The 1st World Women's Handball Championship was held in Yugoslavia from July 13 to 20, 1957.

The games were held in Belgrade and Virovitica.Although it is a world championship, only European teams are participating in this first edition.

Furthermore, if it is played outdoors, it is the first edition of the competition with teams of seven players and therefore stands out from the previous eleven-a-side World Handball Championships.8,000 spectators attended the final between Czechoslovakia and Hungary, for a 7-1 victory for the Czechoslovaks.

The 5th World Women's Handball Championship was held in Yugoslavia from December 7 to December 15, 1973, organized by the IHF.The games were held in Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Varazdin, Sibenik, Negotin and Zavidovici.A total of twelve teams competed.

Hosts Yugoslavia secured the title with a 16:11 win against Romania and became world champions.