# IHF Women's U20 Handball World Championship

The IHF Women's U20 Handball World Championship (or the IHF Women's Junior World Championship) is the official competition for women's national handball teams under age 20, has been organized by the International Handball Federation since 1977. It takes place every two years in even years.

## Tournaments

| Year | Host Country | Gold medal game | Gold medal game | Gold medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game |
| Year | Host Country | Gold | Score | Silver | Bronze | Score | Fourth place |
| 1977 Details | Romania | Yugoslavia | 16–13 OT | Soviet Union | Romania | 16–15 3OT | East Germany |
| 1979 Details | Yugoslavia | Soviet Union | No playoffs | East Germany | Yugoslavia | No playoffs | Hungary |
| 1981 Details | Canada | Soviet Union | No playoffs | Yugoslavia | West Germany | No playoffs | South Korea |
| 1983 Details | France | Soviet Union | 22–17 | East Germany | South Korea | 26–23 | Yugoslavia |
| 1985 Details | South Korea | Soviet Union | 27–24 | South Korea | Poland | 30–29 2OT | East Germany |
| 1987 Details | Denmark | Soviet Union | 24–15 | Denmark | East Germany | 27–23 | South Korea |
| 1989 Details | Nigeria | Soviet Union | 26–23 | South Korea | Bulgaria | 27–18 | Yugoslavia |
| 1991 Details | France | Soviet Union | 26–25 | South Korea | Denmark | 25–18 | Sweden |
| 1993 Details | Bulgaria | Russia | 24–17 | Bulgaria | South Korea | 28–27 | Denmark |
| 1995 Details | Brazil | Romania | 28–24 | Denmark | Norway | 26–24 | South Korea |
| 1997 Details | Ivory Coast | Denmark | 29–26 | Russia | Romania | 27–26 | Norway |
| 1999 Details | China | Romania | 25–20 | Lithuania | Denmark | 25–20 | Hungary |
| 2001 Details | Hungary | Russia | 29–27 | Hungary | Germany | 26–22 | Spain |
| 2003 Details | Macedonia | Russia | 26–24 | Hungary | Norway | 35–30 | Croatia |
| 2005 Details | Czech Republic | Russia | 30–25 | Norway | South Korea | 28–23 | Hungary |
| 2008 Details | Macedonia | Germany | 23–22 | Denmark | South Korea | 29–22 | Spain |
| 2010 Details | South Korea | Norway | 30–21 | Russia | Montenegro | 24–23 | South Korea |
| 2012 Details | Czech Republic | Sweden | 29–22 | France | Hungary | 26–24 | Serbia |
| 2014 Details | Croatia | South Korea | 34–27 | Russia | Denmark | 21–20 | Germany |
| 2016 Details | Russia | Denmark | 32–28 OT | Russia | Romania | 26–25 | Germany |
| 2018 Details | Hungary | Hungary | 28–22 | Norway | South Korea | 29–27 | Russia |
| 2020 Details | Romania | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 Details | Slovenia | Norway | 31–29 | Hungary | Netherlands | 31–20 | Sweden |
| 2024 Details | North Macedonia | France | 29–26 | Hungary | Netherlands | 34–28 | Denmark |

## Medal table

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | Russia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | Denmark | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | Norway | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Romania | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | Hungary | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | South Korea | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 8 | Yugoslavia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Germany | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | Sweden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | East Germany | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Bulgaria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | Lithuania | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 16 | Montenegro | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | Poland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | West Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (18 entries) | Totals (18 entries) | 23 | 23 | 23 | 69 |

