# IHF World Women's Handball Championship

The IHF Women's Handball World Championship has been organized by the International Handball Federation since 1957. European teams have won every time except 1995 where South Korea won as the first team outside Europe and 2013 where Brazil won as the first American team. The biggest winners are Russia and Norway with four titles each.
Nine teams participated in the first championship, this number has grown in steps to 32 (from 2021). In 1977 a B-tournament was introduced and later in 1986 a C-tournament which served as qualification for the real championship or A-tournament. The B- and C-tournament qualifications were replaced by the present qualification system based on continental confederations in 1993.
From 1993 it has been held every other year. Between 1978 and 1990 it was held every fourth alternating with the Olympic tournament (introduced for women handball in 1976). The first five tournaments were held in the summer or early fall whereas the rest has been held in November or December.

## Tournaments

| Year | Host | Final | Final | Final | | Third place match | Third place match | Third place match | | Teams |
| Year | Host | Champions | Score | Runners-up | | Third place | Score | Fourth place | | Teams |
| 1957 Details | Yugoslavia | Czechoslovakia | 7–1 | Hungary | | Yugoslavia | 9–6 | West Germany | | 9 |
| 1962 Details | Romania | Romania | 8–5 | Denmark | | Czechoslovakia | 6–5 | Yugoslavia | | 9 |
| 1965 Details | West Germany | Hungary | 5–3 | Yugoslavia | | West Germany | 11–10 | Czechoslovakia | | 8 |
| 1968 | Soviet Union | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia | The tournament was cancelled due to the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia |
| 1971 Details | Netherlands | East Germany | 11–8 | Yugoslavia | | Hungary | 12–11 (2ET) | Romania | | 9 |
| 1973 Details | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 16–11 | Romania | | Soviet Union | 20–12 | Hungary | | 12 |
| 1975 Details | Soviet Union | East Germany | Round-robin | Soviet Union | | Hungary | Round-robin | Romania | | 12 |
| 1978 Details | Czechoslovakia | East Germany | Round-robin | Soviet Union | | Hungary | Round-robin | Czechoslovakia | | 12 |
| 1982 Details | Hungary | Soviet Union | Round-robin | Hungary | | Yugoslavia | Round-robin | East Germany | | 12 |
| 1986 Details | Netherlands | Soviet Union | 30–22 | Czechoslovakia | | Norway | 23–19 | East Germany | | 16 |
| 1990 Details | South Korea | Soviet Union | 24–22 | Yugoslavia | | East Germany | 25–19 | West Germany | | 16 |
| 1993 Details | Norway | Germany | 22–21 (ET) | Denmark | | Norway | 20–19 | Romania | | 16 |
| 1995 Details | Austria / Hungary | South Korea | 25–20 | Hungary | | Denmark | 25–24 | Norway | | 20 |
| 1997 Details | Germany | Denmark | 33–20 | Norway | | Germany | 27–25 | Russia | | 24 |
| 1999 Details | Norway / Denmark | Norway | 25–24 (2ET) | France | | Austria | 31–28 (ET) | Romania | | 24 |
| 2001 Details | Italy | Russia | 30–25 | Norway | | FR Yugoslavia | 42–40 (ET) | Denmark | | 24 |
| 2003 Details | Croatia | France | 32–29 (ET) | Hungary | | South Korea | 31–29 | Ukraine | | 24 |
| 2005 Details | Russia | Russia | 28–23 | Romania | | Hungary | 27–24 | Denmark | | 24 |
| 2007 Details | France | Russia | 29–24 | Norway | | Germany | 36–35 (ET) | Romania | | 24 |
| 2009 Details | China | Russia | 25–22 | France | | Norway | 31–26 | Spain | | 24 |
| 2011 Details | Brazil | Norway | 32–24 | France | | Spain | 24–18 | Denmark | | 24 |
| 2013 Details | Serbia | Brazil | 22–20 | Serbia | | Denmark | 30–26 | Poland | | 24 |
| 2015 Details | Denmark | Norway | 31–23 | Netherlands | | Romania | 31–22 | Poland | | 24 |
| 2017 Details | Germany | France | 23–21 | Norway | | Netherlands | 24–21 | Sweden | | 24 |
| 2019 Details | Japan | Netherlands | 30–29 | Spain | | Russia | 33–28 | Norway | | 24 |
| 2021 Details | Spain | Norway | 29–22 | France | | Denmark | 35–28 | Spain | | 32 |
| 2023 Details | Denmark / Norway / Sweden | France | 31–28 | Norway | | Denmark | 28–27 | Sweden | | 32 |
| 2025 Details | Netherlands / Germany | | | | | | | | | 32 |
| 2027 Details | Hungary | | | | | | | | | 32 |
| 2029 Details | Spain | | | | | | | | | 32 |
| 2031 Details | Czech Republic / Poland | | | | | | | | | 32 |

