# World Judo Championships

The World Judo Championships are the highest level of international judo competition, next to the quadrennial judo events at the Summer Olympic Games. The world championships are held by the International Judo Federation annually, except the calendar years of the Summer Olympics. Qualified judoka compete in their respective categories as representatives of their home countries. Team fixtures have also been held since 1994. The men's championships first took place in 1956, though the format and periodicity of the competition have changed over time. The last edition of the World Judo Championships (2024) was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

## History

The first edition of the world championships took place in Tokyo, Japan in 1956. There were no weight classes at the time and Japanese judoka Shokichi Natsui became the first world champion in history, defeating fellow countryman Yoshihiko Yoshimatsu in the final. The second world championship was also held in Tokyo two years later, with the Japanese winning the top two spots in the competition for the second time. In 1961, the championship was held outside Japan for the first time, and Dutch judoka Anton Geesink defeated the prior world champion, Koji Sone, in Paris, France, to become the first non-Japanese world champion.
The 1965 World Judo Championships were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and weight classes were implemented for the first time with the addition of the −68 kg, −80 kg, and +80 kg categories. Judo had become an Olympic sport at the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo initially for men, and a permanent sport after a brief absence at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Despite this progressive enlargement, it took until 1980 for women to participate in the world championships. The first women's world championships were held in New York City in 1980, and were held in alternating years as the men's championships until the 1987 World Judo Championships in Essen, where the two competitions were merged into one world championship. The mixed championships have been held biannually since 1987. On the Commonwealth Games side, Judo was added to the Commonwealth Games programme, initially as an optional sport for the first three editions in 1990, 2002 and 2014 but it is now a core sport from 2022 onwards. The women’s judo was included at the 1992 Summer Olympics. In 2005, the world championships made its debut on the African continent in Cairo, Egypt. In the International Judo Federation meeting held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007 (during the 2007 World Judo Championships), it was decided that France would host the world championships for the fifth time in 2011.

## Weight classes

There are currently 16 tournaments in the world championships, with 8 weight classes for each gender.
Men :
| 1956–1963 | 1965 | 1967–1975 | 1979–1997 | 1999–present |
| Open category (no weight limits) | Open category (no weight limits) | Open category (no weight limits) | Open category (no weight limits) | Open category (no weight limits) |
| Open category (no weight limits) | Heavyweight +80 kg | Heavyweight +93 kg | Heavyweight +95 kg | Heavyweight +100 kg |
| Open category (no weight limits) | Heavyweight +80 kg | Half heavyweight -93 kg | Half heavyweight -95 kg | Half heavyweight -100 kg |
| Open category (no weight limits) | Middleweight -80 kg | Middleweight -80 kg | Middleweight -86 kg | Middleweight -90 kg |
| Open category (no weight limits) | Middleweight -80 kg | Half middleweight -70 kg | Half middleweight -78 kg | Half middleweight -81 kg |
| Open category (no weight limits) | Lightweight -68 kg | Lightweight -63 kg | Lightweight -71 kg | Lightweight -73 kg |
| Open category (no weight limits) | Lightweight -68 kg | Lightweight -63 kg | Half lightweight -65 kg | Half lightweight -66 kg |
| Extra lightweight -60 kg ||
Women :
| 1980–1997 | 1999–present |
| Open category (no weight limits) ||
| Heavyweight +72 kg | Heavyweight +78 kg |
| Half heavyweight -72 kg | Half heavyweight -78 kg |
| Middleweight -66 kg | Middleweight -70 kg |
| Half middleweight -61 kg | Half middleweight -63 kg |
| Lightweight -56 kg | Lightweight -57 kg |
| Half lightweight -52 kg ||
| Extra lightweight -48 kg ||

## Competitions by year

The world championships have been held in every continent except Oceania and Antarctica.

