# National team appearances in the Ice Hockey World Championships

This article lists the performances of each of the 62 national teams which have made at least one appearance in the Ice Hockey World Championships, an annual international men's ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), including the Olympic ice hockey tournament was also considered the World Championship for that year, and was held before the first Ice Hockey World Championship as an individual event in 1930. With the exception between 1940 and 1946, when no championships were held during World War II, nor were held during the Olympic years 1980, 1984, and 1988. In 2020, the IIHF announced that all World Championship tournaments have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions-related issues.
Sweden has appeared in 82 out of 87 tournaments to date, with Canada, having participated in 77, and Finland in 70. The United States has appeared in 75 top division tournaments and five in lower divisions. Although the U.S. went winless at the 1969 World Championship, finishing in last place in Group A (now Top Division) after losing all ten games. This marks the first time in men's worlds history, the United States was relegated to Group B (now Division I) until the 1970 World Championship, the U.S. bounced back and finished in first place in Group B (7th overall) after winning all seven games and was promoted back to Group A.
Czechia is the current World Champion, defeating Switzerland in the gold medal game at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. Since the IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992, Switzerland has appeared in the World Championship final three times, but they lost every game, including twice to Sweden. The United States has never reached a World Championship gold medal game, having lost in the semi-final round twelve times since the IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992; including six semi-finals appearances in ten tournaments from 2013 through 2023, and three consecutive in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