## Medal table

IHF only includes medals won at the indoor championships.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Norway | 4 | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| 2 | Russia | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | France | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | Soviet Union | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | East Germany | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Hungary | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| 7 | Yugoslavia | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Denmark | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 9 | Romania | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Czechoslovakia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | Germany | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 13 | South Korea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | Brazil | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Spain | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 | Serbia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Austria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | West Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Yugoslavia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (19 entries) | Totals (19 entries) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 78 |

## Participating nations

Source: IHF official site.

### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* 5th – Fifth place
* 6th – Sixth place
* 7th – Seventh place
* 8th – Eighth place
* 9th – Ninth place
* 10th – Tenth place
* 11th – Eleventh place
* 12th – Twelfth place
* MR – Main round
* GS – Group stage
* Q – Qualified for upcoming tournament
* •• – Qualified but withdrew
* • – Did not qualify
* × – Did not enter / Withdrew from the World Championship / Banned
* – Hosts
For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.
| Team | 1957 | 1962 | 1965 | 1971 | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1990 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 | 2025 | 2027 | 2029 | 2031 | Total |
| Algeria | France | France | × | × | × | × | 10th | • | • | • | • | • | 19th | × | • | • | × | × | • | • | 22nd | • | • | • | × | • | • | | | | 3 |
| Angola | Part of Portugal | Part of Portugal | Part of Portugal | Part of Portugal | Part of Portugal | × | × | • | • | 16th | 16th | 13th | 15th | 15th | 13th | 17th | 16th | 7th | 11th | 8th | 16th | 16th | 19th | 15th | 25th | 15th | Q | | | | 18 |
| Argentina | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 24th | • | 22nd | 20th | 20th | 19th | 23rd | 19th | 18th | 23rd | 16th | 21st | 20th | Q | | | | 13 |
| Australia | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 23rd | • | 23rd | 24th | 24th | 24th | 24th | 24th | • | × | 24th | × | • | × | | | | 8 |
| Austria | 6th | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | 12th | 5th | 8th | 8th | 11th | 3rd | 7th | 11th | 13th | 16th | 10th | • | • | • | • | • | 16th | 19th | | | | | 14 |
| Belarus | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | • | • | 16th | 14th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | | | | 2 |
| Brazil | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | 17th | 23rd | 16th | 12th | 20th | 7th | 14th | 15th | 5th | 1st | 10th | 18th | 17th | 6th | 9th | Q | | | | 16 |
| Bulgaria | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | 10th | • | 12th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | | | | 2 |
| Cameroon | FRA | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | • | • | × | × | • | • | • | • | 22nd | • | • | • | • | • | 20th | • | 28th | 24th | • | | | | 4 |
| Canada | × | × | × | × | × | • | 10th | • | • | 15th | • | 17th | 20th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | | | | | 4 |
| Chile | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 23rd | • | • | • | • | • | • | 27th | • | | | | 2 |
| China | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | 9th | 8th | 14th | 13th | 22nd | 18th | 11th | 19th | 17th | 21st | 12th | 21st | 18th | 17th | 22nd | 23rd | 32nd | 28th | • | | | | 18 |
| Congo | FRA | × | × | × | × | × | × | 12th | •• | • | • | • | • | 22nd | 22nd | • | • | 17th | 20th | • | • | • | • | • | 23rd | 26th | • | | | | 7 |
| Croatia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | • | 10th | 6th | • | • | 14th | 11th | 9th | • | 7th | • | • | • | • | 18th | 14th | | | | | 8 |
| Cuba | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 21st | • | • | • | • | • | 22nd | • | 23rd | • | 21st | × | • | | | | | 4 |
| Czech Republic | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | See Czechoslovakia | 13th | 13th | 19th | • | 15th | • | • | • | • | 15th | • | 8th | • | 19th | 8th | | | | Q | 9 |
| DR Congo | BEL | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | 20th | 24th | • | 20th | • | • | • | | | | 3 |
| Denmark | 5th | 2nd | 5th | 6th | 7th | 9th | • | • | • | 10th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 6th | 4th | 13th | 4th | • | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 6th | 6th | 9th | 3rd | 3rd | Q | | | | 23 |
| Dominican Republic | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 22nd | • | • | 23rd | • | • | • | × | × | | | | | 2 |
| Egypt | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | × | × | × | × | • | Q | | | | 1 |
| France | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | 15th | 14th | • | • | 10th | 2nd | 5th | 1st | 12th | 5th | 2nd | 2nd | 6th | 7th | 1st | 13th | 2nd | 1st | Q | | | | 17 |
| Germany (including West Germany) | 4th | 8th | 3rd | 5th | 11th | • | 8th | 9th | 7th | 4th | 1st | 5th | 3rd | 7th | • | 12th | 6th | 3rd | 7th | 17th | 7th | 13th | 12th | 8th | 7th | 6th | Q | | | | 25 |
| Greenland | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 24th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 32nd | | | | | 2 |