### Men's competitions

| Number | Year | Dates | City and host country | Venue | # Countries | # Athletes |
| 1 | 1956 | 3 May | Tokyo, Japan | Kuramae Kokugikan | 21 | 31 |
| 2 | 1958 | 30 November | Tokyo, Japan | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium | 18 | 39 |
| 3 | 1961 | 2 December | Paris, France | Stade Pierre de Coubertin | 25 | 57 |
| 4 | 1965 | 14–17 October | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Maracanãzinho | 42 | 150 |
| 5 | 1967 | 9–11 August | Salt Lake City, United States | University of Utah | 25 | 115 |
| 6 | 1969 | 23–25 October | Mexico City, Mexico | Palacio de los Deportes | 39 | 187 |
| 7 | 1971 | 2–4 September | Ludwigshafen, West Germany | Friedrich-Ebert-Halle | 52 | 310 |
| 8 | 1973 | 22–24 June | Lausanne, Switzerland | Palais de Beaulieu | 50 | 288 |
| 9 | 1975 | 23–25 October | Vienna, Austria | Wiener Stadthalle | 46 | 274 |
| | 1977 | 19–24 September | Barcelona, Spain | Palau dels Esports | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| 10 | 1979 | 6–9 December | Paris, France | Stade Pierre de Coubertin | 54 | 273 |
| 11 | 1981 | 3–6 September | Maastricht, Netherlands | Euro Hall | 51 | 255 |
| 12 | 1983 | 13–16 October | Moscow, Soviet Union | Lenin Palace of Sports | 44 | 226 |
| 13 | 1985 | 26–29 September | Seoul, South Korea | Jamsil Arena | 39 | 189 |

### Women's competitions

| Number | Year | Dates | City and host country | Venue | # Countries | # Athletes |
| 1 | 1980 | 29–30 November | New York, United States | Madison Square Garden | 27 | 149 |
| 2 | 1982 | 4–5 December | Paris, France | Stade Pierre de Coubertin | 35 | 174 |
| 3 | 1984 | 10–11 November | Vienna, Austria | Wiener Stadthalle | 32 | 183 |
| 4 | 1986 | 24–26 October | Maastricht, Netherlands | Geusselt Sports Hall | 35 | 162 |

### Mixed competitions

| Number M/W | Year | Dates | City and host country | Venue | # Countries | # Athletes |
| 14/5 | 1987 | 19–22 November | Essen, West Germany | Grugahalle | 63 | 456 |
| 15/6 | 1989 | 10–15 October | Belgrade, Yugoslavia | Pionir Hall | 63 | 355 |
| 16/7 | 1991 | 25–28 July | Barcelona, Spain | Palau Blaugrana | 64 | 465 |
| 17/8 | 1993 | 30 September – 3 October | Hamilton, Canada | Copps Coliseum | 79 | 508 |
| 18/9 | 1995 | 28 September – 1 October | Chiba, Japan | Makuhari Messe | 100 | 627 |
| 19/10 | 1997 | 9–12 October | Paris, France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy | 91 | 585 |
| 20/11 | 1999 | 7–10 October | Birmingham, United Kingdom | National Indoor Arena | 91 | 619 |
| 21/12 | 2001 | 26–29 July | Munich, Germany | Olympiahalle | 89 | 586 |
| 22/13 | 2003 | 11–14 September | Osaka, Japan | Osaka-jō Hall | 100 | 631 |
| 23/14 | 2005 | 8–11 September | Cairo, Egypt | Cairo Stadium Indoor Halls Complex | 93 | 579 |
| 24/15 | 2007 | 13–16 September | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | HSBC Arena | 139 | 743 |
| 25/16 | 2009 | 27–30 August | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy | 197 | 538 |
| 26/17 | 2010 | 9–13 September | Tokyo, Japan | Yoyogi National Gymnasium | 112 | 847 |
| 27/18 | 2011 | 23–28 August | Paris, France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy | 131 | 864 |
| 28/19 | 2013 | 26 August – 1 September | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Maracanãzinho | 123 | 673 |
| 29/20 | 2014 | 25–31 August | Chelyabinsk, Russia | Traktor Arena | 110 | 637 |
| 30/21 | 2015 | 24–30 August | Astana, Kazakhstan | Alau Ice Palace | 120 | 723 |
| 31/22 | 2017 | 28 August – 3 September | Budapest, Hungary | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena | 126 | 728 |
| 32/23 | 2018 | 20–27 September | Baku, Azerbaijan | National Gymnastics Arena | 124 | 755 |
| 33/24 | 2019 | 25 August – 1 September | Tokyo, Japan | Nippon Budokan | 143 | 828 |
| 34/25 | 2021 | 6–13 June | Budapest, Hungary | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena | 118 | 661 |
| 35/26 | 2022 | 6–13 October | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Humo Ice Dome | 82 | 571 |
| 36/27 | 2023 | 7–14 May | Doha, Qatar | Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena | 99 | 657 |
| 37/28 | 2024 | 19–24 May | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Mubadala Arena | 107 | 658 |
| 38/29 | 2025 | 13–20 June | Budapest, Hungary | | | |
| 39/30 | 2026 | | Baku, Azerbaijan | | | |
| 40/31 | 2027 | | Kazakhstan | | | |
* ↑ The 1977 Championships were canceled due to the refusal of the host country officials to allow the Taiwanese national team to compete under the national flag of the Republic of China, thereby denying them visas. Taiwan appealed the decision of the Spanish officials to the International Judo Federation, who considered the position of the Taiwanese side to be fair and decided to cancel the 1977 Championships due to an unresolved political conflict.

