This is a list of records and statistics of the women's water polo tournament at the World Aquatics Championships since the inaugural official edition in 1986.
Confederation statistics
Best performances by tournament
All-time best performances This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation at the World Aquatics Championships.
Legend * – Host team
Confederation Best performance Women's team Africa – CANA 12th (2023) 1st (2003, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024) Asia – AASF 2nd (2011*) Europe – LEN 1st (2011, 2025), (1994, 2005), (1998, 2001), (1991, 2023), (2013*) Oceania – OSA 1st (1986)
Team statistics
Debut of teams Legend * – Host team † – Defunct team
# Year Debuting teams Number Cumulative total Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania 1 1986 – , – , , , , , 9 9 2 1991 – – , 4 13 3 1994 – – , – 3 16 4 1998 – – – , – 2 18 5 2001 – – – – 1 19 6 2003 – – – – 1 20 7 2005 – , – – 3 23 8 2007 – – – – 1 24 9 2009 – – – – 1 25 10 2011 – – – – – 0 25 11 2013 – – – – – 0 25 12 2015 – – – – – 0 25 13 2017 – – – – – 0 25 14 2019 – – – – 1 26 15 2022 – , – – 3 29 16 2023 – – – – 1 30 17 2024 – – – – 1 31 18 2025 – – – – 1 32 Total 1 8 7 14 2
Results of host teams and defending finalists # Year Host team Finish Defending champions Finish Defending runners-up Finish 1 1986 Did not participate 2 1991 5th of 9 teams 5th of 9 teams 1st of 9 teams 3 1994 3rd of 12 teams 2nd of 12 teams 5th of 12 teams 4 1998 3rd of 12 teams 7th of 12 teams 2nd of 12 teams 5 2001 11th of 12 teams 1st of 12 teams 9th of 12 teams 6 2003 8th of 16 teams 2nd of 16 teams 5th of 16 teams 7 2005 3rd of 16 teams 2nd of 16 teams 7th of 16 teams 8 2007 2nd of 16 teams 4th of 16 teams 1st of 16 teams 9 2009 9th of 16 teams 1st of 16 teams 6th of 16 teams 10 2011 2nd of 16 teams 6th of 16 teams 8th of 16 teams 11 2013 1st of 16 teams 6th of 16 teams 9th of 16 teams 12 2015 8th of 16 teams 7th of 16 teams 4th of 16 teams 13 2017 5th of 16 teams 1st of 16 teams 9th of 16 teams 14 2019 16th of 16 teams 1st of 16 teams 2nd of 16 teams 15 2022 2nd of 16 teams 1st of 16 teams 5th of 16 teams 16 2023 14th of 16 teams 5th of 16 teams 6th of 16 teams 17 2024 Did not participate 5th of 16 teams 3rd of 16 teams 18 2025 16th of 16 teams 4th of 16 teams 2nd of 16 teams # Year Host team Finish Defending champions Finish Defending runners-up Finish
Comprehensive team results by tournament
Finishes in the top four
Medal table
Champions
Team records Teams having equal quantities in the tables below are ordered by the tournament the quantity was attained in (the teams that attained the quantity first are listed first). If the quantity was attained by more than one team in the same tournament, these teams are ordered alphabetically.
Tournament positions Most titles won 8, (2003, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024). Most finishes in the top two 9, (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024). Most finishes in the top three 11, (1986, 1991, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024). Most finishes in the top four 14, (1986, 1991, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025). Most appearances 18, , , , (have participated in every tournament).
Consecutive Most consecutive medals 4, (1994–1998–2001–2003); (2003–2005–2007–2009 and 2015–2017–2019–2022). Most consecutive golds 4, (2015–2017–2019–2022). Most consecutive silvers 2, (1994–1998); (2017–2019); (2024–2025). Most consecutive bronzes 3, (2007–2009–2011). Most consecutive finishes in the top four 6, (2003–2005–2007–2009–2011–2013). Most consecutive appearances 18, , , , (have participated in every tournament).
Gaps Longest gap between successive titles 32 years, (1991–2023). Longest gap between successive appearances in the top two 18 years, (1991–2009). Longest gap between successive appearances in the top three 17 years, (1998–2015). Longest gap between successive appearances in the top four 17 years, (1998–2015). Longest gap between successive appearances 17 years, (1986–2003).
Host team Best finish by host team Champion: (2013).
Other Most finishes in the top two without ever being champion 2, (1991, 2009). Most finishes in the top three without ever being champion 5, (2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017). Most finishes in the top four without ever being champion 8, (1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017). Most finishes in the top four without ever being medaled None.
Player statistics (C) Captain Apps Appearances Ref Reference Rk Rank L/R Handedness Pos Playing position FP Field player GK Goalkeeper
Multiple gold medalists
Multiple medalists
See also Water polo at the World Aquatics Championships List of World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament records and statistics List of world champions in women's water polo List of world champions in men's water polo List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics FINA Water Polo World Rankings List of water polo world medalists Major achievements in water polo by nation
References
Sources
External links FINA Water Polo website