Major achievements in handball by nation

Summarize Timeline Top Qs Fact Check

For the making of these lists, results from following major international tournaments were consulted:

• IHF: International Handball Federation
• IAHF: International Amateur Handball Federation
• IOC: International Olympic Committee
• IWGA: International World Games Association

Medals for the demonstration events are NOT counted. Medals earned by athletes from defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are NOT merged with the results achieved by their immediate successor states. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) do NOT combine medals of these nations or teams.^[1]

The tables are pre-sorted by total number of first-place results, second-place results and third-place results, then most first-place results, second-place results, respectively. When equal ranks are given, nations are listed in alphabetical order.

Indoor handball, beach handball and field handball

Men and women

More information Last updated after the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update]), Indoor handball ...

Last updated after the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update])
		Indoor handball				Beach handball				Field handball			Number of
		Olympic Games		World Championships		World Games		World Championships		Olympic Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Men	Women				Total
1	Germany												8	1	1	10
2	Hungary												2	6	1	9
3	Spain												2	2	4	8
4	Russia												6	0	1	7
5	Denmark												4	3	0	7
6	Croatia												5	1	0	6
7	Brazil												5	0	0	5
8	East Germany*												3	2	0	5
8	Norway												3	2	0	5
8	Romania												3	2	0	5
11	West Germany*												2	2	1	5
12	Czechoslovakia*												2	1	2	5
13	Austria												0	3	2	5
14	France												4	0	0	4
14	Soviet Union*												4	0	0	4
14	Yugoslavia*												4	0	0	4
17	South Korea												2	1	0	3
17	Sweden												2	1	0	3
19	Argentina												2	0	1	3
		Indoor handball				Beach handball				Field handball			Number of
		Olympic Games		World Championships		World Games		World Championships		Olympic Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Men	Women				Total
20	Ukraine												1	1	1	3
21	Qatar												0	2	1	3
21	Turkey												0	2	1	3
23	Italy												1	0	1	2
23	Netherlands												1	0	1	2
23	Unified Team*												1	0	1	2
26	Poland												0	1	1	2
26	Portugal												0	1	1	2
26	Serbia												0	1	1	2
26	Switzerland												0	1	1	2
30	Serbia and Montenegro*												0	0	2	2
31	Belarus												1	0	0	1
31	Egypt												1	0	0	1
31	Greece												1	0	0	1
34	Iceland												0	1	0	1
34	Montenegro												0	1	0	1
34	ROC*												0	1	0	1
37	China												0	0	1	1
37	Slovenia												0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Men

More information Last updated after the 2026 Men's Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update]), Indoor handball ...

Last updated after the 2026 Men's Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update])
		Indoor handball		Beach handball		Field handball		Number of
		Olympic Games	World Championships	World Games	World Championships	Olympic Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Men	Men	Men	Men	Men				Total
1	Germany							5	1	0	6
2	Croatia							4	0	0	4
3	Russia							3	0	1	4
4	Denmark							2	2	0	4
5	Spain							1	1	2	4
6	Hungary							0	3	1	4
7	East Germany*							2	1	0	3
7	Sweden							2	1	0	3
7	West Germany*							2	1	0	3
10	Romania							1	2	0	3
11	Czechoslovakia*							1	1	1	3
12	Austria							0	2	1	3
12	Qatar							0	2	1	3
14	Brazil							2	0	0	2
14	France							2	0	0	2
14	Soviet Union*							2	0	0	2
14	Yugoslavia*							2	0	0	2
		Indoor handball		Beach handball		Field handball		Number of
		Olympic Games	World Championships	World Games	World Championships	Olympic Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Men	Men	Men	Men	Men				Total
18	Poland							0	1	1	2
18	Portugal							0	1	1	2
18	Switzerland							0	1	1	2
21	Belarus							1	0	0	1
21	Egypt							1	0	0	1
21	Unified Team*							1	0	0	1
24	Iceland							0	1	0	1
24	Norway							0	1	0	1
24	South Korea							0	1	0	1
24	Turkey							0	1	0	1
24	Ukraine							0	1	0	1
29	Argentina							0	0	1	1
29	Serbia							0	0	1	1
29	Serbia and Montenegro*							0	0	1	1
29	Slovenia							0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Women

More information Last updated after the 2026 Women's Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update]), Indoor handball ...