## Debut of teams

A total of 62 national teams have participated for at least one IIHF World Championship through the 2024 event, and two debuted in 2023. Each successive IIHF World Championships has had at least one team appearing for the first time, in alphabetical order per year. Teams in parentheses are considered successor teams by the IIHF.
Notes:
* Between 1920 and 1968, the Olympic ice hockey tournament was also considered the World Championship for that year.
* Each of the national teams have made their debut that participate in the lower division of the World Championship.
Key:
* † – The Summer Olympic Games Ice Hockey Tournament held that year counted as the World Championship
* * – The Winter Olympic Games Ice Hockey Tournament held that year counted as the World Championship
| Year | Debutants | Debutants | Debutants | Successor teams |
| Year | Teams | Number | CT | Successor teams |
| 1920 † | Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Sweden, Switzerland, United States | 7 | 7 | |
| 1924 * | Great Britain | 1 | 8 | |
| 1928 * | Austria, Germany, Hungary, Poland | 4 | 12 | |
| 1930 | Italy, Japan | 2 | 14 | |
| 1931 | Romania | 1 | 15 | |
| 1932 * | None | 0 | 15 | |
| 1933 | Latvia | 1 | 16 | |
| 1934 | None | 0 | 16 | |
| 1935 | Netherlands | 1 | 17 | |
| 1936 * | None | 0 | 17 | |
| 1937 | Norway | 1 | 18 | |
| 1938 | Lithuania | 1 | 19 | |
| 1939 | Finland, Yugoslavia | 2 | 21 | |
| 1940 | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II |
| 1941 | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II |
| 1942 | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II |
| 1943 | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II |
| 1944 | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II |
| 1945 | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II |
| 1946 | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II | No tournaments were held during World War II |
| 1947 | None | 0 | 21 | |
| 1948 * | None | 0 | 21 | |
| 1949 | Denmark | 1 | 22 | |
| 1950 | None | 0 | 22 | |
| 1951 | None | 0 | 22 | Yugoslavia (Group B) |
| 1952 * | None | 0 | 22 | |
| 1953 | None | 0 | 22 | West Germany |
| 1954 | Soviet Union | 1 | 23 | |
| 1955 | None | 0 | 23 | |
| 1956 * | East Germany (Group B) | 1 | 24 | |
| 1957 | None | 0 | 24 | |
| 1958 | None | 0 | 24 | |
| 1959 | None | 0 | 24 | |
| 1960 * | Australia | 1 | 25 | |
| 1961 | South Africa (Group C) | 1 | 26 | |
| 1962 | None | 0 | 26 | |
| 1963 | Bulgaria (Group C) | 1 | 27 | |
| 1964 * | None | 0 | 27 | |
| 1965 | None | 0 | 27 | |
| 1966 | None | 0 | 27 | |
| 1967 | None | 0 | 27 | |
| 1968 * | None | 0 | 27 | |
| 1969 | None | 0 | 27 | |
| 1970 | None | 0 | 27 | |
| 1971 | None | 0 | 27 | |
| 1972 | China (Group C) | 1 | 28 | |
| 1973 | None | 0 | 28 | |
| 1974 | North Korea (Group C) | 1 | 29 | |
| 1975 | None | 0 | 29 | |
| 1976 | None | 0 | 29 | |
| 1977 | Spain (Group C) | 1 | 30 | |
| 1978 | None | 0 | 30 | |
| 1979 | South Korea (Group C) | 1 | 31 | |
| 1980 | No tournaments were held during the 1980 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1980 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1980 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1980 Winter Olympic Games |
| 1981 | None | 0 | 31 | |
| 1982 | None | 0 | 31 | |
| 1983 | None | 0 | 31 | |
| 1984 | No tournaments were held during the 1984 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1984 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1984 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1984 Winter Olympic Games |
| 1985 | None | 0 | 31 | |
| 1986 | None | 0 | 31 | |
| 1987 | Hong Kong (Group D), New Zealand (Group D) | 2 | 33 | |
| 1988 | No tournaments were held during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games | No tournaments were held during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games |
| 1989 | None | 0 | 33 | |
| 1990 | None | 0 | 33 | |
| 1991 | None | 0 | 33 | Germany |
| 1992 | Greece (Group C2), Israel (Group C2), Luxembourg (Group C2), Turkey (Group C2) | 4 | 37 | Russia |
| 1993 | Belarus (Group C), Croatia (Group C), Estonia (Group C), Kazakhstan (Group C), Slovenia (Group C), Ukraine (Group C) | 6 | 43 | Czechia |
| 1994 | Slovakia (Group C1) | 1 | 44 | |
| 1995 | None | 0 | 44 | FR Yugoslavia (Group C) |
| 1996 | None | 0 | 44 | |
| 1997 | None | 0 | 44 | |
| 1998 | None | 0 | 44 | |
| 1999 | Iceland (Group D) | 1 | 45 | |
| 2000 | Mexico (Group D) | 1 | 46 | |
| 2001 | None | 0 | 46 | |
| 2002 | None | 0 | 46 | |
| 2003 | None | 0 | 46 | Serbia and Montenegro (Division II A) |
| 2004 | Armenia (Division III), Ireland (Division III) | 2 | 48 | |
| 2005 | None | 0 | 48 | |
| 2006 | None | 0 | 48 | |
| 2007 | Mongolia (Division III) | 1 | 49 | Serbia (Division II A) |
| 2008 | Bosnia & Herzegovina (Division III Q) | 1 | 50 | |
| 2009 | None | 0 | 50 | |
| 2010 | United Arab Emirates (Division III) | 1 | 51 | |
| 2011 | None | 0 | 51 | |
| 2012 | None | 0 | 51 | |
| 2013 | Georgia (Division III Q) | 1 | 52 | |
| 2014 | None | 0 | 52 | |
| 2015 | None | 0 | 52 | |
| 2016 | None | 0 | 52 | |
| 2017 | Chinese Taipei (Division III) | 1 | 53 | |
| 2018 | Kuwait (Division III Q), Turkmenistan (Division III Q) | 2 | 55 | |
| 2019 | Kyrgyzstan (Division III Q), Thailand (Division III Q) | 2 | 57 | |
| 2020 | Tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | All lower division tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | All lower division tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | All lower division tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | All lower division tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 | Iran (Division IV), Malaysia (Division IV), Singapore (Division IV) | 3 | 60 | |
| 2023 | Indonesia (Division IV), Philippines (Division IV) | 2 | 62 | |
| 2024 | None | 0 | 62 | |
| 2025 | Uzbekistan (Division IV) | 1 | 63 | |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| 2027 | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| 2028 | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| 2029 | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| 2030 | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
With 62 national teams to have participated through the 2023 event, the IIHF World Championships is the third most participated men's world championship, behind the FIFA World Cup (80), and the FIBA Basketball World Cup (65), and ahead of the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship (60), the IHF World Men's Handball Championship (58), the Rugby World Cup (26), the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup (25), the World Baseball Classic (23), and the Cricket World Cup (20).

