National team appearances in the World Men's Handball Championship explained

This article lists the performances of each of the 58 national teams which have made at least one appearance in the IHF World Men's Handball Championship finals.

Debut of teams

Year	Debutants	Total
1938	,,,	4
1954	,,	3
1958	,,,,,,,,,	10
1961	,	2
1964	,,,	4
1967	,	2
1970	No debut nations	0
1974	,	2
1978	No debut nations	0
1982	,	2
1986		1
1990	No debut nations	0
1993		0(+1)
1995	,, *,,	4(+1)
1997	,,,,, *	5(+1)
1999	,,,	4
2001	,	2
2003		1
2005	,	2
2007	No debut nations	0
2009	, *	0(+2)
2011	,	2
2013		1
2015	,	2
2017	No debut nations	0
2019		0(+1)
2021	,,	3
2023		1
2025		1

* Successor Teams

** Composed of players from both South Korea and North Korea. The team split into two again after the tournament.

Participation details

Legend

• – Champions
• – Runners-up
• – Third place
• – Fourth place
• 5th – Fifth place
• 6th – Sixth place
• 7th – Seventh place
• 8th – Eighth place
• 9th – Ninth place
• 10th – Tenth place
• 11th – Eleventh place
• 12th to 24th – Twelfth to twenty-fourth place
• Q — Qualified for upcoming tournament
• — Qualified but withdrew
• — Did not qualify
• — Did not enter / Withdrew from the World Championship / Banned
• — Hosts

Team	1938	1954	1958	1961	1964	1967	1970	1974	1978	1982	1986	1990	1993	1995	1997	1999	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2021	2023	2025	2027	2029	2031	Total
	Part of				×	×	×	15th	•	16th	16th	16th	•	16th	17th	15th	13th	18th	17th	•	19th	15th	17th	24th	•	•	22nd	31st	Q				17
	Part of								•	•	•	•	×	×	×	•	×	•	20th	21st	•	•	•	•	24th	23rd	30th	•	•				5
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	22nd	21st	15th	17th	18th	16th	18th	12th	18th	12th	18th	17th	11th	19th	Q				15
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	24th	•	21st	24th	24th	24th	24th	24th	•	×	•	•	•	×				7
	bgcolor=silver	2nd	×	11th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	14th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	18th	•	13th	•	19th	26th	•	Q				8
	Part of							×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23rd	•	••	23rd	20th	21st	16th	Q				6
	Part of												•	9th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	15th	18th	11th	•	17th	×	×				5
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	21st	•				1
	Part of												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	20th	•	•	•	•	•				1
	×	×	15th	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	24th	24th	16th	19th	22nd	19th	19th	21st	21st	13th	16th	16th	9th	18th	17th	Q				17
	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	11th	14th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×				2
	×	×	×	×	•	16th	•	×	15th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23rd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×	•				3
	Part of								×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	32nd	23rd	Q				3
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	22nd	23rd	23rd	21st	16th	27th	26th	Q				8
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	20th	20th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×	•				2
	Part of												•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	13th	10th	9th	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	5th	2nd	5th	3rd	6th	4th	6th	15th	9th	Q				16
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	13th	15th	14th	•	13th	14th	8th	•	×	×	×	20th	•	×	×	×	×	×	•	Q				8
	See													8th	11th	•	18th	•	10th	12th	•	•	•	17th	•	•	••	•	Q				7
	4th	5th	4th	5th	7th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	8th	bgcolor=#9acdff style="border:3px solid red"	4th	4th	7th	•	9th	19th	•	9th	•	9th	13th	3rd	4th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	5th	10th	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	Q			Q	27
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	28th	•	•				1
	×	×	×	×	14th	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	12th	6th	6th	7th	4th	15th	14th	17th	14th	14th	16th	14th	13th	8th	7th	7th	Q				18
	×	•	14th	•	•	•	•	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				1
	×	6th	9th	8th	13th	10th	12th	•	16th	•	•	9th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=gold	1st	3rd	6th	1st	3rd	3rd	4th	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	6th	bgcolor=gold	1st	1st	3rd	4th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	Q		Q		26
(including West Germany)	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	3rd	bgcolor=#9acdff style="border:3px solid red"	4th	4th	6th	5th	9th	bgcolor=gold	1st	7th	7th	•	6th	4th	•	5th	8th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	9th	1st	5th	11th	5th	7th	9th	4th	12th	5th	Q	Q	Q		29
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	6th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				1
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	20th	24th	•	22nd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				3
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	Q				1
	×	•	7th	•	8th	8th	8th	7th	9th	9th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	6th	11th	17th	4th	11th	•	6th	•	9th	6th	7th	8th	•	7th	10th	5th	8th	Q				23
	×	×	10th	6th	9th	•	11th	14th	13th	•	6th	10th	8th	14th	5th	•	11th	7th	15th	8th	•	6th	12th	11th	14th	11th	20th	12th	Q			Q	24
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	21st	•	•	•	24th	•				2
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	18th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	Q				2
	×	×	×	12th	16th	11th	10th	12th	12th	14th	•	15th	•	23rd	15th	•	•	•	16th	•	•	16th	•	•	22nd	24th	19th	×	Q				16
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	15th	•	•	•	20th	•	19th	23rd	20th	22nd	19th	22nd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	Q				9
	Part of												•	•	10th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				1
	×	×	16th	•	•	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				1
	Part of												Part of							•	•	•	22nd	•	•	•	•	18th	•				2
			×	×	×	×	•	×	•	×	×	•	•	22nd	23rd	17th	22nd	23rd	•	20th	•	•	•	•	•	•	29th	30th	•				8
	×	×	×	11th	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	14th	Q				3
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	•	23rd	×	•	×	•	•	•	×	•	•	•	•	•	•				1
	Part of												•	•	•	18th	•	•	•	•	11th	•	14th	9th	15th	15th	23rd	27th	Q				9
	×	•	6th	7th	11th	13th	13th	•	•	•	•	•	13th	•	12th	13th	14th	•	7th	13th	9th	9th	•	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	6th	6th	Q			Q	19
	×	×	5th	•	•	12th	14th	4th	6th	3rd	14th	11th	•	•	•	•	•	10th	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	3rd	8th	9th	3rd	17th	•	13th	15th	Q				18
	×	×	×	•	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	19th	•	16th	12th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	10th	13th	Q				6
	Part of							×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16th	21st	23rd	•	•	20th	2nd	8th	13th	8th	22nd	Q				10
	×	×	13th	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	3rd	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	7th	5th	9th	3rd	10th	10th	•	•	•	•	•	•	15th	19th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				14
	See												bgcolor=gold	1st	5th	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	6th	5th	8th	6th	16th	•	7th	19th	12th	14th	14th	×	×				14
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	21st	22nd	21st	10th	•	•	23rd	•	19th	22nd	20th	21st	•	29th	•				10
	Part of												Part of							•	8th	10th	10th	•	•	18th	•	11th	•				5
	See													•	•	•	•	•	•	•	10th	17th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				2
	Part of												•	18th	•	•	17th	11th	12th	10th	•	•	4th	8th	3rd	•	9th	10th	Q				11
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	12th	12th	15th	12th	8th	14th	12th	•	•	15th	12th	13th	21st	•	•		31st	28th	•				13
	×	•	12th	•	•	•	•	13th	10th	8th	5th	5th	5th	11th	7th	4th	5th	4th	bgcolor=gold	1st	7th	13th	3rd	1st	4th	5th	7th	3rd	3rd	Q				23
	3rd	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	3rd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	5th	6th	10th	8th	11th	4th	bgcolor=gold	1st	3rd	3rd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	13th	11th	•	7th	bgcolor=#9acdff style="border:3px solid red"	4th	•	10th	6th	5th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	Q				27
	×	4th	×	10th	12th	14th	15th	•	•	12th	11th	13th	4th	7th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16th	•	Q				12
			×	×	×	15th	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	15th	16th	12th	10th	14th	bgcolor=#9acdff style="border:3px solid red"	4th	11th	17th	20th	11th	15th	19th	12th	25th	25th	Q				17
	Part of												•	•	•	•	7th	•	•	14th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				2
	×	×	×	×	15th	•	16th	16th	•	•	•	•	16th	21st	•	•	24th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	••	20th	Q	Q			9
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	24th	32nd	•				2
Discontinued teams
	×	3rd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	3rd	bgcolor=gold	1st	7th	6th	11th	10th	13th	7th	7th	See																			12
		×			10th	9th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	2nd	3rd	6th	3rd	8th	See																				8
	See and																									22nd	/						1
	Part of												•	•	9th	3rd	3rd	8th	5th	See and													5
	×	×	×	•	5th	4th	9th	5th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=gold	1st	10th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	See																				8
	×	×	8th	9th	6th	7th	3rd	3rd	5th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=gold	1st	4th																					10
Total	4		6	16	12	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	24	32	32	32	32	32	32

