The Definitive Ranking of the Greatest Wrestling Nations on Earth

Wrestling has been a cornerstone of international sports for centuries, with certain nations excelling due to their deep-rooted traditions, elite training systems, and history of producing world-class competitors. This ranking evaluates the top wrestling countries based on historical success, consistency, and overall impact on the sport. Let’s count down from #20 to #1 and determine the best wrestling nation in the world.

🥈 20-11: Strong Wrestling Nations with Inconsistent Success

20. China 🇨🇳

China has a strong wrestling system and has produced some exceptional wrestlers, particularly in Greco-Roman. However, the country has struggled with consistency and has not reached the same level as Japan, Iran, or the United States.

19. Hungary 🇭🇺

Hungary has historically been a strong wrestling nation, especially in Greco-Roman, where it has produced several world and Olympic champions. However, in recent years, their success has declined, and they are no longer among the elite nations in the sport.

18. Bulgaria 🇧🇬

Bulgaria was once a powerhouse in wrestling, particularly in Greco-Roman, but its dominance has faded. The country still produces medalists, but it is no longer the force it was in previous decades.

17. Italy 🇮🇹

Italy has benefited greatly from naturalized athletes, particularly from Cuba. While their program is growing, they have yet to reach the level of the more dominant wrestling nations.

16. Serbia 🇷🇸

Serbia has a strong wrestling tradition, especially in Greco-Roman. Their recent success in freestyle wrestling, including producing world champions, shows that Serbia is on the rise.

15. Ukraine 🇺🇦

Ukraine has long been a respected wrestling country, producing multiple Olympic and world champions. While they have slipped slightly in recent years, they remain a strong competitor on the global stage.

14. Belarus 🇧🇾

Belarus has consistently produced top-tier wrestlers, but many of its best athletes have transferred to other countries. Their wrestling infrastructure is solid, but they lack the overall dominance of the top-tier nations.

13. India 🇮🇳

India has made significant strides in wrestling, especially in freestyle. With wrestlers like Bajrang Punia and Ravi Kumar Dahiya, India is rapidly becoming one of the world’s top wrestling nations.

12. Azerbaijan 🇦🇿

Azerbaijan benefits from a strong wrestling program and an influx of Russian-born athletes. The country regularly produces world-class wrestlers in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.

11. Mongolia 🇲🇳

Mongolia has a strong wrestling tradition, particularly in the lower weight classes. The country continues to develop high-level wrestlers and is consistently competitive in international tournaments.

🥇 10-1: The Elite Wrestling Nations

10. Uzbekistan 🇺🇿

Uzbekistan has a strong wrestling culture and consistently produces world-class athletes in freestyle wrestling.

9. Kazakhstan 🇰🇿

Kazakhstan is one of the strongest wrestling nations in Central Asia, producing medalists across multiple weight classes.

8. Armenia 🇦🇲

Despite its small size, Armenia has a big reputation in wrestling. The country excels in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

7. Turkey 🇹🇷

Turkey is a historical powerhouse in wrestling, consistently producing world champions in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.

6. Georgia 🇬🇪

Georgia is particularly strong in Greco-Roman wrestling and regularly competes at the highest levels.

5. Cuba 🇨🇺

Cuba dominates Greco-Roman wrestling and has produced some of the greatest wrestlers of all time, despite its small size.

4. Japan 🇯🇵

Japan is the dominant force in women’s wrestling and has recently seen great success in men’s freestyle as well.

3. Iran 🇮🇷

Iran is one of the most passionate wrestling countries in the world, producing elite wrestlers across all weight classes.

2. USA 🇺🇸

The USA is the only country that consistently challenges Russia, thanks to its strong NCAA wrestling system and elite training facilities.

1. Russia 🇷🇺

Russia remains the undisputed king of wrestling, producing Olympic and world champions at an unmatched level. The depth and dominance of Russian wrestling set it apart as the greatest wrestling nation in the world.

This ranking reflects not only current dominance but also historical success and consistency. While Russia leads the way, nations like the USA, Iran, and Japan continue to push the sport forward. As emerging nations like India and Puerto Rico rise, the future of wrestling remains as exciting as ever. Who do you think should be ranked higher or lower? Let us know your thoughts!