## Ranking of teams by number of appearances

| Team | Number of appearances | Debut | Most recent | Best result |
| Sweden | 82 | 1920 | 2024 | Champions (11 times) |
| Canada | 77 | 1920 | 2024 | Champions (28 times) |
| United States | 75 (5 in lower divisions) | 1920 | 2024 | Champions (1933, 1960) |
| Finland | 70 | 1939 | 2024 | Champions (1995, 2011, 2019, 2022) |
| Switzerland | 56 (25 in lower divisions) | 1920 | 2024 | Runners-up (1935, 2013, 2018, 2024) |
| Norway | 39 (31 in lower divisions) | 1937 | 2024 | 4th place (1951) |
| Austria | 35 (42 in lower divisions) | 1928 | 2024 | 3rd place (1931, 1947) |
| France | 35 (34 in lower divisions) | 1920 | 2024 | 6th place (1920, 1924, 1928, 1930) |
| Italy | 32 (38 in lower divisions) | 1930 | 2024 | 4th place (1953) |
| Latvia | 32 (4 in lower divisions) | 1933 | 2024 | 3rd place (2023) |
| Poland | 30 (45 in lower divisions) | 1928 | 2024 | 4th place (1931, 1932) |
| Slovakia | 28 (2 in lower divisions) | 1994 | 2024 | Champions (2002) |
| Denmark | 22 (34 in lower divisions) | 1949 | 2024 | 8th place (2010, 2016) |
| Belarus | 20 (8 in lower divisions) | 1993 | 2021 | 6th place (2006) |
| Great Britain | 19 (42 in lower divisions) | 1924 | 2024 | Champions (1936) |
| Hungary | 13 (54 in lower divisions) | 1928 | 2024 | 5th place (1937) |
| Belgium | 12 (46 in lower divisions) | 1920 | 2024 | 7th place (1920, 1924, 1950) |
| Kazakhstan | 12 (19 in lower divisions) | 1993 | 2024 | 10th place (2021) |
| Japan | 11 (47 in lower divisions) | 1930 | 2024 | 6th place (1930) |
| Slovenia | 10 (20 in lower divisions) | 1993 | 2024 | 13th place (2002, 2005) |
| Ukraine | 9 (21 in lower divisions) | 1993 | 2024 | 9th place (2002) |
| Romania | 8 (57 in lower divisions) | 1931 | 2024 | 7th place (1947) |
| Netherlands | 4 (57 in lower divisions) | 1935 | 2024 | 8th place (1950, 1981) |
| Australia | 1 (38* in lower divisions) | 1960 | 2024 | 9th place (1960) |
| South Korea | 1 (37 in lower divisions) | 1979 | 2024 | 16th place (2018) |
| Lithuania | 1 (30 in lower divisions) | 1938 | 2024 | 10th place (1938) |
| Bulgaria | 0 (53 in lower divisions) | 1963 | 2024 | 14th place (8th in Group B) (1970) |
| China | 0 (45 in lower divisions) | 1972 | 2024 | 15th place (6th in Group B) (1982) |
| Spain | 0 (40 in lower divisions) | 1977 | 2024 | 22nd place (5th in Group C) (1977) |
| Israel | 0 (31 in lower divisions) | 1992 | 2024 | 28th place (6th in Division I A) (2006) |
| South Africa | 0 (31$^¶$ in lower divisions) | 1961 | 2024 | 19th place (3rd in Group C) (1966) |
| Croatia | 0 (30 in lower divisions) | 1993 | 2024 | 24th place (4th in Division I A) (2001) |
| Estonia | 0 (30 in lower divisions) | 1993 | 2024 | 19th place (3rd in Group B) (1998) |
| New Zealand | 0 (28$^¶$ in lower divisions) | 1987 | 2024 | 27th place (3rd in Group D) (1987) |
| Turkey | 0 (28$^¶$ in lower divisions) | 1992 | 2024 | 32nd place (6th in Group C2) (1992) |
| North Korea | 0 (28 in lower divisions) | 1974 | 2024 | 21st place (5th in Group C) (1990) |
| Iceland | 0 (23 in lower divisions) | 1999 | 2024 | 30th place (2nd in Division II A) (2014) |
| Luxembourg | 0 (23 in lower divisions) | 1992 | 2024 | 31st place (5th in Group C2) (1992) |
| Mexico | 0 (23 in lower divisions) | 2000 | 2024 | 35th place (4th in Division II B) (2008) |
| Greece | 0 (12** in lower divisions) | 1992 | 2013 | 29th place (3rd in Group C2) (1992) |
| Georgia | 0 (10** in lower divisions) | 2013 | 2024 | 30th place (2nd in Division II A) (2023) |
| Ireland | 0 (10 in lower divisions) | 2004 | 2013 | 40th place (6th in Division II B) (2008) |
| United Arab Emirates | 0 (10** in lower divisions) | 2010 | 2024 | 31st place (3rd in Division II A) (2024) |
| Hong Kong | 0 (9 in lower divisions) | 1987 | 2024 | 28th place (4th in Group D) (1987) |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0 (8 in lower divisions) | 2008 | 2024 | 44th place (3rd in Division III B) (2022) |
| Mongolia | 0 (7** in lower divisions) | 2007 | 2024 | 45th place (5th in Division III) (2007) |
| Chinese Taipei | 0 (6$^⸿$ in lower divisions) | 2017 | 2024 | 39th place (5th in Division II B) (2024) |
| Armenia | 0 (5 in lower divisions) | 2004 | 2010 | 43rd place (3rd in Division III) (2006) |
| Kuwait | 0 (5 in lower divisions) | 2018 | 2024 | 49th place (5th in Division IV) (2022) |
| Turkmenistan | 0 (5 in lower divisions) | 2018 | 2024 | 39th place (3rd in Division III A) (2022) |
| Kyrgyzstan | 0 (4 in lower divisions) | 2019 | 2024 | 42nd place (2nd in Division III A) (2024) |
| Thailand | 0 (4 in lower divisions) | 2019 | 2024 | 41st place (1st in Division III A) (2024) |
| Iran | 0 (3 in lower divisions) | 2022 | 2024 | 46th place (2nd in Division IV) (2022) |
| Malaysia | 0 (3 in lower divisions) | 2022 | 2024 | 48th place (4th in Division IV) (2022) |
| Singapore | 0 (3 in lower divisions) | 2022 | 2024 | 47th place (3rd in Division IV) (2022) |
| Indonesia | 0 (2 in lower divisions) | 2023 | 2024 | 55th place (3rd in Division IV) (2024) |
| Philippines | 0 (2 in lower divisions) | 2023 | 2024 | 50th place (4th in Division III B) (2024) |

