# Water polo at the World Aquatics Championships

Water polo at the World Aquatics Championships is an international water polo tournament held every two years as part of the World Aquatics Championships. The reigning champions are Croatia in men's and the United States in women's competition.

## Events

| Event | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Editions |
| Men's tournament | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 21 |
| Women's tournament | | | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 17 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |

## Men's tournament
### Results summary

| Year | Host | Gold | Score | Silver | Bronze | Score | 4th place |
| 1973 Details | Belgrade, Yugoslavia | Hungary | Round-robin (5–4) | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Round-robin (4–5) | Italy |
| 1975 Details | Cali, Colombia | Soviet Union | Round-robin (5–4) | Hungary | Italy | Round-robin (4–4) | Cuba |
| 1978 Details | West Berlin, West Germany | Italy | Round-robin (4–4) | Hungary | Yugoslavia | Round-robin (6–4) | Soviet Union |
| 1982 Details | Guayaquil, Ecuador | Soviet Union | Round-robin (7–7) | Hungary | West Germany | Round-robin (5–3) | Netherlands |
| 1986 Details | Madrid, Spain | Yugoslavia | 12–11 (4 OT) | Italy | Soviet Union | 8–6 (2 OT) | United States |
| 1991 Details | Perth, Australia | Yugoslavia | 8–7 | Spain | Hungary | 13–12 | United States |
| 1994 Details | Rome, Italy | Italy | 10–5 | Spain | Russia | 14–13 (OT) | Croatia |
| 1998 Details | Perth, Australia | Spain | 6–4 | Hungary | Yugoslavia | 9–5 | Australia |
| 2001 Details | Fukuoka, Japan | Spain | 4–2 | Yugoslavia | Russia | 7–6 | Italy |
| 2003 Details | Barcelona, Spain | Hungary | 11–9 (OT) | Italy | Serbia and Montenegro | 5–3 | Greece |
| 2005 Details | Montreal, Canada | Serbia and Montenegro | 8–7 | Hungary | Greece | 11–10 (OT) | Croatia |
| 2007 Details | Melbourne, Australia | Croatia | 9–8 (OT) | Hungary | Spain | 9–9 (OT) (9–8 pen.) | Serbia |
| 2009 Details | Rome, Italy | Serbia | 7–7 (OT) (7–6 pen.) | Spain | Croatia | 8–6 | United States |
| 2011 Details | Shanghai, China | Italy | 8–7 (OT) | Serbia | Croatia | 12–11 | Hungary |
| 2013 Details | Barcelona, Spain | Hungary | 8–7 | Montenegro | Croatia | 10–8 | Italy |
| 2015 Details | Kazan, Russia | Serbia | 11–4 | Croatia | Greece | 7–7 (4–2 pen.) | Italy |
| 2017 Details | Budapest, Hungary | Croatia | 8–6 | Hungary | Serbia | 11–8 | Greece |
| 2019 Details | Gwangju, South Korea | Italy | 10–5 | Spain | Croatia | 10–7 | Hungary |
| 2022 Details | Budapest, Hungary | Spain | 9–9 (6–5 pen.) | Italy | Greece | 9–7 | Croatia |
| 2023 Details | Fukuoka, Japan | Hungary | 10–10 (4–3 pen.) | Greece | Spain | 9–6 | Serbia |
| 2024 Details | Doha, Qatar | Croatia | 11–11 (4–2 pen.) | Italy | Spain | 14–10 | France |
| 2025 Details | Kallang, Singapore | | | | | | |
| 2027 Details | Budapest, Hungary | | | | | | |
| 2029 Details | Beijing, China | | | | | | |

### Confederation statistics
#### Best performances by tournament

This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation in each tournament.
* view

##### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
| Confederation | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Africa – CANA | — | — | — | 15th | — | 15th | 15th | 14th | — | — | 15th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 15th | 12th | 16th | 12th | 12th | 16th | 15th |
| Americas – ASUA | 5th | 4th | 5th | 5th | 4th | 4th | 6th | 7th | 7th | 6th | 11th | 9th | 4th | 6th | 9th | 7th | 12th | 9th | 6th | 7th | 9th |
| Asia – AASF | — | 15th | — | 10th | — | 14th | 12th | 11th | 12th | 15th | 14th | 13th | 12th | 11th | 12th | 11th | 10th | 11th | 9th | 11th | 12th |
| Europe – LEN | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| Oceania – OSA | 14th | 11th | 9th | 11th | 10th | 8th | 10th | 4th | 10th | 7th | 10th | 10th | 10th | 9th | 8th | 8th | 7th | 6th | 11th | 10th | 11th |
| Nations | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |

