National team appearances in the men's Olympic water polo tournament

This article presents the national team appearances in the men's Olympic water polo tournament since the inaugural official edition in 1900.

As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, 52 men's national water polo teams from six continents have competed at the Olympic Games. European teams have won all 27 official tournaments. The inaugural winners in 1900 were Great Britain; the current champions are Serbia. The most successful team is currently Hungary men's team, who has won the Olympic title on nine occasions.

Debut of teams
Last updated: 12 February 2024.


 * Legend
 * Team* – Host team
 * Team† – Defunct team

Results of host teams
Last updated: 8 August 2021.


 * Legend and abbreviation
 * Year* – As host team
 * Team† – Defunct team
 * Finish‡ – It is the best performance of the team
 * Apps – Appearances

Results of defending champions and runners-up
Last updated: 8 August 2021.


 * Legend
 * Team* – Host team
 * Team† – Defunct team

Longest active appearance droughts
The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic tournaments missed (in descending order), year of the last appearance (in ascending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 8 August 2021.

Notes:
 * Does not include teams that have not yet made their first appearance at the Olympics or teams that no longer exist.
 * With the exception of 1916, 1940 and 1944, does not include droughts when the Olympic tournament was not held due to World War I and II.


 * Legend
 * Year* – As host team

Longest appearance droughts overall
The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic tournaments missed (in descending order), year of the previous appearance (in ascending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 8 August 2021.

Notes:
 * Only includes droughts begun after a team's first appearance and until the team ceased to exist.
 * With the exception of 1916, 1940 and 1944, does not include droughts when the Olympic tournament was not held due to World War I and II.


 * Legend
 * Year* – As host team
 * Team† – Defunct team

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. Last updated: 8 August 2021.


 * Legend
 * Year* – As host team
 * Team† – Defunct team

Appearances

 * Most appearances: 23, Hungary (1912, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020).
 * Most appearances, never winning a title: 21, United States (1920, 1924, 1928, 1932*, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1984*, 1988, 1992, 1996*, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016).
 * Most appearances, never finishing in the top two: 17, Netherlands (1908, 1920, 1924, 1928*, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000).
 * Most appearances, never winning a medal: 16, Australia (1948, 1952, 1956*, 1960, 1964, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000*, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016).
 * Most appearances, never finishing in the top four: 16, Australia (1948, 1952, 1956*, 1960, 1964, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000*, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016).
 * Fewest appearances: 1, Luxembourg (1928), Iceland (1936), Chile (1948), Portugal (1952), Singapore (1956), East Germany† (1968), Iran (1976), South Korea (1988*), Unified Team† (1992), Ukraine (1996), Slovakia (2000), Serbia and Montenegro† (2004).
 * Fewest appearances, winning a title: 4, Serbia (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020).
 * Fewest appearances, finishing in the top two: 1, Serbia and Montenegro† (2004).
 * Fewest appearances, finishing in the top two, active team: 3, Russia (1996, 2000, 2004).
 * Fewest appearances, winning a medal: 1, Unified Team† (1992), Serbia and Montenegro† (2004).
 * Fewest appearances, winning a medal, active team: 3, Russia (1996, 2000, 2004).
 * Fewest appearances, finishing in the top four: 1, Unified Team† (1992), Serbia and Montenegro† (2004).
 * Fewest appearances, finishing in the top four, active team: 3, Austria (1912, 1936, 1952), Russia (1996, 2000, 2004).

