The 400 metres hurdles at the World Championships in Athletics has been contested by women since 1980 and by men since 1983.

Karsten Warholm is the most successful athlete in the history of the event, winning three medals between 2017 and 2023.

Nezha Bidouane has the same medal tally as Sanchez and is the most successful female athlete, winning two golds and one silver between 1997 and 2001.

Yuliya Pechonkina, Lashinda Demus and Dalilah Muhammad have won the most medals in the event, with four total; all won one gold, two silver and one bronze.

The women's world record has been broken four times at the World Championships: by Sally Gunnell in 1993, Kim Batten in 1995, Dalilah Muhammad in 2019, and Sydney McLaughlin in 2022.