### Openweight competitions

| Number | Year | Dates | City and host country | Venue | # Countries | # Athletes |
| 1 | 2008 | 20–21 December | Levallois-Perret, France | Marcel Cerdan Palace of Sports | 18 | 51 |
| — | 2009 | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| 2 | 2011 | 29–30 October | Tyumen, Russia | Judo Centre | 22 | 49 |
| 3 | 2017 | 11–12 November | Marrakech, Morocco | Palais des Congrès | 28 | 58 |

### Medal tables
#### Men's medal count – individual events (1956–2024)

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Japan | 105 | 58 | 65 | 228 |
| 2 | China | 103 | 58 | 65 | 221 |
| 3 | France | 24 | 17 | 28 | 69 |
| 4 | Soviet Union | 11 | 12 | 33 | 56 |
| 5 | Georgia | 10 | 13 | 24 | 47 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 8 | 11 | 19 | 38 |
| 7 | Russia | 7 | 14 | 27 | 48 |
| 8 | Germany | 5 | 6 | 12 | 23 |
| 9 | Uzbekistan | 5 | 4 | 10 | 19 |
| 10 | Brazil | 4 | 7 | 16 | 27 |
| 11 | Poland | 4 | 2 | 14 | 20 |
| 12 | Azerbaijan | 3 | 6 | 14 | 23 |
| 13 | Cuba | 3 | 6 | 9 | 18 |
| 14 | Great Britain | 3 | 4 | 13 | 20 |
| 15 | East Germany | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
| 16 | Mongolia | 3 | 3 | 11 | 17 |
| 17 | Spain | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| 18 | Greece | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 19 | Iran | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| 20 | Hungary | 2 | 5 | 11 | 18 |
| 21 | Kazakhstan | 2 | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| 22 | United States | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 |
| 23 | Czech Republic | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| – | Individual Neutral Athletes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 24 | Portugal | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 25 | Belgium | 1 | 8 | 11 | 20 |
| 26 | Ukraine | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 |
| 27 | Israel | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 28 | Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 29 | Serbia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 30 | Austria | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 31 | Russian Judo Federation | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 32 | Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 32 | Yugoslavia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 34 | Italy | 0 | 7 | 9 | 16 |
| 35 | West Germany | 0 | 5 | 13 | 18 |
| 36 | Canada | 0 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| 37 | Turkey | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 38 | North Korea | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 39 | Estonia | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 40 | Belarus | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 41 | Egypt | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 42 | Czechoslovakia | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 43 | Moldova | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 43 | Romania | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 45 | Bulgaria | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 45 | Sweden | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 47 | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 48 | Algeria | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 48 | Montenegro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 48 | Slovenia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 51 | South Korea | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 52 | Finland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 52 | Tajikistan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 52 | United Arab Emirates | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 55 | Armenia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 55 | Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 55 | Latvia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 55 | Lithuania | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 253 | 251 | 504 | 1008 |