### Team statistics
#### Participating teams

Note: Results of qualification tournaments are not included.
* view

##### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
* – Hosts
* $^†$ – Defunct team
Africa – CANA (2 teams) :
| Men's team | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| Egypt | | | | 15th | | 15th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| South Africa | | | | | | | 15th | 14th | | | 15th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 15th | 12th | 16th | 12th | 12th | 16th | 15th | 13 |
| Americas – ASUA (7 teams) |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's team | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| Argentina | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | | | | 13th | | 2 |
| Brazil | | | | | 12th | | | 12th | 13th | 13th | | | 13th | 14th | | 10th | 12th | 13th | 15th | WD | 14th | 11 |
| Canada | | 14th | 14th | 14th | 13th | 13th | 14th | 13th | 15th | 14th | 13th | 12th | 8th | 10th | 11th | 9th | 15th | | 16th | 12th | | 18 |
| Colombia | | 16th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Cuba | 6th | 4th | 10th | 5th | 7th | 11th | 11th | | | | 12th | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| Mexico | 9th | 9th | 15th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| United States | 5th | 8th | 5th | 6th | 4th | 4th | 6th | 7th | 7th | 6th | 11th | 9th | 4th | 6th | 9th | 7th | 13th | 9th | 6th | 7th | 9th | 21 |
| Asia – AASF (5 teams) |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's team | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| China | | | | 10th | | 14th | | | | 16th | 16th | 13th | 12th | 15th | 14th | 15th | | | | 15th | 12th | 11 |
| Iran | | 15th | | | | | | 15th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Japan | | | | | | | | | 16th | 15th | 14th | 16th | | 11th | | 13th | 10th | 11th | 9th | 11th | 13th | 11 |
| 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 | 12th | 11th | 12th | | | | 16th | 13th | 12th | 11th | 11th | 14th | 14th | 14th | 16th | 12 |
| South Korea | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | | | | 1 |
| Europe – LEN (22 teams) |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's team | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| Bulgaria | 13th | 12th | 8th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Croatia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | 4th | 9th | 8th | 9th | 4th | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 4th | 9th | 1st | 15 |
| France | | | | 13th | 8th | 12th | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | | | 6th | 4th | 6 |
| Georgia | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | | | 1 |
| Germany | See West Germany | See West Germany | See West Germany | See West Germany | See West Germany | 5th | 9th | | 14th | 11th | 9th | 8th | 6th | 8th | 10th | | | 8th | 13th | | | 11 |
| Great Britain | 15th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Greece | 12th | | 12th | 12th | 11th | 10th | 7th | 8th | 6th | 4th | 3rd | 6th | | | 6th | 3rd | 4th | 7th | 3rd | 2nd | 5th | 18 |
| Hungary | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 9th | 3rd | 5th | 2nd | 5th | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 5th | 4th | 1st | 6th | 2nd | 4th | 7th | 1st | 7th | 21 |
| Israel | 16th | | 16th | | 15th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Italy | 4th | 3rd | 1st | 9th | 2nd | 6th | 1st | 5th | 4th | 2nd | 8th | 5th | 11th | 1st | 4th | 4th | 6th | 1st | 2nd | 5th | 2nd | 21 |
| Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of FRY / SCG | Part of FRY / SCG | Part of FRY / SCG | Part of FRY / SCG | Part of FRY / SCG | | 9th | 7th | 2nd | 5th | 5th | 10th | 8th | 8th | 8th | 9 |
| Men's team | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| Netherlands | 8th | 7th | 13th | 4th | 14th | | 8th | | 9th | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| North Macedonia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | | | | | | | 14th | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Romania | 7th | 5th | 6th | | | 9th | 13th | | | 12th | 6th | 11th | 7th | 12th | 13th | | | | | | 10th | 12 |
| Russia | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | 3rd | 6th | 3rd | 10th | 7th | 7th | | | | 14th | 8th | | DQ | DQ | DQ | 8 |
| Serbia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of FRY / SCG | Part of FRY / SCG | Part of FRY / SCG | Part of FRY / SCG | Part of FRY / SCG | 4th | 1st | 2nd | 7th | 1st | 3rd | 5th | 5th | 4th | 6th | 10 |
| Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | 4 |
| Slovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | | 10th | 11th | 8th | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Soviet Union$^†$ | 2nd | 1st | 4th | 1st | 3rd | 7th | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | 6 |
| Spain | 10th | 10th | 11th | 8th | 5th | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 5th | 5th | 3rd | 2nd | 5th | 5th | | 9th | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 20 |
| West Germany$^†$ | 11th | 6th | 7th | 3rd | 6th | 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 | 5 |
| Yugoslavia$^†$ | 3rd | 13th | 3rd | 7th | 1st | 1st | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | 6 |
| Oceania – OSA (2 teams) |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's team | 1973 | 1975 | 1978 | 1982 | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| Australia | 14th | 11th | 9th | 11th | 10th | 8th | 10th | 4th | 10th | 7th | 10th | 10th | 10th | 9th | 8th | 8th | 7th | 6th | 11th | 10th | 11th | 21 |
| New Zealand | | | | 16th | | 16th | 16th | 16th | | | | 15th | | | 16th | | | 16th | | | | 7 |
| Total teams | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |

#### Finishes in the top four

The following table is pre-sorted by total finishes in the top four (in descending order), number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively.
* view

##### Legend

* $^*$ – Host team
* $^†$ – Defunct team
| Rk | Men's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
| 1 | Hungary | 14 | 4 (1973, 2003, 2013, 2023) | 7 (1975, 1978, 1982, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2017$^*$) | 1 (1991) | 2 (2011, 2019) | 1973 | 2023 |
| 2 | Italy | 13 | 4 (1978, 1994$^*$, 2011, 2019) | 4 (1986, 2003, 2022, 2024) | 1 (1975) | 4 (1973, 2001, 2013, 2015) | 1973 | 2024 |
| 3 | Croatia | 11 | 3 (2007, 2017, 2024) | 1 (2015) | 4 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2019) | 3 (1994, 2005, 2022) | 1994 | 2024 |
| 4 | Spain | 10 | 3 (1998, 2001, 2022) | 4 (1991, 1994, 2009, 2019) | 2 (2007, 2023, 2024) | | 1991 | 2024 |
| 5 | Serbia | 6 | 2 (2009, 2015) | 1 (2011) | 1 (2017) | 2 (2007, 2023) | 2007 | 2023 |
| 6 | Greece | 6 | | 1 (2023) | 3 (2005, 2015, 2022) | 2 (2003, 2017) | 2003 | 2023 |
| 7 | Soviet Union$^†$ | 5 | 2 (1975, 1982) | 1 (1973) | 1 (1986) | 1 (1978) | 1973 | 1986 |
| 8 | Yugoslavia$^†$ | 4 | 2 (1986, 1991) | | 2 (1973$^*$, 1978) | | 1973 | 1991 |
| 9 | Yugoslavia$^†$ / Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ | 4 | 1 (2005) | 1 (2001) | 2 (1998, 2003) | | 1998 | 2005 |
| 10 | United States | 3 | | | | 3 (1986, 1991, 2009) | 1986 | 2009 |
| 11 | Russia | 2 | | | 2 (1994, 2001) | | 1994 | 2001 |
| 12 | Montenegro | 1 | | 1 (2013) | | | 2013 | 2013 |
| 13 | West Germany$^†$ | 1 | | | 1 (1982) | | 1982 | 1982 |
| 14 | Australia | 1 | | | | 1 (1998$^*$) | 1998 | 1998 |
| 14 | Cuba | 1 | | | | 1 (1975) | 1975 | 1975 |
| 14 | France | 1 | | | | 1 (2024) | 2024 | 2024 |
| 14 | Netherlands | 1 | | | | 1 (1982) | 1982 | 1982 |
| Rk | Men's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |

#### Medal table

The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively.
* view

##### Legend

* $^†$ – Defunct team
| Rank | Men's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Hungary | 4 | 7 | 1 | 12 |
| 2 | Italy | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | Spain | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
| 4 | Croatia | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 5 | Serbia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | Soviet Union$^†$ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Yugoslavia$^†$ | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | Yugoslavia$^†$ / Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 | Greece | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 10 | Montenegro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Russia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 | West Germany$^†$ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (12 entries) | Totals (12 entries) | 21 | 21 | 21 | 63 |

#### Champions (results and squads)

The following table shows results of world champions in men's water polo by tournament.
* view

##### Legend

* 6 – Winning 6 matches during the tournament
* 4 – Drawing 4 matches during the tournament
* 2 – Losing 2 matches during the tournament
* 100.0% – Winning all matches during the tournament
* team – Winning streak (winning three or more world championships in a row)
* – Host team
* $^†$ – Defunct team

##### Abbreviation

* MP – Matches played
* W – Won
* D – Drawn
* L – Lost
* GF – Goals for
* GA – Goals against
* GD – Goals difference
* GF/MP – Goals for per match
* GA/MP – Goals against per match
* GD/MP – Goals difference per match
Results of champions by tournament :
| # | Men's tournament | Champion | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
| 1 | Belgrade 1973 | Hungary (1st title) | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87.5% | 58 | 24 | 34 | 7.250 | 3.000 | 4.250 |
| 2 | Cali 1975 | Soviet Union$^†$ (1st title) | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75.0% | 49 | 26 | 23 | 6.125 | 3.250 | 2.875 |
| 3 | West Berlin 1978 | Italy (1st title) | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 62.5% | 41 | 31 | 10 | 5.125 | 3.875 | 1.250 |
| 4 | Guayaquil 1982 | Soviet Union$^†$ (2nd title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 68 | 41 | 27 | 9.714 | 5.857 | 3.857 |
| 5 | Madrid 1986 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (1st title) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.3% | 61 | 43 | 18 | 10.167 | 7.167 | 3.000 |
| 6 | Perth 1991 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (2nd title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 81 | 46 | 35 | 11.571 | 6.571 | 5.000 |
| 7 | Rome 1994 | Italy (2nd title) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 65 | 39 | 26 | 9.286 | 5.571 | 3.714 |
| 8 | Perth 1998 | Spain (1st title) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 65 | 35 | 30 | 8.125 | 4.375 | 3.750 |
| 9 | Fukuoka 2001 | Spain (2nd title) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 63 | 27 | 36 | 7.875 | 3.375 | 4.500 |
| 10 | Barcelona 2003 | Hungary (2nd title) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.3% | 62 | 37 | 25 | 10.333 | 6.167 | 4.167 |
| 11 | Montreal 2005 | Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 69 | 29 | 40 | 11.500 | 4.833 | 6.667 |
| 12 | Melbourne 2007 | Croatia (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 65 | 40 | 25 | 10.833 | 6.667 | 4.167 |
| 13 | Rome 2009 | Serbia (1st title) | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 71.4% | 80 | 60 | 20 | 11.429 | 8.571 | 2.857 |
| 14 | Shanghai 2011 | Italy (3rd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 59 | 33 | 26 | 9.833 | 5.500 | 4.333 |
| 15 | Barcelona 2013 | Hungary (3rd title) | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 71.4% | 76 | 54 | 22 | 10.857 | 7.714 | 3.143 |
| 16 | Kazan 2015 | Serbia (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 73 | 43 | 30 | 12.167 | 7.167 | 5.000 |
| 17 | Budapest 2017 | Croatia (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 70 | 47 | 23 | 11.667 | 7.833 | 3.833 |
| 18 | Gwangju 2019 | Italy (4th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 60 | 40 | 20 | 10.000 | 6.667 | 3.333 |
| 19 | Budapest 2022 | Spain (3rd title) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 74 | 39 | 35 | 14.800 | 7.800 | 7.000 |
| 20 | Fukuoka 2023 | Hungary (4th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 88 | 67 | 21 | 14.667 | 11.167 | 3.500 |
| 21 | Doha 2024 | Croatia (3rd title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 117 | 70 | 47 | 16.174 | 10.000 | 6.174 |
| # | Men's tournament | Total | 141 | 126 | 11 | 4 | 89.4% | 1444 | 871 | 573 | 10.241 | 6.177 | 4.064 |
| # | Men's tournament | Champion | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
Sources:
* Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 15);
* Todor66: "Men's Water Polo World Championship".
The following table shows men's teams that won all matches during the tournament.
* view
Winning all matches during the tournament :
| # | Year | Champion | MP | W | D | L | Win % |