Last updated after the 2026 Women's Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update])
		Indoor handball		Beach handball		Field handball	Number of
		Olympic Games	World Championships	World Games	World Championships	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Women	Women	Women	Women	Women				Total
1	Hungary						2	3	0	5
2	Germany						3	0	1	4
2	Norway						3	0	1	4
4	Spain						1	1	2	4
5	Brazil						3	0	0	3
6	Russia						3	0	0	3
7	Denmark						2	1	0	3
8	Argentina						2	0	0	2
8	France						2	0	0	2
8	Romania						2	0	0	2
8	South Korea						2	0	0	2
8	Soviet Union*						2	0	0	2
8	Yugoslavia*						2	0	0	2
		Indoor handball		Beach handball		Field handball	Number of
		Olympic Games	World Championships	World Games	World Championships	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Women	Women	Women	Women	Women				Total
14	Croatia						1	1	0	2
14	East Germany*						1	1	0	2
16	Czechoslovakia*						1	0	1	2
16	Italy						1	0	1	2
16	Netherlands						1	0	1	2
16	Ukraine						1	0	1	2
20	Austria						0	1	1	2
20	Turkey						0	1	1	2
20	West Germany*						0	1	1	2
23	Greece						1	0	0	1
24	Montenegro						0	1	0	1
24	ROC*						0	1	0	1
24	Serbia						0	1	0	1
27	China						0	0	1	1
27	Serbia and Montenegro*						0	0	1	1
27	Unified Team*						0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Indoor handball

Men and women

More information Last updated after the 2025 World Women's Handball Championship (As of 14 December 2025[update]), Indoor handball ...

Last updated after the 2025 World Women's Handball Championship (As of 14 December 2025[update])
		Indoor handball				Number of
		Olympic Games		World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Women	Men	Women				Total
1	Denmark					4	0	0	4
1	France					4	0	0	4
1	Russia					4	0	0	4
1	Soviet Union*					4	0	0	4
1	Yugoslavia*					4	0	0	4
6	East Germany*					2	2	0	4
7	Spain					1	1	2	4
8	Czechoslovakia*					2	1	0	3
8	Germany					2	1	0	3
8	Norway					2	1	0	3
8	Romania					2	1	0	3
8	South Korea					2	1	0	3
13	Hungary					1	2	0	3
14	West Germany*					1	1	1	3
		Indoor handball				Number of
		Olympic Games		World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Women	Men	Women				Total
15	Croatia					2	0	0	2
16	Sweden					1	1	0	2
17	Unified Team*					1	0	1	2
18	Austria					0	1	1	2
18	Poland					0	1	1	2
20	Serbia and Montenegro*					0	0	2	2
21	Brazil					1	0	0	1
21	Netherlands					1	0	0	1
23	Iceland					0	1	0	1
23	Montenegro					0	1	0	1
23	Qatar					0	1	0	1
23	ROC*					0	1	0	1
23	Serbia					0	1	0	1
28	China					0	0	1	1
28	Slovenia					0	0	1	1
28	Ukraine					0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Men

More information Last updated after the 2025 World Men's Handball Championship (As of 2 February 2025[update]), Indoor handball ...

Last updated after the 2025 World Men's Handball Championship (As of 2 February 2025[update])
		Indoor handball		Number of
		Olympic Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Men				Total
1	Croatia			2	0	0	2
1	Denmark			2	0	0	2
1	France			2	0	0	2
1	Russia			2	0	0	2
1	Soviet Union*			2	0	0	2
1	Yugoslavia*			2	0	0	2
7	Czechoslovakia*			1	1	0	2
7	East Germany*			1	1	0	2
7	Germany			1	1	0	2
7	Romania			1	1	0	2
7	Sweden			1	1	0	2
7	West Germany*			1	1	0	2
13	Spain			1	0	1	2
14	Poland			0	1	1	2
15	Unified Team*			1	0	0	1
16	Austria			0	1	0	1
16	Hungary			0	1	0	1
16	Iceland			0	1	0	1
16	Norway			0	1	0	1
16	Qatar			0	1	0	1
16	South Korea			0	1	0	1
22	Serbia and Montenegro*			0	0	1	1
22	Slovenia			0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Women

More information Last updated after the 2025 World Women's Handball Championship (As of 14 December 2025[update]), Indoor handball ...