#### Women's medal count – individual events (1980–2024)

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | China | 223 | 50 | 54 | 327 |
| 2 | Japan | 135 | 21 | 55 | 211 |
| 3 | France | 20 | 13 | 14 | 47 |
| 4 | Cuba | 16 | 16 | 29 | 61 |
| 5 | Great Britain | 13 | 15 | 20 | 48 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 8 | 11 | 36 | 55 |
| 7 | Belgium | 8 | 9 | 9 | 26 |
| 8 | Italy | 6 | 5 | 12 | 23 |
| 9 | South Korea | 6 | 1 | 19 | 26 |
| 10 | Brazil | 5 | 6 | 17 | 28 |
| 11 | North Korea | 5 | 2 | 4 | 11 |
| 12 | Germany | 4 | 7 | 16 | 27 |
| 13 | Canada | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 14 | Mongolia | 3 | 1 | 10 | 14 |
| 15 | Austria | 3 | 1 | 7 | 11 |
| 16 | Colombia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 17 | Spain | 2 | 8 | 9 | 19 |
| 18 | West Germany | 2 | 5 | 12 | 19 |
| 19 | United States | 2 | 5 | 10 | 17 |
| 20 | Poland | 2 | 2 | 11 | 15 |
| 21 | Israel | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 22 | Argentina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 23 | Ukraine | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 24 | Croatia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 25 | Slovenia | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 |
| 26 | Kosovo | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 27 | International Judo Federation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Venezuela | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 29 | Portugal | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 30 | Russia | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| 31 | Romania | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 32 | Australia | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 33 | Hungary | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 34 | Uzbekistan | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 35 | Turkey | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 36 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 36 | Norway | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 36 | Puerto Rico | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 36 | Sweden | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 40 | Soviet Union | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 41 | Kazakhstan | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 42 | Azerbaijan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 43 | Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 43 | Tunisia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 45 | Algeria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Belarus | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Bulgaria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Czech Republic | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Greece | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Serbia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 45 | Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| – | Individual Neutral Athletes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 215 | 215 | 430 | 860 |