### Breakdown of successor teams

| Team | Number of appearances | Debut | Most recent | Best result |
| Czechia (1993–) | 31 | 1993 | 2024 | Champions (7 times) |
| Czechoslovakia (1920–1992) | 52 | 1920 | 1992 | Champions (6 times) |
| Team | Number of appearances | Debut | Most recent | Best result |
| Germany (1928–1939), (1952 Winter Olympics), (1991–) | 41 (3 in lower divisions) | 1928 | 2024 | Runners-up (1930, 2023) |
| United Team of Germany (1956–1964) | 3 | 1956 | 1964 | 6th place (1956, 1960) |
| West Germany (1951–1990) | 24 (9* in lower divisions) | 1953 | 1990 | Runners-up (1953) |
| East Germany (1951–1990) | 14 (16** in lower divisions) | 1956 | 1990 | 5th place (1957, 1965, 1966, 1970) |
| Team | Number of appearances | Debut | Most recent | Best result |
| ROC (2021) | 1 | 2021 | 2021 | 5th place (2021) |
| Russia (1992–2019) | 28 | 1992 | 2019 | Champions (5 times) |
| Soviet Union (1954–1991) | 34 | 1954 | 1991 | Champions (22 times) |
| Team | Number of appearances | Debut | Most recent | Best result |
| Serbia (2007–) | 0 (16 in lower divisions) | 2007 | 2024 | 26th place (5th in Division I B) (2022) |
| Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006) | 0 (4 in lower divisions) | 2003 | 2006 | 31st place (2nd in Division II Group A) (2003) |
| FR Yugoslavia (1995–2002) | 0 (7 in lower divisions) | 1995 | 2002 | 28th place (8th in Group C) (1995) |
| Yugoslavia (1939), (1951–1991) | 1 (30 in lower divisions) | 1939 | 1991 | 13th place (1939) |
Also Switzerland "B" team played at the 1953 Ice Hockey World Championships in the Pool B, West Germany "B" team played at the 1955 Ice Hockey World Championships in the Pool B, Czechoslovakia "B" team played at the 1959 Ice Hockey World Championships in the Pool B, and Yugoslavia "B" team played at the 1966 Ice Hockey World Championships in the Pool C, but its results were not official and not counted in the final tables.