Last updated after the 2025 World Women's Handball Championship (As of 14 December 2025[update])
		Indoor handball		Number of
		Olympic Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Women	Women				Total
1	Denmark			2	0	0	2
1	France			2	0	0	2
1	Norway			2	0	0	2
1	Russia			2	0	0	2
1	South Korea			2	0	0	2
1	Soviet Union*			2	0	0	2
1	Yugoslavia*			2	0	0	2
8	East Germany*			1	1	0	2
8	Hungary			1	1	0	2
10	Spain			0	1	1	2
11	Brazil			1	0	0	1
11	Czechoslovakia*			1	0	0	1
11	Germany			1	0	0	1
11	Netherlands			1	0	0	1
11	Romania			1	0	0	1
16	Montenegro			0	1	0	1
16	ROC*			0	1	0	1
16	Serbia			0	1	0	1
19	Austria			0	0	1	1
19	China			0	0	1	1
19	Serbia and Montenegro*			0	0	1	1
19	Ukraine			0	0	1	1
19	Unified Team*			0	0	1	1
19	West Germany*			0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Beach handball

Men and women

More information Last updated after the 2026 Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update]), Beach handball ...

Last updated after the 2026 Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update])
		Beach handball				Number of
		World Games		World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Women	Men	Women				Total
1	Brazil					4	0	0	4
1	Germany					4	0	0	4
3	Croatia					3	1	0	4
4	Spain					1	1	2	4
5	Hungary					0	4	0	4
6	Argentina					2	0	1	3
6	Russia					2	0	1	3
8	Turkey					0	2	1	3
9	Norway					1	1	0	2
9	Ukraine					1	1	0	2
11	Italy					1	0	1	2
12	Denmark					0	2	0	2
13	Qatar					0	1	1	2
14	Belarus					1	0	0	1
14	Egypt					1	0	0	1
14	Greece					1	0	0	1
17	Portugal					0	1	0	1
18	Netherlands					0	0	1	1
18	Serbia					0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Men

More information Last updated after the 2026 Men's Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update]), Beach handball ...

Last updated after the 2026 Men's Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update])
		Beach handball		Number of
		World Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Men				Total
1	Brazil			2	0	0	2
1	Croatia			2	0	0	2
1	Germany			2	0	0	2
4	Russia			1	0	1	2
5	Hungary			0	2	0	2
6	Portugal			0	1	1	2
6	Qatar			0	1	1	2
6	Spain			0	1	1	2
9	Belarus			1	0	0	1
9	Egypt			1	0	0	1
11	Denmark			0	1	0	1
11	Turkey			0	1	0	1
11	Ukraine			0	1	0	1
14	Argentina			0	0	1	1
14	Serbia			0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Women

More information Last updated after the 2026 Women's Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update]), Beach handball ...

Last updated after the 2026 Women's Beach Handball World Championships (As of 28 June 2026[update])
		Beach handball		Number of
		World Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Women	Women				Total
1	Argentina			2	0	0	2
1	Brazil			2	0	0	2
1	Germany			2	0	0	2
4	Croatia			1	1	0	2
4	Norway			1	1	0	2
6	Italy			1	0	1	2
6	Spain			1	0	1	2
8	Hungary			0	2	0	2
9	Turkey			0	1	1	2
10	Greece			1	0	0	1
10	Russia			1	0	0	1
10	Ukraine			1	0	0	1
13	Denmark			0	1	0	1
14	Netherlands			0	0	1	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

Field handball

More information Last updated after the 1966 IHF World Men's Outdoor Handball Championship (As of 16 December 2019[update]), Field handball ...

Last updated after the 1966 IHF World Men's Outdoor Handball Championship (As of 16 December 2019[update])
		Field handball			Number of
		Olympic Games	World Championships
Rk.	Nation	Men	Men	Women				Total
1	Germany				2	0	1	3
2	Austria				0	2	1	3
3	Romania				1	1	0	2
3	West Germany*				1	1	0	2
5	Hungary				1	0	1	2
6	Switzerland				0	1	1	2
7	Czechoslovakia*				0	0	2	2
8	East Germany*				1	0	0	1
8	Sweden				1	0	0	1
10	Denmark				0	1	0	1

Close

^*Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic.

• List of major achievements in sports by nation