| Hungary | 2nd | 5th | 1st | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 8th | • | 7th | 2nd | 9th | 5th | 6th | 2nd | 3rd | 8th | 9th | • | 8th | 11th | 15th | 14th | 10th | 10th | Q | Q | | | 26 |
| Iceland | × | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 12th | • | • | • | • | • | 25th | | | | | 2 |
| Iran | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | × | • | × | × | × | • | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | 31st | 31st | Q | | | | 3 |
| Italy | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 16th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | | | | | 1 |
| Ivory Coast | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | 17th | 14th | 20th | • | 21st | 21st | • | 18th | 16th | • | × | • | • | × | • | × | | | | 7 |
| Japan | × | 9th | 7th | 9th | 10th | 10th | • | • | 14th | • | • | 13th | 17th | 17th | 20th | 16th | 18th | 19th | 16th | 14th | 14th | 19th | 16th | 10th | 11th | 17th | Q | | | | 22 |
| Kazakhstan | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | • | × | × | × | • | •• | × | 18th | 22nd | 19th | • | 22nd | • | 22nd | 24th | 30th | Q | | | | 8 |
| Lithuania | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | 13th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | | | | | 1 |
| Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | • | • | 10th | 11th | 8th | 6th | 5th | 22nd | 7th | | | | | 7 |
| Netherlands | × | × | • | 8th | 12th | • | 9th | • | 10th | • | • | • | • | 10th | 14th | • | 5th | • | • | 15th | 13th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 9th | 5th | Q | | | | 15 |
| North Macedonia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | • | • | 7th | 8th | 21st | • | 15th | 12th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | | | | | 5 |
| Norway | × | × | • | 7th | 8th | 8th | • | 7th | 3rd | 6th | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 6th | 9th | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 5th | 1st | 2nd | 4th | 1st | 2nd | Q | | | | 23 |
| Paraguay | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 23rd | • | • | 21st | • | 21st | • | 29th | 29th | • | | | | 5 |
| Poland | 7th | 7th | 8th | • | 5th | 7th | 6th | • | 13th | 9th | 10th | • | 8th | 11th | • | • | 19th | 11th | • | • | 4th | 4th | 17th | • | 15th | 16th | | | | Q | 19 |
| Puerto Rico | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 20th | • | • | 20th | × | | | | | 2 |
| Romania | 9th | 1st | 6th | 4th | 2nd | 4th | 7th | 8th | 5th | 7th | 4th | 7th | 12th | 4th | 17th | 10th | 2nd | 4th | 8th | 13th | 10th | 3rd | 10th | 12th | 13th | 12th | | | | | 26 |
| Russia | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | See Soviet Union | 5th | 6th | 4th | 12th | 1st | 7th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 6th | • | 5th | 5th | 3rd | 8th | × | × | | | | 14 |
| Senegal | FRA | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | × | • | × | × | × | • | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | 18th | • | 18th | Q | | | | 3 |
| Serbia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | See Serbia and Montenegro | See Serbia and Montenegro | See Serbia and Montenegro | See Serbia and Montenegro | See Serbia and Montenegro | See Serbia and Montenegro | See Serbia and Montenegro | • | • | • | 2nd | 15th | 9th | 6th | 12th | 21st | | | | | 6 |
| Slovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | 12th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26th | • | | | | | 2 |
| Slovenia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | • | • | 18th | • | 9th | 8th | 14th | • | • | • | • | • | 14th | 19th | 17th | 11th | | | | | 8 |
| South Korea | × | × | × | × | × | • | 10th | 6th | 11th | 11th | 11th | 1st | 5th | 9th | 15th | 3rd | 8th | 6th | 6th | 11th | 12th | 14th | 13th | 11th | 14th | 22nd | Q | | | | 21 |
| Spain | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | 15th | • | • | • | 10th | 5th | • | 10th | 4th | 3rd | 9th | 12th | 11th | 2nd | 4th | 13th | | | Q | | 13 |
| Sweden | 8th | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 13th | 6th | 11th | • | • | 8th | • | • | • | 13th | 9th | • | 9th | 4th | 7th | 5th | 4th | | | | | 12 |
| Thailand | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | 21st | • | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | | | | 1 |
| Tunisia | × | × | × | × | × | 12th | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | 19th | 18th | • | 15th | 14th | 18th | 17th | 21st | 24th | • | 27th | • | Q | | | | 11 |
| Ukraine | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | • | 9th | • | 13th | 18th | 4th | 10th | 13th | 17th | • | • | • | • | • | • | 23rd | | | | | 8 |
| United States | × | × | × | × | × | 11th | • | 11th | 16th | • | 12th | 17th | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | Q | | | 7 |
| Uruguay | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 24th | • | 23rd | 24th | 23rd | • | • | 20th | • | • | • | • | • | • | Q | | | | 6 |
| Uzbekistan | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | × | × | 21st | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | × | 30th | • | × | | | | 2 |
| Discontinued teams ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Czechoslovakia | 1st | 3rd | 4th | • | 6th | 6th | 4th | 5th | 2nd | • | 9th | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | See Czech Republic | 9 |
| East Germany | × | • | • | 1st | 9th | 1st | 1st | 4th | 4th | 3rd | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | 7 |
| Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | • | • | • | • | 3rd | 9th | • | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | 2 |
| Soviet Union | × | 6th | × | • | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | See Russia | 7 |
| Yugoslavia | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 5th | 5th | 3rd | 6th | 2nd | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | See Serbia | 10 |
| Total | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | |
Since first entering the tournament in 1957, Romania are the only team to have appeared in all 26 tournaments to date.