#### Total medal count – individual events (1956–2024)

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Japan | 162 | 108 | 119 | 389 |
| 2 | France | 59 | 38 | 83 | 180 |
| 3 | South Korea | 31 | 9 | 64 | 104 |
| 4 | China | 20 | 13 | 17 | 50 |
| 5 | Cuba | 19 | 22 | 38 | 79 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 16 | 22 | 55 | 93 |
| 7 | Great Britain | 16 | 19 | 33 | 68 |
| 8 | Soviet Union | 11 | 13 | 33 | 57 |
| 9 | Georgia | 10 | 13 | 24 | 47 |
| 10 | Belgium | 9 | 17 | 20 | 46 |
| 11 | Brazil | 9 | 13 | 33 | 55 |
| 12 | Germany | 9 | 13 | 28 | 50 |
| 13 | Russia | 7 | 17 | 37 | 61 |
| 14 | Italy | 6 | 12 | 21 | 39 |
| 15 | Poland | 6 | 4 | 25 | 35 |
| 16 | Mongolia | 6 | 4 | 21 | 31 |
| 17 | Spain | 5 | 10 | 14 | 29 |
| 18 | Uzbekistan | 5 | 6 | 10 | 21 |
| 19 | North Korea | 5 | 5 | 8 | 18 |
| 20 | United States | 4 | 8 | 17 | 29 |
| 21 | Austria | 4 | 2 | 11 | 17 |
| 22 | Azerbaijan | 3 | 6 | 17 | 26 |
| 23 | Canada | 3 | 6 | 11 | 20 |
| 24 | Ukraine | 3 | 4 | 11 | 18 |
| 25 | Israel | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 |
| 26 | East Germany | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
| 27 | Greece | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 28 | Iran | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| 29 | Colombia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 30 | West Germany | 2 | 10 | 25 | 37 |
| 31 | Hungary | 2 | 7 | 17 | 26 |
| 32 | Kazakhstan | 2 | 5 | 8 | 15 |
| 33 | Portugal | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
| 34 | Argentina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 35 | Czech Republic | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| – | Individual Neutral Athletes | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 36 | Croatia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 37 | Slovenia | 1 | 6 | 8 | 15 |
| 38 | Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 39 | Serbia | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 40 | Russian Judo Federation | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 41 | Kosovo | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 42 | Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 43 | Yugoslavia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 44 | International Judo Federation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 44 | Venezuela | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 46 | Romania | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
| 46 | Turkey | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
| 48 | Australia | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 49 | Estonia | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 50 | Belarus | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| 51 | Egypt | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 51 | Sweden | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 53 | Czechoslovakia | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 54 | Moldova | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 55 | Bulgaria | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 56 | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 57 | Algeria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57 | Norway | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57 | Puerto Rico | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 61 | Montenegro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 62 | Finland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 62 | Tajikistan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 62 | United Arab Emirates | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 65 | Armenia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Latvia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Lithuania | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 468 | 466 | 934 | 1868 |

## World Team Judo Championships

The first World Team Judo Championships was held in 1994 as separate event and only for men's national teams. The first World Team Judo Championships for women's national team was held as separate event in 1997. Since 1998, World Team Judo Championships for men's and women's national teams have been held at the same time and venue. It were held every four years until 2006 (although promotional team events were held during 2003 and 2005 World Judo Championships) and every year from 2007 to 2015 (except 2009). Since 2011 men's and women's team competitions became the part of World Judo Championships. Starting from 2017, it were merged into mixed team competition. Judokas who participates in the individual events at the World Championships often do not participate in the team competition.
| Year | Competitions | Competitions | Location | Men | Men | Men | Women | Women | Women |
| Year | Competitions | Competitions | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1994 | M | – | Paris, France | France | Germany | Japan Russia | no women's competition | no women's competition | no women's competition |
| 1997 | – | W | Osaka, Japan | no men's competition | no men's competition | no men's competition | Cuba | South Korea | France Japan |
| 1998 | M | W | Minsk, Belarus | Japan | Brazil | France Russia | Cuba | France | Belgium China |
| 2002 | M | W | Basel, Switzerland | Japan | Georgia | France Italy | Japan | Cuba | China Italy |
| 2003 | M | W | Osaka, Japan | France | Japan | Iran Russia | Japan | China | Cuba France |
| 2005 | M | W | Cairo, Egypt | South Korea | Japan | Brazil Georgia | France | South Korea | Algeria Japan |
| 2006 | M | W | Paris, France | Georgia | Russia | France South Korea | France | Cuba | China Japan |
| 2007 | M | W | Beijing, China | Japan | Brazil | China South Korea | China | Cuba | Japan Mongolia |
| 2008 | M | W | Tokyo, Japan | Georgia | Uzbekistan | Brazil Russia | Japan | France | China Germany |
| 2010 | M | W | Antalya, Turkey | Japan | Brazil | Russia South Korea | Netherlands | Germany | Japan Turkey |
| 2011 | M | W | Paris, France | France | Brazil | Japan South Korea | France | Japan | Cuba Germany |
| 2012 | M | W | Salvador, Brazil | Russia | Japan | Brazil Georgia | Japan | China | Brazil Cuba |
| 2013 | M | W | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Georgia | Russia | Germany Japan | Japan | Brazil | Cuba France |
| 2014 | M | W | Chelyabinsk, Russia | Japan | Russia | Georgia Germany | France | Mongolia | Germany Japan |
| 2015 | M | W | Astana, Kazakhstan | Japan | South Korea | Georgia Mongolia | Japan | Poland | Germany Russia |