Results of host nations

Year	Host Nation	Finish
1938		bgcolor=gold	Champions
1954		bgcolor=gold	Champions
1958		Third place (as)
1961		Fourth place
1964		Third place
1967		Fifth place
1970		Twelfth place
1974		bgcolor=silver	Runners-up
1978		Fourth place
1982		Seventh place
1986		Eleventh place
1990		Seventh place
1993		Third place
1995		Fourteenth place
1997		Fifteenth place
1999		Seventh place
2001		bgcolor=gold	Champions
2003		Sixteenth place
2005		Fourth place
2007		bgcolor=gold	Champions
2009		bgcolor=silver	Runners-up
2011		Fourth place
2013		bgcolor=gold	Champions
2015		bgcolor=silver	Runners-up
2017		bgcolor=gold	Champions
2019		bgcolor=gold	Champions
		Fourth place
2021		Seventh place
2023		Fifteenth place
		Fourth place
2025		TBD
		TBD
		TBD
	2027		TBD
2029		TBD
		TBD
2031		TBD
		TBD
		TBD

Results of defending champions

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.

Year	Defending champions	Finish
1938	—	—
1954		bgcolor=silver	Runners-up
1958		bgcolor=gold	Champions
1961		Third place
1964		bgcolor=gold	Champions
1967		Third place
1970		Seventh place
1974		bgcolor=gold	Champions
1978		Seventh place
1982		Seventh place
1986		Tenth place
1990		Fourth place
1993		Third place
1995		Fifth place
1997		Third place
1999		bgcolor=silver	Runners-up
2001		bgcolor=silver	Runners-up
2003		Third place
2005		bgcolor=silver	Runners-up
2007		Seventh place
2009		Fifth place
2011		bgcolor=gold	Champions
2013		Sixth place
2015		Fourth place
2017		bgcolor=gold	Champions
2019		Third place
2021		bgcolor=gold	Champions
2023		bgcolor=gold	Champions
2025		TBD
2027	TBD	TBD
2029	TBD	TBD
2031	TBD	TBD