## Most successful players

Boldface denotes active handball players and highest medal count among all players (including these who not included in these tables) per type.

### Multiple gold medalists

The table shows players who have won at least 3 gold medals at the World Championships.
| Rank | Player | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Camilla Herrem | Norway | 2009 | 2023 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Stine Bredal Oftedal | Norway | 2011 | 2023 | 3 | 2 | – | 5 |
| 3 | Maryna Bazanova | Soviet Union | 1982 | 1990 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Hannelore Burosch | East Germany | 1971 | 1978 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Maria Constantinescu (Scheip) | Romania | 1956 | 1962 | ** 3 ** | – | – | ** 3 ** |
| 3 | Victorița Dumitrescu | Romania | 1956 | 1962 | ** 3 ** | – | – | ** 3 ** |
| 3 | Anna Kareyeva | Russia | 2001 | 2007 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Irina Klimovschi (Nagy) | Romania | 1956 | 1962 | ** 3 ** | – | – | ** 3 ** |
| 3 | Waltraud Kretzschmar | East Germany | 1971 | 1978 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Nadezhda Muravyova | Russia | 2001 | 2009 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Irina Poltoratskaya | Russia | 2001 | 2007 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Lyudmila Postnova | Russia | 2005 | 2009 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Kristina Richter (Hochmuth) | East Germany | 1971 | 1978 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Oksana Romenskaya | Russia | 2001 | 2007 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Ana Stănișel (Starck) | Romania | 1956 | 1962 | ** 3 ** | – | – | ** 3 ** |
| 3 | Iozefina Ștefănescu (Ugron) | Romania | 1956 | 1962 | ** 3 ** | – | – | ** 3 ** |
| 3 | Inna Suslina | Russia | 2001 | 2009 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Aurelia Szőke (Sălăgeanu) | Romania | 1956 | 1962 | ** 3 ** | – | – | ** 3 ** |
| 3 | Emiliya Turey | Russia | 2005 | 2009 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Petra Uhlig (Kahnt) | East Germany | 1971 | 1978 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| 3 | Hannelore Zober | East Germany | 1971 | 1978 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
** including two medals won at the 1956 and 1960 World Outdoor Field Handball Championships

