List of IIHF World Junior Championship medalists
The IIHF World Junior Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams. Traditionally held from late December to the beginning of January, the main tournament features the top ten ranked hockey nations in the "top division", from which a world champion is crowned. There are also three lower pools—Divisions I, II and III—that each play separate tournaments playing for the right to be promoted to a higher pool with the last place team facing relegation to a lower pool.
Prior to the first official tournament held in 1977, there had been invitational tournaments in 1974, 1975 and 1976 not sanctioned by the IIHF. There have been 49 official tournaments as of 2025, while the 2022 tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, the tournament has been dominated by Canada and the Soviet Union/CIS/Russia. The USSR won the first four official tournaments, while the Canadians put together five consecutive championships between 1993 and 1997, and another five consecutive from 2005 to 2009.
Since the tournament moved to a championship-game format, just three gold medal games have not featured Canada, the United States, or Russia. 1987 remains the only year in which none of the three won a medal, due to the disqualification of Canada and the Soviet Union.
Medalists
Official tournaments
;Key- Number of tournaments won at the time.
In 2024, the IIHF announced that Canada will host the tournament every odd year until their agreement with Hockey Canada runs out in 2034.
Medal table
The unofficial tournaments held prior to 1977 are not included in this table.Countries in italics no longer compete at the World Championships.
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Medals |
| 20 | 10 | 6 | 36 | |
| ' ' ' Total | ||||
| 7 | 2 | 7 | 16 | |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 18 | |
| 3 | 12 | 7 | 22 | |
' Total | ||||
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | 50 | 150 |