## Results of host nations

| Year | Host nation(s) | Finish |
| 1920 † | Belgium | 7th place |
| 1924 * | France | 6th place |
| 1928 * | Switzerland | 3rd place |
| 1930 | Germany | Runners-up |
| 1930 | Austria | 4th place |
| 1930 | France | 6th place (tie) |
| 1931 | Poland | 4th place |
| 1932 * | United States | Runners-up |
| 1933 | Czechoslovakia | 3rd place |
| 1934 | Italy | 9th place |
| 1935 | Switzerland | Runners-up |
| 1936 * | Germany | 5th place |
| 1937 | Great Britain | Runners-up |
| 1938 | Czechoslovakia | 3rd place |
| 1939 | Switzerland | 3rd place |
| 1947 | Czechoslovakia | Champions |
| 1948 * | Switzerland | 3rd place |
| 1949 | Sweden | 4th place |
| 1950 | Great Britain | 4th place |
| 1951 | France | 9th place (2nd in Group B) |
| 1952 * | Norway | 9th place |
| 1953 | Switzerland | 3rd place |
| 1954 | Sweden | 3rd place |
| 1955 | West Germany | 6th place |
| 1956 * | Italy | 7th place |
| 1957 | Soviet Union | Runners-up |
| 1958 | Norway | 8th place |
| 1959 | Czechoslovakia | 3rd place |
| 1960 * | United States | Champions |
| 1961 | Switzerland | 11th place (3rd in Group B) |
| 1962 | United States | 3rd place |
| 1963 | Sweden | Runners-up |
| 1964 * | Austria | 13th place (5th in Group B) |
| 1965 | Finland | 7th place |
| 1966 | Yugoslavia | 11th place (3rd in Group B) |
| 1967 | Austria | 14th place (6th in Group B) |
| 1968 * | France | 14th place (6th in Group B) |
| 1969 | Sweden | Runners-up |
| 1970 | Sweden | Runners-up |
| 1971 | Switzerland | 7th place (1st in Group B) (promoted to 1972 Group A) |
| 1972 | Czechoslovakia | Champions |
| 1973 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1974 | Finland | 4th place |
| 1975 | West Germany | 8th place (2nd in Group B) (promoted to 1976 Group A) |
| Year | Host nation(s) | Finish | Last round |
| 1976 | Poland | 7th place (relegated to 1977 Group B) | Consolation round |
| 1977 | Austria | 17th place (9th in Group B) (relegated to 1978 Group C) | Lower division |
| 1978 | Czechoslovakia | Runners-up | Final round |
| 1979 | Soviet Union | Champions | Final round |
| 1981 | Sweden | Runners-up | Final round |
| 1982 | Finland | 5th place | First round |
| 1983 | West Germany | 5th place | Consolation round |
| 1985 | Czechoslovakia | Champions | Final round |
| 1986 | Soviet Union | Champions | Final round |
| 1987 | Austria | 11th place (3rd in Group B) | Lower division |
| 1989 | Sweden | 4th place | Final round |
| 1990 | Switzerland | 9th place (1st in Group B) (promoted to 1991 Group A) | Lower division |
| 1991 | Finland | 5th place | Consolation round |
| 1992 | Czechoslovakia | 3rd place | Final round |
| 1993 | Germany | 5th place | Final round |
| 1994 | Italy | 6th place | Final round |
| 1995 | Sweden | Runners-up | Final round |
| 1996 | Austria | 12th place (relegated to 1997 Group B) | Consolation round |
| 1997 | Finland | 5th place | Second round |
| 1998 | Switzerland | 4th place | Final round |
| 1999 | Norway | 12th place | Consolation round |
| 2000 | Russia | 10th place | Preliminary round |
| 2001 | Germany | 8th place | Playoff round |
| 2002 | Sweden | 3rd place | Playoff round |
| 2003 | Finland | 8th place | Playoff round |
| 2004 | Czechia | 5th place | Playoff round |
| 2005 | Austria | 16th place (relegated to 2006 Division I B) | Relegation round |
| 2006 | Latvia | 10th place | Preliminary round |
| 2007 | Russia | 3rd place | Playoff round |
| 2008 | Canada | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2009 | Switzerland | 9th place | Preliminary round |
| 2010 | Germany | 4th place | Playoff round |
| 2011 | Slovakia | 10th place | Preliminary round |
| 2012 | Finland | 4th place | Playoff round |
| 2012 | Sweden | 6th place | Playoff round |
| 2013 | Sweden | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2013 | Finland | 4th place | Playoff round |
| 2014 | Belarus | 7th place | Playoff round |
| 2015 | Czechia | 4th place | Playoff round |
| 2016 | Russia | 3rd place | Playoff round |
| 2017 | Germany | 8th place | Playoff round |
| 2017 | France | 9th place | Preliminary round |
| 2018 | Denmark | 10th place | Preliminary round |
| 2019 | Slovakia | 9th place | Preliminary round |
| 2021 | Latvia | 11th place | Preliminary round |
| 2022 | Finland | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2023 | Finland | 7th place | Playoff round |
| 2023 | Latvia | 3rd place | Playoff round |
| 2024 | Czechia | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2025 | Denmark | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Sweden | TBD | TBD |
| 2026 | Switzerland | TBD | TBD |
| 2027 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2028 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2029 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2030 | TBD | TBD | TBD |