### World Team Judo Championships — Mixed team

| Year | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2017 | Budapest, Hungary | Japan | Brazil | France South Korea |
| 2018 | Baku, Azerbaijan | Japan | France | Korea Russia |
| 2019 | Tokyo, Japan | Japan | France | Brazil Russia |
| 2021 | Budapest, Hungary | Japan | France | Brazil Uzbekistan |
| 2022 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Japan | France | Germany Israel |
| 2023 | Doha, Qatar | Japan | France | Georgia Netherlands |
| 2024 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Japan | France | Georgia Italy |

### Medal tables

The results of promotional team events which were held during 2003 and 2005 World Judo Championships are not included into overall statistics.

## All-time medal count

List of World Judo Championships medalists
Updated after the 2024 World Judo Championships.
This table include all medals in the individual and team competitions won at the World Judo Championships as well as at the separate World Team Judo Championships and separate World Judo Open Championships.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Japan | 180 | 110 | 127 | 417 |
| 2 | France | 64 | 46 | 89 | 199 |
| 3 | South Korea | 31 | 11 | 69 | 111 |
| 4 | Cuba | 21 | 25 | 41 | 87 |
| 5 | China | 21 | 14 | 22 | 57 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 17 | 22 | 56 | 95 |
| 7 | Great Britain | 16 | 19 | 33 | 68 |
| 8 | Georgia | 13 | 14 | 29 | 56 |
| 9 | Soviet Union | 11 | 13 | 33 | 57 |
| 10 | Brazil | 9 | 19 | 38 | 66 |
| 11 | Belgium | 9 | 17 | 21 | 47 |
| 12 | Germany | 9 | 15 | 35 | 59 |
| 13 | Russia | 8 | 20 | 44 | 72 |
| 14 | Italy | 6 | 12 | 24 | 42 |
| 15 | Poland | 6 | 5 | 25 | 36 |
| 16 | Mongolia | 6 | 5 | 23 | 34 |
| 17 | Spain | 5 | 10 | 14 | 29 |
| 18 | Uzbekistan | 5 | 7 | 11 | 23 |
| 19 | North Korea | 5 | 5 | 8 | 18 |
| 20 | United States | 4 | 8 | 17 | 29 |
| 21 | Austria | 4 | 2 | 11 | 17 |
| 22 | Azerbaijan | 3 | 6 | 17 | 26 |
| 23 | Canada | 3 | 6 | 11 | 20 |
| 24 | Ukraine | 3 | 4 | 11 | 18 |
| 25 | Israel | 3 | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| 26 | East Germany | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
| 27 | Greece | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 28 | Iran | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| 29 | Colombia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 30 | West Germany | 2 | 10 | 25 | 37 |
| 31 | Hungary | 2 | 7 | 17 | 26 |
| 32 | Kazakhstan | 2 | 5 | 8 | 15 |
| 33 | Portugal | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
| 34 | Argentina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 35 | Czech Republic | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| – | Individual Neutral Athletes | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 36 | Croatia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 37 | Slovenia | 1 | 6 | 8 | 15 |
| 38 | Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 39 | Serbia | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 40 | Russian Judo Federation | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 41 | Kosovo | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 42 | Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 43 | Yugoslavia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 44 | International Judo Federation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 44 | Venezuela | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 46 | Turkey | 0 | 4 | 10 | 14 |
| 47 | Romania | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
| 48 | Australia | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 49 | Estonia | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 50 | Belarus | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| 51 | Egypt | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 51 | Sweden | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 53 | Czechoslovakia | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 54 | Moldova | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 55 | Bulgaria | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 56 | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 57 | Algeria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57 | Norway | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 57 | Puerto Rico | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 61 | Montenegro | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 62 | Finland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 62 | Tajikistan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 62 | United Arab Emirates | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 65 | Armenia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Korea | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Latvia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Lithuania | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 65 | Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (71 entries) | Totals (71 entries) | 499 | 497 | 996 | 1,992 |