Top four

 * Most titles won: 9, Hungary (1932, 1936, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1976, 2000, 2004, 2008).
 * Most second-place finishes: 4, Belgium (1900, 1908, 1920*, 1924), Yugoslavia† (1952, 1956, 1964, 1980).
 * Most third-place finishes: 4, Hungary (1960, 1968, 1980, 2020).
 * Most fourth-place finishes: 4, Spain (1980, 1984, 2000, 2020).
 * Most finishes in the top two: 12, Hungary (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1972, 1976, 2000, 2004, 2008).
 * Most finishes in the top two, never winning a title: 4, Belgium (1900, 1908, 1920*, 1924).
 * Most finishes in the top three: 16, Hungary (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2020).
 * Most finishes in the top three, never winning a title: 6, Belgium (1900, 1908, 1912, 1920*, 1924, 1936), United States (1924, 1932, 1972, 1984, 1988, 2008).
 * Most finishes in the top three, never finishing in the top two: 2, Netherlands (1948, 1976).
 * Most finishes in the top four: 17, Hungary (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2020).
 * Most finishes in the top four, never winning a title: 9, United States (1920, 1924, 1932*, 1952, 1972, 1984*, 1988, 1992, 2008).
 * Most finishes in the top four, never finishing in the top two: 3, Netherlands (1908, 1948, 1976), West Germany† (1972*, 1984, 1988), Montenegro (2008, 2012, 2016).
 * Most finishes in the top four, never winning a medal: 3, Montenegro (2008, 2012, 2016).
 * Fewest finishes in the top two, winning a title: 1, France (1924*).
 * Fewest finishes in the top three, winning a title: 2, Spain (1992*, 1996).
 * Fewest finishes in the top three, finishing in the top two: 1, Serbia and Montenegro† (2004), Greece (2020).
 * Fewest finishes in the top four, winning a title: 3, Germany (1928, 1932, 1936*), Croatia (1996, 2012, 2016).
 * Fewest finishes in the top four, finishing in the top two: 1, Serbia and Montenegro† (2004).
 * Fewest finishes in the top four, finishing in the top two, active team: 2, Russia (2000, 2004), Greece (2004, 2020).
 * Fewest finishes in the top four, winning a medal: 1, Unified Team† (1992), FR Yugoslavia† (2000), Serbia and Montenegro† (2004).
 * Fewest finishes in the top four, winning a medal, active team: 2, Russia (2000, 2004), Greece (2004, 2020).

Consecutive

 * Most consecutive titles won: 3, Great Britain (1908*–1912–1920), Hungary (2000–2004–2008).
 * Most consecutive second-place finishes: 2, Belgium (1920*–1924), Germany (1932–1936*), Yugoslavia† (1952–1956), United States (1984*–1988).
 * Most consecutive third-place finishes: 2, Serbia (2008–2012).
 * Most consecutive fourth-place finishes: 3, Montenegro (2008–2012–2016).
 * Most consecutive finishes in the top two: 6, Hungary (1928–1932–1936–1948–1952–1956).
 * Most consecutive finishes in the top three: 12, Hungary (1928–1932–1936–1948–1952–1956–1960–1964–1968–1972–1976–1980).
 * Most consecutive finishes in the top four: 12, Hungary (1928–1932–1936–1948–1952–1956–1960–1964–1968–1972–1976–1980).
 * Most consecutive appearances: 19, Italy (1948–1952–1956–1960*–1964–1968–1972–1976–1980–1984–1988–1992–1996–2000–2004–2008–2012–2016–2020).
 * Biggest improvement in position in consecutive tournaments: Did not participate/qualify, then won the title, Germany (1924–1928), Italy (1936–1948).

Gaps

 * Longest gap between successive titles: 24 years, Hungary (1976–2000).
 * Longest gap between successive second-place finishes: 36 years, Italy (1976–2012).
 * Longest gap between successive third-place finishes: 44 years, Italy (1952–1996).
 * Longest gap between successive fourth-place finishes: 40 years, United States (1952–1992).
 * Longest gap between successive appearances in the top two: 24 years, Hungary (1976–2000).
 * Longest gap between successive appearances in the top three: 40 years, United States (1932*–1972).
 * Longest gap between successive appearances in the top four: 40 years, Netherlands (1908–1948).
 * Longest gap between successive appearances: 61 years, South Africa (1960–2020).