### Multiple medalists

The table shows players who have won at least 4 medals in total at the World Championships.
| Rank | Player | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Camilla Herrem | Norway | 2009 | 2023 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Katrine Lunde (Haraldsen) | Norway | 2007 | 2023 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Stine Bredal Oftedal | Norway | 2011 | 2023 | 3 | 2 | – | 5 |
| 4 | Kari Aalvik Grimsbø | Norway | 2007 | 2017 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 4 | Zinaida Turchyna | Soviet Union | 1973 | 1986 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | Vilde Ingstad | Norway | 2015 | 2023 | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
| 6 | Nora Mørk | Norway | 2015 | 2023 | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
| 6 | Sanna Solberg-Isaksen | Norway | 2015 | 2023 | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
| 6 | Silje Solberg-Østhassel | Norway | 2015 | 2023 | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
| 10 | Heidi Løke | Norway | 2009 | 2017 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 11 | Cléopatre Darleux | France | 2009 | 2021 | 1 | 3 | – | 4 |
| 11 | Allison Pineau | France | 2009 | 2021 | 1 | 3 | – | 4 |
| 13 | Amália Sterbinszky | Hungary | 1971 | 1982 | – | 1 | 3 | 4 |

## Top scorers and best players by tournament

The record-holder for scored goals in a single World Championship is Bojana Radulović. She scored 97 goals for Hungary at the 2003 World Championship.
| Year | Top scorer | Goals | Best player |
| 1957 | Pavla Bartáková | 11 | |
| 1962 | Marie Mateju Ana Stănișel | 14 | |
| 1965 | Anne-Marie Nielsen | 11 | |
| 1971 | Hideyo Taramizu | 22 | |
| 1973 | Christine Gehlhoff | 25 | |
| 1975 | Tetyana Makarets | 35 | |
| 1978 | Milena Foltýnová Kristina Richter | 41 | |
| 1982 | Jasna Merdan | 52 | Larisa Karlova |
| 1986 | Natalya Kirchik | 61 | Natalya Kirchik |
| 1990 | Bożena Karkut Svetlana Vydrina | 50 | |
| 1993 | Hong Jeong-ho | 58 | |
| 1995 | Nataliya Derepasko | 61 | |
| 1997 | Indira Kastratović | 71 | Franziska Heinz |
| 1999 | Carmen Amariei Grit Jurack | 67 | Ausra Fridrikas |
| 2001 | Ausra Fridrikas | 87 | Ausra Fridrikas |
| 2003 | Bojana Radulović | 97 | Valérie Nicolas |
| 2005 | Nadine Krause Tanja Logwin | 60 | Lyudmila Postnova |
| 2007 | Grit Jurack | 85 | Katja Nyberg |
| 2009 | Katrin Engel | 67 | Lyudmila Postnova |
| 2011 | Alexandra do Nascimento | 57 | Not awarded |
| 2013 | Susann Müller | 62 | Eduarda Amorim |
| 2015 | Cristina Neagu | 63 | Cristina Neagu |
| 2017 | Nora Mørk | 66 | Stine Bredal Oftedal |
| 2019 | Lois Abbingh | 71 | Estavana Polman |
| 2021 | Nathalie Hagman | 71 | Kari Brattset Dale |
| 2023 | Markéta Jeřábková | 63 | Henny Reistad |

## Largest winning margin

| Margin | Winning team | Score | Opponent | WC |
| 48 | Hungary | 57–9 | Australia | 2005 |
| 46 | Netherlands | 61–15 | Kazakhstan | 2021 |
| 45 | Sweden | 66–21 | Australia | 2009 |
| 41 | Netherlands | 58–17 | Uzbekistan | 2021 |
| 41 | Angola | 52–11 | Uzbekistan | 2021 |
| 41 | Austria | 52–11 | Thailand | 2009 |
| 40 | Netherlands | 55–15 | Puerto Rico | 2021 |
| 40 | Russia | 48–8 | Australia | 2009 |
| 39 | Angola | 47–8 | Australia | 2005 |
| 39 | France | 46–7 | Australia | 2019 |
| 38 | Netherlands | 53–15 | Australia | 2011 |
| 38 | South Korea | 50–12 | Paraguay | 2007 |
| 38 | Sweden | 48–10 | Puerto Rico | 2021 |
| 38 | Yugoslavia | 41–3 | Tunisia | 1975 |
| 37 | Norway | 48–11 | Uruguay | 2001 |
| 37 | Norway | 47–10 | Australia | 2005 |
| 37 | Russia | 45–8 | Australia | 2011 |
| 37 | Russia | 45–8 | Thailand | 2009 |
| 37 | Denmark | 42–5 | Argentina | 1999 |
| 36 | Norway | 43–7 | Puerto Rico | 2021 |
Source: TV2Sporten.no