## Multiple gold medalists

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

### Men
#### Individual events

| Rank | Judoka | Country | Weights | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Teddy Riner | France | +100 kg / Open | 2007 | 2023 | 11 | 1 | – | 12 |
| 2 | Naoya Ogawa | Japan | +95 kg / Open | 1987 | 1995 | 4 | – | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | Hifumi Abe | Japan | −66 kg | 2017 | 2023 | 4 | – | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Naohisa Takatō | Japan | −60 kg | 2013 | 2022 | 4 | – | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | David Douillet | France | +95 kg / Open | 1993 | 1997 | 4 | – | – | 4 |
| 5 | Shōzō Fujii | Japan | −80 kg / −78 kg | 1971 | 1979 | 4 | – | – | 4 |
| 5 | Yasuhiro Yamashita | Japan | +95 kg / Open | 1979 | 1983 | 4 | – | – | 4 |
| 8 | Ilias Iliadis | Greece | −90 kg | 2005 | 2014 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 9 | Alexander Mikhaylin | Russia | −100 kg / +100 kg / Open | 1999 | 2011 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Tato Grigalashvili | Georgia | −81 kg | 2021 | 2024 | 3 | 1 | – | 4 |

#### All events

| Rank | Judoka | Country | Events | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Teddy Riner | France | +100 kg / Open / Team | 2007 | 2023 | 12 | 1 | # 1 # | # 14 # |
| 2 | Soichi Hashimoto | Japan | −73 kg / Team | 2017 | 2023 | *## 7 *## | 2 | 2 | *## 11 *## |
| 3 | Shōhei Ōno | Japan | −73 kg / Team | 2013 | 2019 | * 6 * | – | 1 | * 7 * |
| 4 | Masashi Ebinuma | Japan | −66 kg / Team | 2011 | 2015 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Riki Nakaya | Japan | −73 kg / Team | 2011 | 2017 | ** 5 ** | 1 | * 1 * | *** 7 *** |
| 6 | David Douillet | France | +95 kg / Open / Team | 1993 | 1997 | * 5 * | – | – | * 5 * |
| 7 | Alexander Mikhaylin | Russia | −100 kg / +100 kg / Open / Team | 1998 | 2013 | 4 | * 3 * | 5 | * 12 * |
| 8 | Naoya Ogawa | Japan | +95 kg / Open | 1987 | 1995 | 4 | – | 3 | 7 |
| 9 | Takanori Nagase | Japan | −81 kg / Team | 2014 | 2023 | # 4 # | – | 2 | # 6 # |
| 10 | Hifumi Abe | Japan | −66 kg | 2017 | 2023 | 4 | – | 1 | 5 |
| 10 | Naohisa Takatō | Japan | −60 kg | 2013 | 2022 | 4 | – | 1 | 5 |
# including one medal of the World Team Championships won as reserve * including one medal of the World Team Championships won for participation in the qualifying only ** including two medals of the World Team Championships won for participation in the qualifying only *## including one medal of the World Team Championships won for participation in the qualifying only and two won as reserve *** including three medals of the World Team Championships won for participation in the qualifying only