Debuting teams

 * Best finish by a debuting team: Champions, Great Britain (1900).
 * Best finish by a debuting team after 1900: Runners-up, Croatia (1996), Serbia and Montenegro† (2004).
 * Worst finish by a debuting team: 20th position, Portugal (1952).
 * Worst finish by a debuting team after 1972: 12th position (last position), Iran (1976), South Korea (1988*), Ukraine (1996), Slovakia (2000).

Host teams
Runners-up, Sweden (1912*), Belgium (1920*), United States (1984*). 9th position, Canada (1976*). 12th position, South Korea (1988*). 13th position, Great Britain (1948*).
 * Best finish by host team: Champions, Great Britain (1908*), France (1924*), Italy (1960*), Soviet Union† (1980*).
 * Worst finish by host team: Did not participate/qualify, Finland (1952*).
 * Worst finish by host team that participates in the tournament: 13th position, Great Britain (1948*).
 * Worst finish by host team that participates in the tournament after 1972: 12th position (last position), South Korea (1988*), China (2008*), Great Britain (2012*).
 * Best finish by last host team: Champions, Great Britain (1912), Spain (1996).
 * Worst finish by last host team: Did not participate/qualify, Netherlands (1932), Germany (1948), Canada (1980), Soviet Union† (1984, withdrew), South Korea (1992), China (2012), Great Britain (2016), Brazil (2020).
 * Worst finish by last host team that participates in the tournament: 15th position, Australia (1960).
 * Worst finish by last host team that participates in the tournament after 1972: 9th position, Australia (2004).
 * Had its best performance as hosts: Champions, Great Britain (1908*), France (1924*), Italy (1960*), Soviet Union† (1980*).
 * Had its worst performance as hosts: 12th position, South Korea (1988*), China (2008*).
 * Had its worst performance as hosts after 1972: 12th position (last position), South Korea (1988*), China (2008*), Great Britain (2012*).

Defending champions

 * Best finish by defending champions: Champions, Great Britain (1912, 1920), Hungary (1936, 1956, 2004, 2008), Yugoslavia† (1988), Serbia (2020).
 * Worst finish by defending champions: Did not participate/qualify, Soviet Union† (1984, withdrew), Yugoslavia† (1992, defunct).
 * Worst finish by defending champions that participates in the next tournament: 8th position, Great Britain (1924), Soviet Union† (1976).

Defending runners-up

 * Best finish by defending runners-up: Champions, Hungary (1932, 1952, 1976), Soviet Union† (1972), Spain (1996), Yugoslavia† (1968, 1984).
 * Worst finish by defending runners-up: Did not participate/qualify, Germany (1948), Serbia and Montenegro† (2008, defunct).
 * Worst finish by defending runners-up that participates in the next tournament: 8th position, Italy (1980), United States (2012).

Population

 * Most populated country, participant: China (2008*), 1,324,655,000 (source)
 * Least populated country, participant: Iceland (1928), 104,000 (source)
 * Least populated country, participant, after 1972: Montenegro (2008), 616,000 (source)
 * Most populated country, hosts: China (2008*), 1,324,655,000 (source)
 * Least populated country, hosts: Finland (1952*), 4,090,000 (source)
 * Most populated country, champions: Soviet Union† (1980*), more than 260,000,000 (source)
 * Least populated country, champions: Croatia (2012), 4,267,000 (source)
 * Most populated country, runners-up: United States (2008), 304,375,000 (source)
 * Least populated country, runners-up: Croatia (1996), 4,516,000 (source)
 * Most populated country, third place: Unified Team† (1992), more than 280,000,000 (source)
 * Least populated country, third place: Sweden (1908), 5,404,000 (source)
 * Most populated country, fourth place: United States (1992), 256,514,000 (source)
 * Least populated country, fourth place: Montenegro (2008), 616,000 (source)

Number of teams by confederation
This is a summary of the total number of participating teams by confederation in each tournament. Last updated: 7 August 2021.


 * Legend
 * – Forthcoming tournament