## Participating nations

| Nation | 1977 | 1979 | 1981 | 1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | 2024 | Years |
| Algeria | | | | | | | 12th | | 16th | | | | | 19th | | 16th | | | | | | | | 31st | 5 |
| Angola | | | | | | | | | | 13th | 17th | 17th | 15th | | 15th | 11th | 14th | 19th | 21st | 14th | 19th | | 6th | 18th | 13 |
| Argentina | | | | | | | | | | 17th | | | 16th | | 20th | 12th | 15th | 20th | 20th | 16th | | | 25th | 21st | 10 |
| Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20th | 22nd | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Austria | 14th | 11th | | | 14th | | 14th | 14th | 11th | | | | | | | | | 11th | | 19th | | | 24th | | 9 |
| Belarus | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | 6th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Brazil | | | | | | | | 15th | 13th | 13th | 12th | 12th | 13th | 15th | 9th | 9th | 12th | 12th | 15th | 11th | 11th | | 22nd | 19th | 16 |
| Bulgaria | | | | 5th | | | 3rd | 8th | 2nd | 9th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| Canada | | | 8th | | | | | DQ | | | | 20th | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Chile | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22nd | 20th | | 27th | 29th | 4 |
| China | | | 6th | 13th | 6th | 7th | 6th | 10th | 15th | 17th | 14th | 10th | 17th | 16th | 13th | | 17th | 22nd | 19th | 18th | 21st | | | 15th | 19 |
| Chinese Taipei | | | | | | | | 11th | | | | 16th | 19th | | | 17th | | | | | | | | 26th | 5 |
| Congo | 12th | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | | 14th | | | | 16th | | | | | | | 4 |
| Congo DR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | | 24th | | | | | | 2 |
| Croatia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | | 13th | | | 10th | 4th | 7th | 6th | 11th | 10th | 10th | 8th | 9th | | 12th | | 11 |
| Czech Republic | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | | 11th | | | | 12th | 16th | | | 15th | 11th | | | | 11th | 25th | 7 |
| Denmark | 10th | 5th | 5th | 10th | 11th | 2nd | 7th | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 7th | 7th | 5th | 2nd | | 9th | 3rd | 1st | 6th | | 5th | 4th | 22 |
| Egypt | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20th | 23rd | | 15th | 13th | 4 |
| France | 13th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 10th | 9th | | 12th | | 5th | 9th | | | | 17th | 7th | 13th | 2nd | 5th | 13th | 7th | | 13th | 1st | 18 |
| Germany | See East Germany & West Germany | See East Germany & West Germany | See East Germany & West Germany | See East Germany & West Germany | See East Germany & West Germany | See East Germany & West Germany | See East Germany & West Germany | 6th | 10th | 7th | | | 3rd | 5th | | 1st | 7th | | 4th | 4th | 13th | | 7th | 9th | 12 |
| Greenland | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21st | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Guinea | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | 23rd | 2 |
| Hong Kong | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Hungary | 6th | 4th | | | | | | | | | 10th | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | 5th | 5th | 3rd | 7th | 10th | 1st | | 2nd | 2nd | 15 |
| Iceland | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | | | | 13th | | | | | 10th | | | 7th | 4 |
| India | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 26th | | 1 |
| Iran | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30th | 27th | 2 |
| Italy | | 13th | 10th | 16th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 29th | | 4 |
| Ivory Coast | | | | 14th | | | | | | | 16th | | | | | | | | | | WD | | | | 2 |
| Japan | | 10th | | 15th | 12th | 15th | 10th | 13th | 12th | 12th | 8th | 19th | 20th | 17th | 10th | 14th | 16th | 21st | 17th | 15th | 14th | | 9th | 20th | 21 |
| Kazakhstan | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | | | | | | | | 19th | | 24th | 23rd | 23rd | | | 28th | | 5 |
| Lithuania | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | | | | 2nd | | | 14th | | | | | | | | 21st | | 3 |
| Mexico | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | | | | | | 32nd | 32nd | 3 |
| Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | 8th | 3rd | | | 17th | 16th | | 10th | 12th | 6 |
| Netherlands | 9th | 8th | 9th | 11th | 13th | | | | | 10th | | 13th | 18th | | | | 6th | 17th | 8th | 9th | 5th | | 3rd | 3rd | 15 |
| Nigeria | | | | | | 14th | 9th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| North Korea | | | | | | | | | 14th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| North Macedonia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | | 17th | | | | 8th | | 18th | | | | | | | | 16th | 4 |
| Norway | 7th | 7th | | 9th | 5th | 8th | | | | 3rd | 4th | 7th | 6th | 3rd | 2nd | | 1st | 8th | 9th | 5th | 2nd | | 1st | 10th | 18 |
| New Zealand | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WD | 0 |
| Paraguay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22nd | | WD | | 1 |
| Poland | 5th | | | 7th | 3rd | 13th | | | 8th | | | | | 13th | 8th | | | 7th | | | | | 17th | | 9 |
| Portugal | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | | | 10th | | | | | 16th | | 18th | | | 5th | 5 |
| Romania | 3rd | | | | 7th | | | 5th | 5th | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 5th | 11th | | 10th | | 13th | 6th | 3rd | 8th | | 18th | 11th | 16 |
| 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 | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | 1st | 8th | 2nd | 5th | 1st | 1st | 1st | | 2nd | 5th | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | | DQ | | 12 |
| Serbia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Serbia and Montenegro | | 9th | 4th | 12th | | | | | 22nd | 4 |
| Slovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | | 13th | 7th | 14th | | | | | | | | | | | 20th | | 4 |
| Slovenia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | | | 13th | | | | | 15th | | | 14th | | 15th | | 14th | | 5 |
| South Korea | | | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 9th | 9th | 9th | 3rd | 3rd | 4th | 6th | 1st | 7th | 3rd | | 19th | 14th | 21 |
| Spain | | | | | 15th | 11th | 8th | | | | | 6th | 4th | | 11th | 4th | 10th | 14th | | 12th | 17th | | | 17th | 12 |
| Sweden | | | | 6th | | 10th | 5th | 4th | 9th | | | | 8th | 6th | 18th | | 8th | 1st | 13th | 6th | 12th | | 4th | 6th | 15 |
| Switzerland | | | | | | | 13th | | | | 15th | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 8th | 4 |
| Thailand | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20th | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Tunisia | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | | 19th | | 19th | 23rd | 22nd | 21st | | | 16th | 24th | 8 |
| Turkey | | | | | | | 15th | | | | 11th | 11th | 11th | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| Ukraine | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | 7th | 6th | | | | | 12th | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| United States | | 12th | 11th | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31st | 30th | 4 |
| Uruguay | | | | | | | | | | 17th | | | | 20th | | | | 18th | 18th | | | | | | 4 |
| Uzbekistan | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | | | | 28th | 2 |
| Discontinued teams ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Czechoslovakia | 8th | | | | | 6th | | 7th | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | See Czech Republic and Slovakia | 3 |
| East Germany | 4th | 2nd | | 2nd | 4th | 3rd | | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | 5 |
| Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | | | | 8th | 12th | 18th | 6th | See Montenegro and Serbia | See Montenegro and Serbia | See Montenegro and Serbia | See Montenegro and Serbia | See Montenegro and Serbia | See Montenegro and Serbia | See Montenegro and Serbia | See Montenegro and Serbia | See Montenegro and Serbia | 4 |
| Soviet Union | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | See Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan | 8 |
| West Germany | 11th | 9th | 3rd | 12th | 9th | 12th | 11th | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | 7 |
| Yugoslavia | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | 8th | 5th | 4th | 9th | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | See Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro (Today Montenegro & Serbia) and Slovenia | 8 |
| Total (62) | 14 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 32 | 32 | |