### Women
#### Individual events

| Rank | Judoka | Country | Weights | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Ryōko Tani (Tamura) | Japan | −48 kg | 1991 | 2007 | 7 | – | 1 | 8 |
| 1 | Tong Wen | China | +78 kg / Open | 2001 | 2011 | 7 | – | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Ingrid Berghmans | Belgium | +72 kg / −72 kg / Open | 1980 | 1989 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| 4 | Clarisse Agbegnenou | France | −63 kg | 2013 | 2024 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | Gao Fenglian | China | +72 kg / Open | 1984 | 1989 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Kye Sun-hui | North Korea | −52 kg / −57 kg | 1997 | 2007 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Noriko Anno | Japan | +72 kg / −72 kg / −78 kg | 1993 | 2003 | 4 | 1 | – | 5 |
| 7 | Karen Briggs | Great Britain | −48 kg | 1982 | 1991 | 4 | 1 | – | 5 |
| 9 | Uta Abe | Japan | −52 kg | 2018 | 2023 | 4 | – | – | 4 |
| 10 | Driulis González | Cuba | −56 kg / −57 kg / −63 kg | 1993 | 2007 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |

#### All events

| Rank | Judoka | Country | Events | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Clarisse Agbegnenou | France | −63 kg / Team | 2011 | 2024 | # 8 # | * 3 * | * 3 * | **# 14 **# |
| 2 | Tong Wen | China | +78 kg / Open / Team | 2001 | 2011 | 8 | – | 2 | 10 |
| 3 | Ryōko Tani (Tamura) | Japan | −48 kg | 1991 | 2007 | 7 | – | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | Ingrid Berghmans | Belgium | +72 kg / −72 kg / Open | 1980 | 1989 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| 5 | Momo Tamaoki | Japan | −57 kg / Team | 2018 | 2024 | ****# 6 ****# | 1 | 1 | ****# 8 ****# |
| 6 | Chizuru Arai | Japan | −70 kg / Team | 2015 | 2019 | # 6 # | – | – | # 6 # |
| 6 | Akira Sone | Japan | +78 kg / Team | 2017 | 2023 | **## 6 **## | – | – | **## 6 **## |
| 8 | Driulis González | Cuba | −56 kg / −57 kg / −63 kg / Team | 1993 | 2007 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| 9 | Misato Nakamura | Japan | −52 kg / Team | 2006 | 2015 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 10 | Gévrise Émane | France | −70 kg / −63 kg / Team | 2005 | 2015 | * 5 * | 1 | 2 | * 8 * |
# including one medal of the World Team Championships won as reserve * including one medal of the World Team Championships won for participation in the qualifying only **# including two medals of the World Team Championships won for participation in the qualifying only and one won as reserve **## including two medals of the World Team Championships won for participation in the qualifying only and two won as reserve ****# including four medals of the World Team Championships won for participation in the qualifying only and one won as reserve

## Records

| Category | Men | Women |
| Youngest world champion | Teddy Riner : 18 years and 159 days (in 2007) | Daria Bilodid : 17 years and 345 days (in 2018) |
| Oldest world champion | Teddy Riner : 34 years and 36 days (in 2023) | Driulis González : 33 years and 358 days (in 2007) |

## Video footage

* World Championships 2013 in Rio de Janeiro
* World Championships 2012 in Salvador
* World Championships 2011 in Paris
* World Championships 2010 in Tokyo
* World Championships 2009 in Rotterdam
* World Championships 2007 in Rio de Janeiro
* World Championships 2005 in Cairo
* World Championships 2003 in Osaka
* World Championships 2001 in Munich
* World Championships 1999 in Birmingham
* World Championships 1997 in Paris
* World Championships 1995 in Chiba
* World Championships 1993 in Hamilton
* World Championships 1991 in Barcelona
* World Championships 1989 in Belgrade
* World Championships 1987 in Essen
* World Championships 1985 in Seoul
* World Championships 1983 in Moscow
* World Championships 1981 in Maastricht
* World Championships 1980 in New York
* World Championships 1979 in Paris
* World Championships 1961 in Paris
* World Championships 1956 in Tokyo