Yugoslavia and the USA are each five-time world champions, while the Soviet Union has three titles. Brazil and Spain have two, while Argentina has one. At FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, Spain won their second ever title by beating Argentina 95-75, France clinching third place. The inaugural tournament in 1950 was held in Argentina and the host nation lifted the trophy after triumphing against the USA in the final. The 2023 edition of FIBA World Cup is set to take place soon.
Three hosts have won gold medals : Argentina (1950), Brazil (1963) and Yugoslavia (1970). Two hosts have won silver medals : Brazil (1954) and Turkey (2010). 16 teams have won at least one medal in the FIBA world cup.
There have been 36 medals (66.67%) won by four teams, the USA (12), Yugoslavia (10), Soviet Union (8), and Brazil (6).
Initially featuring 10 teams, the tournament has grown exponentially and the 2019 edition featured 32 top teams from around the world.
Brazil, Argentina and Spain have hosted the tournament twice each. Argentina hosted the first FIBA World Cup in 1950. China hosted World Cup 2019. From 1950 to 2010, the FIBA Basketball World Cup was known as the FIBA World Championship. A total of 18 championships have been held.
| Year | Host Country | World Champion | Second |
| 1950 | Argentina | Argentina | USA |
| 1954 | Brazil | USA | Brazil |
| 1959 | Chile | Brazil | USA |
| 1963 | Brazil | Brazil | Yugoslavia |
| 1967 | Uruguay | USSR | Yugoslavia |
| 1970 | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | Brazil |
| 1974 | Puerto Rico | USSR | Yugoslavia |
| 1978 | Philippines | Yugoslavia | USSR |
| 1982 | Colombia | USSR | USA |
| 1986 | Spain | USA | USSR |
| 1990 | Argentina | Yugoslavia | USSR |
| 1994 | Canada | USA | Russia |
| 1998 | Greece | Yugoslavia | Russia |
| 2002 | USA | Yugoslavia | Argentina |
| 2006 | Japan | Spain | Greece |
| 2010 | Turkey | USA | Turkey |
| 2014 | Spain | USA | Serbia |
| 2019 | China | Spain | Argentina |
Summary of Basketball World Cup Champions
| Country | Champion | Runner Up | 3rd Place | Championship years |
| USA | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2014 – 2010 – 1994 – 1986 – 1954 |
| USSR | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1982 – 1974 – 1967 |
| Yugoslavia | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1990 – 1978 – 1970 |
| Brazil | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1963 – 1959 |
| Serbia | 2 | 1 | – | 2002 – 1998 |
| Spain | 2 | – | – | 2019 – 2006 |
| Argentina | 1 | 2 | – | 1950 |
| Russia | – | 2 | – | |
| Greece | – | 1 | – | |
| Turkey | – | 1 | – | |
| France | – | – | 2 | |
| Chile | – | – | 2 | |
| Croatia | – | – | 1 | |
| Germany | – | – | 1 | |
| Lithuania | – | – | 1 | |
| Philippines | – | – | 1 |