| 1 | 1994 | Italy (2nd title) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 2 | 1998 | Spain (1st title) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 3 | 2001 | Spain (2nd title) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 4 | 2005 | Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 5 | 2007 | Croatia (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 6 | 2011 | Italy (3rd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 7 | 2015 | Serbia (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 8 | 2017 | Croatia (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 9 | 2019 | Italy (4th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 10 | 2022 | Spain (3rd title) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 11 | 2023 | Hungary (4th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| # | Year | Champion | MP | W | D | L | Win % |
The following tables show records of goals for per match.
* view
Top 5 most goals for per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GF | GF/MP |
| 1 | 2024 | Croatia (3rd title) | 7 | 117 | 16.174 |
| 2 | 2022 | Spain (3rd title) | 5 | 74 | 14.800 |
| 3 | 2023 | Hungary (4th title) | 6 | 88 | 14.667 |
| 4 | 2015 | Serbia (2nd title) | 6 | 73 | 12.167 |
| 5 | 2017 | Croatia (2nd title) | 6 | 70 | 11.667 |
Top 5 fewest goals for per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GF | GF/MP |
| 1 | 1978 | Italy (1st title) | 8 | 41 | 5.125 |
| 2 | 1975 | Soviet Union$^†$ (1st title) | 8 | 49 | 6.125 |
| 3 | 1973 | Hungary (1st title) | 8 | 58 | 7.250 |
| 4 | 2001 | Spain (2nd title) | 8 | 63 | 7.875 |
| 5 | 1998 | Spain (1st title) | 8 | 65 | 8.125 |
Historical progression of records – goals for per match :
| Goals for per match | Achievement | Year | Champion | Date of winning gold | Duration of record |
| 7.250 | Set record | 1973 | Hungary (1st title) | 9 September 1973 | 8 years, 332 days |
| 9.714 | Broke record | 1982 | Soviet Union$^†$ (2nd title) | 7 August 1982 | 4 years, 15 days |
| 10.167 | Broke record | 1986 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (1st title) | 22 August 1986 | 4 years, 144 days |
| 11.571 | Broke record | 1991 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (2nd title) | 13 January 1991 | 24 years, 207 days |
| 12.167 | Broke record | 2015 | Serbia (2nd title) | 8 August 2015 | 6 years, 329 days |
| 14.800 | Broke record | 2022 | Spain (3rd title) | 3 July 2022 | 1 year, 229 days |
| 16.174 | Broke record | 2024 | Croatia (3rd title) | 17 February 2024 | 1 year, 25 days |
The following tables show records of goals against per match.
* view
Top 5 most goals against per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GA | GA/MP |
| 1 | 2023 | Hungary (4th title) | 6 | 67 | 11.167 |
| 2 | 2024 | Croatia (3rd title) | 7 | 70 | 10.000 |
| 3 | 2009 | Serbia (1st title) | 7 | 60 | 8.571 |
| 4 | 2017 | Croatia (2nd title) | 6 | 47 | 7.833 |
| 5 | 2022 | Spain (3rd title) | 5 | 39 | 7.800 |
Top 5 fewest goals against per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GA | GA/MP |
| 1 | 1973 | Hungary (1st title) | 8 | 24 | 3.000 |
| 2 | 1975 | Soviet Union$^†$ (1st title) | 8 | 26 | 3.250 |
| 3 | 2001 | Spain (2nd title) | 8 | 27 | 3.375 |
| 4 | 1978 | Italy (1st title) | 8 | 31 | 3.875 |
| 5 | 1998 | Spain (1st title) | 8 | 35 | 4.375 |
The following tables show records of goals difference per match.
* view
Top 5 most goals difference per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GD | GD/MP |
| 1 | 2022 | Spain (3rd title) | 5 | 35 | 7.000 |
| 2 | 2005 | Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ (1st title) | 6 | 40 | 6.667 |
| 3 | 2024 | Croatia (3rd title) | 7 | 47 | 6.174 |
| 4 | 1991 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (2nd title) | 7 | 35 | 5.000 |
| 4 | 2015 | Serbia (2nd title) | 6 | 30 | 5.000 |
Top 5 fewest goals difference per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GD | GD/MP |
| 1 | 1978 | Italy (1st title) | 8 | 10 | 1.250 |
| 2 | 2009 | Serbia (1st title) | 7 | 20 | 2.857 |
| 3 | 1975 | Soviet Union$^†$ (1st title) | 8 | 23 | 2.875 |
| 4 | 1986 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (1st title) | 6 | 18 | 3.000 |
| 5 | 2013 | Hungary (3rd title) | 7 | 22 | 3.143 |

### Player statistics

| (C) | Captain | Apps | Appearances | Ref | Reference | Rk | Rank |
| L/R | Handedness | Pos | Playing position | FP | Field player | GK | Goalkeeper |

#### Multiple gold medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), date of receiving the last gold medal (in ascending order), date of receiving the first gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
Serbian player Slobodan Nikić is the first and only male athlete to win three gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.
There are thirty five male athletes who won two gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.
* view

##### Legend

* – Hosts
Male athletes who won three or more gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Slobodan Nikić | 1983 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | Serbia and Montenegro | FP | 2003 | 2005 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 12 years (20/32) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 1 | Slobodan Nikić | 1983 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | Serbia | FP | Does not appear | Does not appear | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 12 years (20/32) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |

#### Multiple medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by total number of medals (in descending order), number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), date of receiving the last medal (in ascending order), date of receiving the first medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
Nine male athletes won five or more medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships. Aside from Brazilian-born Spanish player Felipe Perrone (who won six medals), Serbian player Slobodan Nikić and Spanish player Blai Mallarach (who won five medals each), all others were members of the Croatia men's national water polo team. Andro Bušlje is the first and only athlete (man or woman) to win seven medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships (two gold, one silver and four bronze).
* view

##### Legend

* – Hosts
Male athletes who won five or more medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Andro Bušlje | 1986 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | Croatia | FP | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 14 years (19/33) | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | |
| 2 | Maro Joković | 1987 | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | Croatia | FP | 2007 | Does not appear | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 12 years (19/31) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | |
| 3 | Felipe Perrone | 1986 | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | Spain | FP | Does not appear | Does not appear | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | Does not appear | Does not appear | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 22 years (15/37) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| 3 | Felipe Perrone | 1986 | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | Brazil | FP | 2001 | 2003 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 2015 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 22 years (15/37) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| 4 | Slobodan Nikić | 1983 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | Serbia and Montenegro | FP | 2003 | 2005 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 12 years (20/32) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 4 | Slobodan Nikić | 1983 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | Serbia | FP | Does not appear | Does not appear | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 12 years (20/32) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 5 | Marko Bijač | 1991 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | Croatia | GK | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 11 years (22/33) | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 5 | Luka Lončar | 1987 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | Croatia | FP | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | Does not appear | Does not appear | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 10 years (26/36) | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 7 | Blai Mallarach | 1987 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | Spain | FP | 2009 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 15 years (21/36) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| 8 | Josip Pavić | 1982 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | Croatia | GK | 2001 | Does not appear | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 14 years (19/33) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| 8 | Sandro Sukno | 1990 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | Croatia | FP | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 8 years (19/27) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| Ref ||||

## Women's tournament
### Results summary

| Year | Host | Gold | Score | Silver | Bronze | Score | 4th place |
| 1986 Details | Madrid, Spain | Australia | Round-robin (8–7) | Netherlands | United States | Round-robin (7–7) | Canada |
| 1991 Details | Perth, Australia | Netherlands | 13–6 | Canada | United States | 11–9 | Hungary |
| 1994 Details | Rome, Italy | Hungary | 7–5 | Netherlands | Italy | 14–9 | United States |
| 1998 Details | Perth, Australia | Italy | 7–6 | Netherlands | Australia | 8–5 | Russia |
| 2001 Details | Fukuoka, Japan | Italy | 7–3 | Hungary | Canada | 6–5 | United States |
| 2003 Details | Barcelona, Spain | United States | 8–6 | Italy | Russia | 9–7 | Canada |
| 2005 Details | Montreal, Canada | Hungary | 10–7 (OT) | United States | Canada | 8–3 | Russia |
| 2007 Details | Melbourne, Australia | United States | 6–5 | Australia | Russia | 9–8 | Hungary |
| 2009 Details | Rome, Italy | United States | 7–6 | Canada | Russia | 10–9 | Greece |
| 2011 Details | Shanghai, China | Greece | 9–8 | China | Russia | 8–7 | Italy |
| 2013 Details | Barcelona, Spain | Spain | 8–6 | Australia | Hungary | 10–8 | Russia |
| 2015 Details | Kazan, Russia | United States | 5–4 | Netherlands | Italy | 7–7 (5–3 pen.) | Australia |
| 2017 Details | Budapest, Hungary | United States | 13–6 | Spain | Russia | 11–9 | Canada |
| 2019 Details | Gwangju, South Korea | United States | 11–6 | Spain | Australia | 10–9 | Hungary |
| 2022 Details | Budapest, Hungary | United States | 9–7 | Hungary | Netherlands | 7–5 | Italy |
| 2023 Details | Fukuoka, Japan | Netherlands | 12–12 (5–4 pen.) | Spain | Italy | 16–14 | Australia |
| 2024 Details | Doha, Qatar | United States | 8–7 | Hungary | Spain | 10–9 | Greece |
| 2025 Details | Kallang, Singapore | | | | | | |
| 2027 Details | Budapest, Hungary | | | | | | |

### Confederation statistics
#### Best performances by tournament

This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation in each tournament.
* view

##### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
| Confederation | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Africa – CANA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16th | 15th | 15th | 16th | 16th | 14th | 13th | 12th | 14th |
| Americas – ASUA | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | 6th | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 6th | 5th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 5th | 1st |
| Asia – AASF | — | — | 12th | 12th | 8th | 11th | 15th | 13th | 11th | 2nd | 9th | 5th | 10th | 10th | 11th | 13th | 10th |
| Europe – LEN | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd |
| Oceania – OSA | 1st | 5th | 6th | 3rd | 5th | 7th | 6th | 2nd | 6th | 5th | 2nd | 4th | 8th | 3rd | 6th | 4th | 6th |
| Nations | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |

### Team statistics
#### Participating teams

Note: Results of qualification tournaments are not included.
* view

##### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
* – Hosts
* $^†$ – Defunct team
Africa – CANA (1 team) :
| Women's team | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| South Africa | | | | | | | | | 16th | 15th | 15th | 16th | 16th | 14th | 13th | 12th | 14th | 9 |
| Americas – ASUA (8 teams) |||||||||||||||||||
| Women's team | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| Argentina | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | 16th | | 2 |
| Brazil | | 8th | 11th | 10th | 10th | 13th | 13th | 10th | 13th | 14th | 14th | 10th | 14th | | 14th | WD | 15th | 14 |
| Canada | 4th | 2nd | 5th | 6th | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 6th | 2nd | 8th | 8th | 11th | 4th | 9th | 9th | 7th | 8th | 17 |
| Colombia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | | | 1 |
| Cuba | | | | | | | 9th | 15th | | 10th | | | | 15th | | | | 4 |
| Puerto Rico | | | | | | | | 16th | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| United States | 3rd | 3rd | 4th | 8th | 4th | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 6th | 5th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 5th | 1st | 17 |
| Venezuela | | | | | | 14th | 14th | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Asia – AASF (7 teams) |||||||||||||||||||
| Women's team | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| China | | | | | | | 16th | 14th | 11th | 2nd | 9th | 5th | 10th | 11th | WD | 13th | 10th | 10 |
| Japan | | | | | 11th | 11th | | | | | | 15th | 13th | 13th | WD | 14th | WD | 6 |
| Kazakhstan | Part of URS | Part of URS | 12th | 12th | 8th | 12th | | 13th | 14th | 13th | 11th | 12th | 15th | 10th | 11th | 15th | 12th | 14 |
| Singapore | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 1 |
| South Korea | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | | | | 1 |
| Thailand | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | | | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | Part of URS | Part of URS | | | | | 15th | | 15th | 16th | 16th | | | | | | | 4 |
| Europe – LEN (13 teams) |||||||||||||||||||
| Women's team | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| Belgium | 7th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| France | | 9th | 9th | | | 15th | | | | | | 14th | 11th | | 8th | 9th | 13th | 8 |
| Germany | FRG | 6th | 8th | | | 10th | 8th | 11th | 10th | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Great Britain | 9th | | | | | 16th | | | | | 13th | | | | | | 11th | 4 |
| Greece | | | | 5th | 7th | 9th | 5th | 8th | 4th | 1st | 6th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 7th | 8th | 4th | 14 |
| Hungary | 5th | 4th | 1st | 7th | 2nd | 5th | 1st | 4th | 7th | 9th | 3rd | 9th | 5th | 4th | 2nd | 6th | 2nd | 17 |
| Israel | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | | 1 |
| Italy | | | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 7th | 5th | 9th | 4th | 10th | 3rd | 6th | 6th | 4th | 3rd | 7th | 15 |
| Netherlands | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 9th | 6th | 10th | 9th | 5th | 7th | 7th | 2nd | 9th | 7th | 3rd | 1st | 5th | 17 |
| Norway | 8th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Russia | Part of URS | Part of URS | 7th | 4th | 6th | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 4th | 8th | 3rd | 5th | DQ | DQ | DQ | 12 |
| Spain | | | | 9th | | 8th | 11th | 7th | 8th | 11th | 1st | 7th | 2nd | 2nd | 5th | 2nd | 3rd | 13 |
| West Germany$^†$ | 6th | 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 | 1 |
| Oceania – OSA (2 teams) |||||||||||||||||||
| Women's team | 1986 | 1991 | 1994 | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Years |
| Australia | 1st | 5th | 6th | 3rd | 5th | 7th | 6th | 2nd | 6th | 5th | 2nd | 4th | 8th | 3rd | 6th | 4th | 6th | 17 |
| New Zealand | | 7th | 10th | 11th | 12th | | 12th | 12th | 12th | 12th | 12th | 13th | 12th | 12th | 10th | 11th | 9th | 15 |
| Total teams | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |

#### Finishes in the top four

The following table is pre-sorted by total finishes in the top four (in descending order), number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively.
* view

##### Legend

* $^*$ – Host team
| Rk | Women's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
| 1 | United States | 13 | 8 (2003, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024) | 1 (2005) | 2 (1986, 1991) | 2 (1994, 2001) | 1986 | 2024 |
| 2 | Hungary | 9 | 2 (1994, 2005) | 3 (2001, 2022$^*$, 2024) | 1 (2013) | 3 (1991, 2007, 2019) | 1991 | 2024 |
| 3 | Italy | 8 | 2 (1998, 2001) | 1 (2003) | 3 (1994$^*$, 2015, 2023) | 2 (2011, 2022) | 1994 | 2023 |
| 4 | Russia | 8 | | | 5 (2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017) | 3 (1998, 2005, 2013) | 1998 | 2017 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 7 | 2 (1991, 2023) | 4 (1986, 1994, 1998, 2015) | 1 (2022) | | 1986 | 2023 |
| 6 | Australia | 7 | 1 (1986) | 2 (2007$^*$, 2013) | 2 (1998$^*$, 2019) | 2 (2015, 2023) | 1986 | 2023 |
| 7 | Canada | 7 | | 2 (1991, 2009) | 2 (2001, 2005$^*$) | 3 (1986, 2003, 2017) | 1986 | 2017 |
| 8 | Spain | 5 | 1 (2013$^*$) | 3 (2017, 2019, 2023) | 1 (2024) | | 2013 | 2024 |
| 9 | Greece | 3 | 1 (2011) | | | 2 (2009, 2024) | 2009 | 2024 |
| 10 | China | 1 | | 1 (2011$^*$) | | | 2011 | 2011 |
| Rk | Women's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |

#### Medal table

The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively.
* view
| Rank | Women's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 8 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Hungary | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Italy | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 5 | Spain | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | Australia | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 7 | Greece | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Canada | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 | China | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Russia | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Totals (10 entries) | Totals (10 entries) | 17 | 17 | 17 | 51 |

#### Champions (results and squads)

The following table shows results of world champions in women's water polo by tournament.
* view

##### Legend

* 6 – Winning 6 matches during the tournament
* 4 – Drawing 4 matches during the tournament
* 2 – Losing 2 matches during the tournament
* 100.0% – Winning all matches during the tournament
* team – Winning streak (winning three or more world championships in a row)
* – Host team
* $^†$ – Defunct team