## Results of defending champions

| Year | Defending champions | Finish |
| 1924 * | Canada | Champions |
| 1928 * | Canada | Champions |
| 1930 | Canada | Champions |
| 1931 | Canada | Champions |
| 1932 * | Canada | Champions |
| 1933 | Canada | Runners-up |
| 1934 | United States | Runners-up |
| 1935 | Canada | Champions |
| 1936 * | Canada | Runners-up |
| 1937 | Great Britain | Runners-up |
| 1938 | Canada | Champions |
| 1939 | Canada | Champions |
| 1947 | Canada | Did not participate |
| 1948 * | Czechoslovakia | Runners-up |
| 1949 | Canada | Runners-up |
| 1950 | Czechoslovakia | Did not participate |
| 1951 | Canada | Champions |
| 1952 * | Canada | Champions |
| 1953 | Canada | Did not participate |
| 1954 | Sweden | 3rd place |
| 1955 | Soviet Union | Runners-up |
| 1956 * | Canada | 3rd place |
| 1957 | Soviet Union | Runners-up |
| 1958 | Sweden | 3rd place |
| 1959 | Canada | Champions |
| 1960 * | Canada | Runners-up |
| 1961 | United States | 6th place |
| 1962 | Canada | Runners-up |
| 1963 | Sweden | Runners-up |
| 1964 * | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1965 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1966 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1967 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1968 * | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1969 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1970 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1971 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1972 | Soviet Union | Runners-up |
| 1973 | Czechoslovakia | 3rd place |
| 1974 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| 1975 | Soviet Union | Champions |
| Year | Defending champions | Finish | Last round |
| 1976 | Soviet Union | Runners-up | Final round |
| 1977 | Czechoslovakia | Champions | Final round |
| 1978 | Czechoslovakia | Runners-up | Final round |
| 1979 | Soviet Union | Champions | Final round |
| 1981 | Soviet Union | Champions | Final round |
| 1982 | Soviet Union | Champions | Final round |
| 1983 | Soviet Union | Champions | Final round |
| 1985 | Soviet Union | 3rd place | Final round |
| 1986 | Czechoslovakia | 5th place | Consolation round |
| 1987 | Soviet Union | Runners-up | Final round |
| 1989 | Sweden | 4th place | Final round |
| 1990 | Soviet Union | Champions | Final round |
| 1991 | Soviet Union | 3rd place | Final round |
| 1992 | Sweden | Champions | Final round |
| 1993 | Sweden | Runners-up | Final round |
| 1994 | Russia | 5th place | Final round |
| 1995 | Canada | 3rd place | Final round |
| 1996 | Finland | 5th place | Final round |
| 1997 | Czechia | 3rd place | Final round |
| 1998 | Canada | 6th place | Final round |
| 1999 | Sweden | 3rd place | Final round |
| 2000 | Czechia | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2001 | Czechia | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2002 | Czechia | 5th place | Playoff round |
| 2003 | Slovakia | 3rd place | Playoff round |
| 2004 | Canada | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2005 | Canada | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2006 | Czechia | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2007 | Sweden | 4th place | Playoff round |
| 2008 | Canada | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2009 | Russia | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2010 | Russia | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2011 | Czechia | 3rd place | Playoff round |
| 2012 | Finland | 4th place | Playoff round |
| 2013 | Russia | 6th place | Playoff round |
| 2014 | Sweden | 3rd place | Playoff round |
| 2015 | Russia | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2016 | Canada | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2017 | Canada | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2018 | Sweden | Champions | Playoff round |
| 2019 | Sweden | 5th place | Playoff round |
| 2021 | Finland | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2022 | Canada | Runners-up | Playoff round |
| 2023 | Finland | 7th place | Playoff round |
| 2024 | Canada | 4th place | Playoff round |

## Medal table

Countries in italics no longer compete at the World Championships.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Canada | 28 | 16 | 9 | 53 |
| 2 | Soviet Union / Russia | 27 | 10 | 10 | 47 |
| 3 | Czechoslovakia / Czechia | 13 | 13 | 22 | 48 |
| 4 | Sweden | 11 | 19 | 18 | 48 |
| 5 | Finland | 4 | 9 | 3 | 16 |
| 6 | United States | 2 | 9 | 9 | 20 |
| 7 | Great Britain | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | Slovakia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| 10 | West Germany / Germany | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Austria | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 | Latvia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (15 nations) | Totals (15 nations) | 87 | 87 | 87 | 261 |

## Droughts

This section is a list of droughts associated with the participation of men's national ice hockey teams in the IIHF World Championships, including final appearance and world champion droughts up to and including the 2023 IIHF World Championship. Those teams which have not participated in any World Championship are listed by the year that they entered the IIHF tournaments.
Note:
* Does not include droughts between 1940 and 1946, when no championships were held during World War II, nor were held during the Olympic years 1980, 1984, and 1988, and 2020 championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Longest active final droughts

Does not include two teams that made the 2024 Final: Czechia and Switzerland.
| Team | Last appearance in the final | Subsequent semifinal losses | Drought |
| United States | Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) | 12 (1994, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) | 33 years |
| Latvia | Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) | 1 (2023) | 33 years |
| Slovakia | 2012 | 0 | 12 years |
| ROC | 2015 | 3 (2016, 2017, 2019) | 9 years |
| Sweden | 2018 | 1 (2024) | 6 years |
| Finland | 2022 | 0 | 2 years |
| Canada | 2023 | 1 (2024) | 1 year |
| Germany | 2023 | 0 | 1 year |

