | | | | 8th | | | | | 13th | | 10th | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Czechoslovakia | 10th | 5th | 3rd | 7th | 6th | 11th | 13th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| Denmark | 8th | 4th | 7th | 3rd | 7th | 9th | | 7th | 2nd | 9th | 1st | 1st | 6th | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 13th | 2nd | 2nd | 5th | 5th | Q | 23 |
| East Germany | 9th | 8th | 5th | 6th | 5th | 13th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Egypt | | | | 13th | 15th | | 15th | 13th | 1st | 6th | 6th | 3rd | 8th | 10th | 7th | 6th | 4th | 4th | 8th | 4th | 17th | 3rd | 10th | Q | 20 |
| Estonia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Faroe Islands | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | | 7th | Q | 3 |
| Finland | | 16th | | 8th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| France | 12th | 9th | 8th | 14th | | 8th | 6th | 11th | | 7th | 3rd | 4th | | | 14th | 7th | 11th | 6th | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 11th | Q | 20 |
| Germany | | | | | | | | 9th | | 11th | 7th | | 5th | 13th | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 11th | 3rd | 4th | 9th | 1st | Q | 15 |
| Greece | | | | | | | | 14th | 16th | 13th | 18th | 8th | | | | | | 16th | | | | | 15th | | 7 |
| Greenland | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | | | | | | 32nd | | 2 |
| Guinea | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WD | | 0 |
| Hungary | 2nd | 6th | | | | 7th | 10th | 10th | 6th | | | 16th | 4th | 15th | 3rd | | | 17th | 12th | | 5th | 15th | 2nd | Q | 16 |
| Iceland | | 7th | 6th | | 8th | 16th | 5th | 5th | 3rd | | | | | | 9th | | 13th | | | | 12th | 14th | 3rd | Q | 13 |
| Iran | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 12th | | | | | | | 2 |
| Israel | 17th | 15th | | | | | | | | | | 14th | | | 10th | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| Italy | | 17th | 12th | 16th | 12th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| Japan | | 19th | 16th | | 11th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | | 18th | 19th | Q | 7 |
| Kosovo | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | | | 1 |
| Kuwait | 16th | | | 12th | | 15th | | | | | | | 17th | 19th | 18th | 12th | 23rd | | 20th | | | | 24th | | 10 |
| Libya | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | | | | | | 30th | | 2 |
| Luxembourg | | 23rd | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Macedonia | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | | | | | 10th | | | | | 6th | | | Q | 4 |
| Madagascar | 20th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Morocco | 19th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22nd | | | | 22nd | | 23rd | Q | 5 |
| Mexico | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Q | 1 |
| Netherlands | 15th | 14th | 13th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | | 5th | 19th | | | | | 6 |
| New Zealand | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Nigeria | | | 14th | | 16th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | | | 3 |
| Norway | 18th | 13th | | | | 10th | | | 7th | 4th | | 15th | 14th | | | | 16th | 10th | | 15th | 11th | 8th | 18th | Q | 14 |
| Paraguay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | | | | | 1 |
| Poland | 7th | 10th | | 10th | 14th | | 12th | | 12th | 13th | 4th | | 10th | 7th | | | | | | | | | 17th | Q | 12 |
| Portugal | | 18th | 15th | | | | | | 10th | 3rd | | 10th | | | | 15th | 7th | 9th | | 14th | | 4th | 6th | Q | 12 |
| Puerto Rico | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20th | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Qatar | | | | | | | | | | 13th | | 12th | 19th | 12th | | | 20th | 15th | 19th | 9th | 21st | | | | 9 |
| Romania | 11th | | | | | 5th | 8th | 6th | 8th | 17th | | | | | 6th | | | | | 8th | | | | Q | 9 |
| Russia | | | | | | | | | 4th | 1st | 12th | 7th | 1st | | | 9th | | 13th | 17th | 16th | 8th | | | | 10 |
| Saudi Arabia | | 22nd | | | | | | | | | 11th | | | | | | | | | | 20th | | 21st | Q | 5 |
| Serbia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 10th | 17th | | 13th | 4th | Q | 6 |
| Serbia and Montenegro | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 2nd | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Slovakia | | | | | | | | | | 13th | | | | 14th | | 14th | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Slovenia | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 20th | | 16th | 3rd | 8th | 8th | 3rd | 8th | 9th | | 9th | 6th | 20th | Q | 13 |
| South Korea | | | | | 13th | 14th | 9th | 12th | 15th | | | | | | 12th | 11th | | 19th | 18th | 11th | 19th | 16th | | Q | 13 |
| Soviet Union | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| Spain | 4th | | 10th | 9th | 10th | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | 9th | 2nd | 5th | 6th | 2nd | 4th | 5th | 5th | 8th | 5th | 2nd | 7th | 1st | 10th | 9th | Q | 23 |
| Sweden | 6th | 3rd | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 4th | 7th | 2nd | 5th | 12th | | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 15th | 1st | 5th | 7th | 1st | 5th | 15th | 11th | 12th | Q | 23 |
| Switzerland | 13th | 12th | 11th | 11th | 9th | | | | | | | | 15th | 6th | | | | | 7th | | | | | Q | 9 |
| Tunisia | DQ | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 9th | 18th | 9th | 17th | 17th | 21st | 3rd | 15th | 12th | 7th | 7th | 14th | Q | 15 |
| Turkey | | | | | | | | 8th | | | 13th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Ukraine | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | | | 17th | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| United Arab Emirates | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| United States | | WD | | | | | 16th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22nd | 27th | Q | 4 |
| Uruguay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22nd | | | | Q | 2 |
| Venezuela | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | | | | | | | 1 |
| West Germany | 5th | 11th | 9th | 2nd | 4th | 6th | 4th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| Yugoslavia | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 5th | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 1st | | 5th | 9th | 5th | 7th | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 |
| Total | 21 | 23 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 32 | 32 | |