##### Abbreviation

* MP – Matches played
* W – Won
* D – Drawn
* L – Lost
* GF – Goals for
* GA – Goals against
* GD – Goals difference
* GF/MP – Goals for per match
* GA/MP – Goals against per match
* GD/MP – Goals difference per match
Results of champions by tournament :
| # | Women's tournament | Champion | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
| 1 | Madrid 1986 | Australia (1st title) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 83 | 36 | 47 | 11.857 | 5.143 | 6.714 |
| 2 | Perth 1991 | Netherlands (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 71 | 47 | 24 | 11.833 | 7.833 | 4.000 |
| 3 | Rome 1994 | Hungary (1st title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 55 | 38 | 17 | 7.857 | 5.429 | 2.429 |
| 4 | Perth 1998 | Italy (1st title) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 62.5% | 77 | 57 | 20 | 9.625 | 7.125 | 2.500 |
| 5 | Fukuoka 2001 | Italy (2nd title) | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 75.0% | 77 | 45 | 32 | 9.625 | 5.625 | 4.000 |
| 6 | Barcelona 2003 | United States (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 62 | 31 | 31 | 10.333 | 5.167 | 5.167 |
| 7 | Montreal 2005 | Hungary (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 64 | 35 | 29 | 10.667 | 5.833 | 4.833 |
| 8 | Melbourne 2007 | United States (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 56 | 38 | 18 | 9.333 | 6.333 | 3.000 |
| 9 | Rome 2009 | United States (3rd title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 77 | 53 | 24 | 11.000 | 7.571 | 3.429 |
| 10 | Shanghai 2011 | Greece (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 62 | 51 | 11 | 10.333 | 8.500 | 1.833 |
| 11 | Barcelona 2013 | Spain (1st title) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83.3% | 88 | 53 | 35 | 14.667 | 8.833 | 5.833 |
| 12 | Kazan 2015 | United States (4th title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 72 | 36 | 36 | 10.286 | 5.143 | 5.143 |
| 13 | Budapest 2017 | United States (5th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 92 | 37 | 55 | 15.333 | 6.167 | 9.167 |
| 14 | Gwangju 2019 | United States (6th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 93 | 26 | 67 | 15.500 | 4.333 | 11.167 |
| 15 | Budapest 2022 | United States (7th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 94 | 33 | 61 | 15.667 | 5.500 | 10.167 |
| 16 | Fukuoka 2023 | Netherlands (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 104 | 50 | 54 | 17.333 | 8.333 | 9.000 |
| 17 | Doha 2024 | United States (8th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 92 | 41 | 51 | 15.333 | 6.833 | 8.500 |
| # | Women's tournament | Total | 110 | 101 | 1 | 8 | 91.8% | 1319 | 707 | 612 | 11.991 | 6.427 | 5.564 |
| # | Women's tournament | Champion | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
Sources:
* Official Reports (FINA) (PDF): "World Championship" (p. 57);
* Todor66: "Women's Water Polo World Championship".
The following table shows women's teams that won all matches during the tournament.
* view
Winning all matches during the tournament :
| # | Year | Champion | MP | W | D | L | Win % |
| 1 | 1986 | Australia (1st title) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 2 | 1991 | Netherlands (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 3 | 2003 | United States (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 4 | 2005 | Hungary (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 5 | 2007 | United States (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 6 | 2011 | Greece (1st title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 7 | 2017 | United States (5th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 8 | 2019 | United States (6th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 9 | 2022 | United States (7th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 10 | 2023 | Netherlands (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 11 | 2024 | United States (8th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| # | Year | Champion | MP | W | D | L | Win % |
The following tables show records of goals for per match.
* view
Top 5 most goals for per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GF | GF/MP |
| 1 | 2023 | Netherlands (2nd title) | 6 | 104 | 17.333 |
| 2 | 2022 | United States (7th title) | 6 | 94 | 15.667 |
| 3 | 2019 | United States (6th title) | 6 | 93 | 15.500 |
| 4 | 2017 | United States (5th title) | 6 | 92 | 15.333 |
| 4 | 2024 | United States (8th title) | 6 | 92 | 15.333 |
Top 5 fewest goals for per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GF | GF/MP |
| 1 | 1994 | Hungary (1st title) | 7 | 55 | 7.857 |
| 2 | 2007 | United States (2nd title) | 6 | 56 | 9.333 |
| 3 | 1998 | Italy (1st title) | 8 | 77 | 9.625 |
| 3 | 2001 | Italy (2nd title) | 8 | 77 | 9.625 |
| 5 | 2015 | United States (4th title) | 7 | 72 | 10.286 |
Historical progression of records – goals for per match :
| Goals for per match | Achievement | Year | Champion | Date of winning gold | Duration of record |
| 11.857 | Set record | 1986 | Australia (1st title) | 22 August 1986 | 26 years, 345 days |
| 14.667 | Broke record | 2013 | Spain (1st title) | 2 August 2013 | 3 years, 360 days |
| 15.333 | Broke record | 2017 | United States (5th title) | 28 July 2017 | 1 year, 363 days |
| 15.500 | Broke record | 2019 | United States (6th title) | 26 July 2019 | 2 years, 341 days |
| 15.667 | Broke record | 2022 | United States (7th title) | 2 July 2022 | 1 year, 26 days |
| 17.333 | Broke record | 2023 | Netherlands (2nd title) | 28 July 2023 | 1 year, 229 days |
The following tables show records of goals against per match.
* view
Top 5 most goals against per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GA | GA/MP |
| 1 | 2013 | Spain (1st title) | 6 | 53 | 8.833 |
| 2 | 2011 | Greece (1st title) | 6 | 51 | 8.500 |
| 3 | 2023 | Netherlands (2nd title) | 6 | 50 | 8.333 |
| 4 | 1991 | Netherlands (1st title) | 6 | 47 | 7.833 |
| 5 | 2009 | United States (3rd title) | 7 | 53 | 7.571 |
Top 5 fewest goals against per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GA | GA/MP |
| 1 | 2019 | United States (6th title) | 6 | 26 | 4.333 |
| 2 | 1986 | Australia (1st title) | 7 | 36 | 5.143 |
| 2 | 2015 | United States (4th title) | 7 | 36 | 5.143 |
| 4 | 2003 | United States (1st title) | 6 | 31 | 5.167 |
| 5 | 1994 | Hungary (1st title) | 7 | 38 | 5.429 |
The following tables show records of goals difference per match.
* view
Top 5 most goals difference per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GD | GD/MP |
| 1 | 2019 | United States (6th title) | 6 | 67 | 11.167 |
| 2 | 2022 | United States (7th title) | 6 | 61 | 10.167 |
| 3 | 2017 | United States (5th title) | 6 | 55 | 9.167 |
| 4 | 2023 | Netherlands (2nd title) | 6 | 54 | 9.000 |
| 5 | 2024 | United States (8th title) | 6 | 51 | 8.500 |
Top 5 fewest goals difference per match :
| Rk | Year | Champion | MP | GD | GD/MP |
| 1 | 2011 | Greece (1st title) | 6 | 11 | 1.833 |
| 2 | 1994 | Hungary (1st title) | 7 | 17 | 2.429 |
| 3 | 1998 | Italy (1st title) | 8 | 20 | 2.500 |
| 4 | 2007 | United States (2nd title) | 6 | 18 | 3.000 |
| 5 | 2009 | United States (3rd title) | 7 | 24 | 3.429 |