### Longest all-time final droughts

Active final drought is highlighted
| Team | Prev. appearance in the final | Intervening semifinal losses | Next appearance in the final | Drought |
| United States | Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) | 12 (1994, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) | active | 33 years |
| Latvia | Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) | 1 (2023) | active | 33 years |
| Germany | Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) | 2 (2010, 2021) | 2023 | 31 years |
| Switzerland | Never (IIHF introduced a playoff system in 1992) | 2 (1992, 1998) | 2013 | 21 years |
| Czechia | 2010 | 5 (2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2022) | 2024 | 13 years |
| Slovakia | 2012 | 0 | active | 12 years |
| ROC | 2015 | 0 | active | 9 years |
| Sweden | 2018 | 1 (2024) | active | 6 years |
| Canada | 2009 | 0 | 2015 | 5 years |
| Canada | 1997 | 0 | 2003 | 5 years |
| Finland | 2001 | 1 (2002) | 2006 | 4 years |

### Longest active champion droughts

Does not include the most-recent World Champion: Czechia.
| Team | Last Champion | Subsequent Final losses | Drought |
| Switzerland | Never (debut in 1920) | 3 (2013, 2018, 2024) | 105 years |
| Germany | Never (debut in 1928) | 1 (2023) | 97 years |
| Great Britain | 1936 | Never | 88 years |
| United States | 1960 | Never | 64 years |
| Slovakia | 2002 | 1 (2012) | 22 years |
| ROC | 2014 | 1 (2015) | 10 years |
| Sweden | 2018 | 0 | 6 years |
| Finland | 2022 | 0 | 2 years |
| Canada | 2023 | 0 | 1 year |

### Longest all-time champion droughts

Active champion drought is highlighted
| Team | Prev. champion | Intervening final losses | Next champion | Drought |
| Switzerland | Never (debut in 1920) | 3 (2013, 2018, 2024) | active | 104 years |
| Germany | Never (debut in 1928) | 1 (2023) | active | 96 years |
| Great Britain | 1936 | Never | active | 87 years |
| United States | 1960 | Never | active | 63 years |
| Canada | 1961 | Never | 1994 | 32 years |
| Sweden | 1962 | Never | 1987 | 24 years |
| Slovakia | 2002 | 1 (2012) | active | 21 years |
| Finland | 1995 | 4 (1998, 1999, 2001, 2007) | 2011 | 15 years |
| ROC | 1993 | 1 (2002) | 2008 | 14 years |
| Czechia | 2010 | 0 | 2024 | 13 years |

### Longest active appearance droughts

Does not include teams that have not made their first appearance. Does not include droughts when all lower division tournaments were cancelled for two years (2020–2021) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Team | Last appearance | WC Missed |
| Armenia | 2010 (Division III B) | 13 |
| Greece | 2013 (Division III) | 10 |
| Ireland | 2013 (Division III) | 10 |
| Belarus | 2021 | 3 |
| ROC | 2021 | 3 |

### Longest all-time appearance droughts

Only includes droughts begun after a team's first appearance and until the team ceased to exist. Updated to include participation for the 2024 World Championships.
Active appearance drought is highlighted
| Team | Prev. appearance | Next appearance | WC Missed |
| Lithuania | 1938 | 1993 (Group C) | 44 |
| Latvia | 1939 | 1993 (Group C) | 43 |
| Hong Kong | 1987 (Group D) | 2014 (Division III) | 25 |
| South Africa | 1966 (Group C) | 1992 (Group C2) | 22 |
| Japan | 1936 | 1957 | 13 |
| Armenia | 2010 (Division III B) | active | 13 |
| Denmark | 1949 | 1962 (Group B) | 12 |
| Hungary | 1939 | 1959 (Group B) | 12 |
| Australia | 1962 (Group B) | 1974 (Group C) | 11 |
| Romania | 1947 | 1959 (Group B) | 11 |
| Greece | 2013 (Division III) | active | 10 |
| Ireland | 2013 (Division III) | active | 10 |
| Mongolia | 2013 (Division III Q) | 2023 (Division IV) | 8 |
| North Korea | 1993 (Group C) | 2002 (Division II Q) | 8 |
| Luxembourg | 1992 (Group C2) | 2000 (Group D) | 7 |
| Canada | 1969 | 1977 | 7 |
| Great Britain | 1953 (Group B) | 1961 (Group B) | 7 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2008 (Division III Q) | 2015 (Division III) | 6 |
| New Zealand | 1989 (Group D) | 1995 (Group C2) | 5 |
| Netherlands | 1955 (Group B) | 1961 (Group C) | 5 |
| Germany | 1939 | 1952 | 5 |
| France | 1937 | 1950 | 5 |
| Yugoslavia | 1939 | 1951 (Group B) | 4 |
| China | 1974 (Group C) | 1978 (Group C) | 3 |
| Bulgaria | 1963 (Group C) | 1967 (Group C) | 3 |
| Norway | 1938 | 1949 | 3 |
| Sweden | 1931 | 1935 | 3 |
| Belarus | 2021 | suspended | 3 |
| ROC | 2021 | suspended | 3 |
| United Arab Emirates | 2010 (Division III A) | 2013 (Division III) | 2 |
| South Korea | 1982 (Group C) | 1986 (Group C) | 2 |
| Italy | 1961 (Group B) | 1964 (Group B) | 2 |
| Italy | 1956 | 1959 | 2 |
| Italy | 1936 | 1939 | 2 |
| Italy | 1930 | 1933 | 2 |
| Poland | 1952 | 1955 | 2 |
| United States | 1952 | 1955 | 2 |
| United States | 1924 | 1931 | 2 |
| Belgium | 1952 (Group B) | 1955 (Group B) | 2 |
| Czechoslovakia | 1949 | 1952 | 2 |
| Finland | 1939 | 1949 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 1930 | 1933 | 2 |
| Turkey | 2000 (Group D) | 2002 (Division II A) | 1 |
| Turkey | 1994 (Group C2) | 1996 (Group D) | 1 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 1998 (Group C) | 2000 (Group C) | 1 |
| Spain | 1986 (Group C) | 1989 (Group D) | 1 |
| Spain | 1979 (Group C) | 1982 (Group C) | 1 |
| Soviet Union | 1961 | 1963 | 1 |
| East Germany | 1961 | 1963 | 1 |
| East Germany | 1957 | 1959 | 1 |
| Austria | 1959 (Group B) | 1961 (Group B) | 1 |
| Austria | 1957 | 1959 (Group B) | 1 |
| Austria | 1953 (Group B) | 1955 (Group B) | 1 |
| Austria | 1949 | 1951 (Group B) | 1 |
| Austria | 1938 | 1947 | 1 |
| Austria | 1936 | 1938 | 1 |

## Teams with no IIHF World Championship appearances

21 out of 82 current IIHF members have not entered in any World Championship tournaments.
| Nation | IIHF Member since | Notes |
| Algeria* | 2019 | Participated in the Arab Cup in 2008 and the IIHF Development Cup in 2022. |
| Andorra* | 1995 | Hosted the 1997 IIHF World Championship Group D tournament in Canillo. Participated in the IIHF Development Cup since 2017. |
| Argentina* | 1998 | Participated in the now-defunct Pan American Tournament from 2014 to 2017, the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2018 and the IIHF Development Cup since 2023. |
| Azerbaijan | 1992 | There is no national team and Azerbaijan has not registered at least one player, nor entered in any IIHF tournaments due to lack of ice rinks and ice hockey activities in the country. |
| Brazil* | 1984 | Participated in the now-defunct Pan American Tournament from 2014 to 2017 and the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2018. |
| Chile** | 1999 | Participated in the now-defunct Pan American Tournament in 2017. Currently an IIHF affiliate member and therefore only to participate in the now-defunct IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship. Their last appearance was 2015. Due to the cancellation of the 2019 IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship, the IIHF can no longer govern inline hockey. |
| Colombia* | 2019 | Participated in the now-defunct Pan American Tournament from 2014 to 2017, the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2018 and the IIHF Development Cup since 2022. |
| India | 1989 | Only participated in the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia from 2009 to 2018. The national team has not been active since 2018. |
| Jamaica* | 2012 | Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation to join the IIHF on 18 May 2012. Participated in the Amerigol LATAM Cup in 2019. |
| Lebanon* | 2019 | Played four exhibition games against other national teams in 2017. Participated in the Arab Cup in 2023. |
| Liechtenstein* | 2001 | Played two exhibition games, lost twice to Luxembourg in 2003 and 2007. Participated in the IIHF Development Cup since 2022. |
| Macau* | 2005 | Participated in the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia from 2008 to 2019 and the Asian Winter Games in 2007 and 2017. The national team has not been active since 2019. |
| Morocco* | 2010 | Participated in the Arab Cup in 2008 and the IIHF Development Cup in 2017. The national team has not been active since 2017. |
| Nepal* | 2016 | Unknown |
| North Macedonia* | 2001 | Played two exhibition games against Bosnia & Herzegovina over the weekend. They won the first game 8–7 and lost the second game 7–6 in overtime a day later. Participated in the IIHF Development Cup in 2018. |
| Oman* | 2014 | Participated in the GCC Gulf Championship from 2010 to 2016, the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia from 2015 to 2019 and the Arab Cup in 2023. |
| Portugal* | 1999 | Participated in the IIHF Development Cup since 2017. |
| Puerto Rico* | 2022 | Participated in the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2019. |
| Qatar* | 2012 | Participated in the GCC Gulf Championship in 2014 and 2016, the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia Division I in 2016 and the Asian Winter Games in 2017. The national team has not been active since 2017. |
| Tunisia* | 2021 | Participated in the Arab Cup in 2023. |
| Uzbekistan* | 2019 | Represented the Uzbek SSR at the Winter Spartakiad from 1978 to 1986. Uzbekistan has not been active since the USSR being dissolved in 1991 and therefore has not played an official game against other national team so far. |