### Player statistics

| (C) | Captain | Apps | Appearances | Ref | Reference | Rk | Rank |
| L/R | Handedness | Pos | Playing position | FP | Field player | GK | Goalkeeper |

#### Multiple gold medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the player (in ascending order), date of receiving the last gold medal (in ascending order), date of receiving the first gold medal (in ascending order), respectively.
Fourteen female athletes won three or more gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships. They were all members of the United States women's national water polo team. Rachel Fattal, Maddie Musselman and Maggie Steffens are the only athletes (men or women) to win five gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.
There are twenty six female athletes who won two gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.
* view

##### Legend

* – Hosts
Female athletes who won three or more gold medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Rachel Fattal | 1993 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | United States | FP | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | 11 years (19/30) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 1 | Maddie Musselman | 1998 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | United States | FP | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | 8 years (17/25) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 1 | Maggie Steffens | 1993 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | United States | FP | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 12 years (18/30) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 4 | Kaleigh Gilchrist | 1992 | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | United States | FP | 2015 | Does not appear | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | 8 years (23/31) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Ashleigh Johnson | 1994 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | United States | GK | 2015 | Does not appear | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | 9 years (20/29) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Amanda Longan | 1997 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | United States | GK | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 7 years (20/27) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 7 | Heather Petri | 1978 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | United States | FP | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | Does not appear | Does not appear | 10 years (23/33) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 7 | Brenda Villa | 1980 | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | United States | FP | 1998 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | Does not appear | 13 years (17/31) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 9 | Kami Craig | 1987 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | United States | FP | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 8 years (19/28) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | Makenzie Fischer | 1997 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | United States | FP | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 4 years (18/22) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | Kiley Neushul | 1993 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | United States | FP | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 6 years (20/26) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | Jordan Raney | 1996 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | United States | FP | 2017 | Does not appear | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 6 years (21/27) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | Melissa Seidemann | 1990 | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | United States | FP | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 8 years (21/29) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | Alys Williams | 1994 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | United States | FP | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 4 years (21/25) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| Ref ||||

#### Multiple medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by total number of medals (in descending order), number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), name of the player (in ascending order), date of receiving the last medal (in ascending order), date of receiving the first medal (in ascending order), respectively.
Six female athletes won five medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships.
* view

##### Legend

* – Hosts
Female athletes who won four medals in water polo at the World Aquatics Championships :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Rachel Fattal | 1993 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | United States | FP | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 11 years (19/30) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 1 | Maddie Musselman | 1998 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | United States | FP | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 8 years (17/25) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 1 | Maggie Steffens | 1993 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | United States | FP | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 12 years (18/30) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 4 | Anni Espar | 1993 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Spain | FP | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | Does not appear | 13 years (18/31) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
| 4 | Laura Ester | 1990 | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | Spain | GK | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Does not appear | Does not appear | 15 years (19/34) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
| 4 | Pili Peña | 1986 | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | Spain | FP | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 18 years (19/37) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| Ref ||||

## Combined medal table

The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the country (in ascending order), respectively.
Italy, Hungary and Spain are the only three countries to win both the men's and women's water polo tournaments at the World Aquatics Championships.

### Legend

* $^†$ – Former country
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 8 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 2 | Hungary | 6 | 10 | 2 | 18 |
| 3 | Italy | 6 | 5 | 4 | 15 |
| 4 | Spain | 4 | 7 | 4 | 15 |
| 5 | Croatia | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 7 | Serbia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Soviet Union$^†$ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Yugoslavia$^†$ | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 10 | Australia | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Greece | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 12 | Yugoslavia$^†$ / Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 13 | Canada | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 14 | China | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Montenegro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Russia | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 17 | West Germany$^†$ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (17 entries) | Totals (17 entries) | 38 | 38 | 38 | 114 |