Summary of the 2018 Olympic Medal Standings
The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang determined the medal standings based on gold medals first, then total count. Below is a verified breakdown of the top performers and contextual takeaways to help you understand how nations were ranked.
Official Medal Table at a Glance
Countries are ordered primarily by gold medals. This table reflects the published results and shows the scale of each nation’s success in 2018.
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 14 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| 2 | Norway | 14 | 14 | 11 | 39 |
| 3 | Canada | 11 | 11 | 4 | 26 |
| 4 | United States | 9 | 8 | 6 | 23 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 5 | 6 | 4 | 15 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 8 | 6 | 8 | 22 |
| 7 | Sweden | 7 | 6 | 18 | 31 |
| 8 | Finland | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| 9 | Olympic Athletes from Russia | 2 | 6 | 9 | 17 |
| 10 | Czech Republic | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
Key Patterns in the 2018 Standings
Norway won the most total medals (39), while Germany led in golds (14) and formed a tie at the top of the gold-medal count. The Netherlands and Sweden posted particularly strong overall tallies, and several nations converted a modest number of golds into higher total counts through silvers and bronzes. The host South Korea placed seventh with five golds, 8 silvers, and 6 bronzes for a total of 19.
How the Medal Count Works
The traditional Olympic medal table orders by golds first; ties are broken first by silver, then by bronze, and finally by total count if needed. This method emphasizes peak performance while still recognizing consistency across a broader set of podium finishes.
- Primary sort: Gold medals
- Tiebreaker 1: Silver medals
- Tiebreaker 2: Bronze medals
- Final tiebreaker: Total medals
Notable Country Performances
Germany and Norway combined for more than a quarter of all golds awarded. Canada and the United States balanced strong gold tallies with deep podium depth, while Switzerland and the Netherlands leveraged consistency across multiple sports to secure top-six positions. Finland’s single-gold profile produced a compact, high-value haul with fewer but impactful results.
Context and Comparisons Over Time
Although the 2018 standings reflect a strong winter performance for many northern nations, historical comparisons show that summer and winter rankings can diverge significantly due to different sports and competitive ecosystems. Germany’s 2018 pattern, for example, differed from its summer Olympic results, while Norway’s depth in cross-country and ski events underpinned its total-medal lead.
FAQ
Reader questions
Why does Norway rank above Germany if gold counts are tied?
Norway earned more total medals (39 versus 31), and after golds are tied, the standings use silver and bronze counts along with the overall total to determine placement.
Did the host nation perform strongly in the medal table?
South Korea placed seventh with 19 total medals, a solid but not dominant performance typical of many host nations in Winter Games.
How are ties resolved in the official table?
Ties on golds are broken first by silver, then by bronze, and then by the total number of medals. This approach rewards both peak success and consistent podium finishes.
Are these medal counts final and verified?
Yes. The International Olympic Committee and PyeongChang organizers published the final medal table, and it has remained unchanged since the Closing Ceremony.
What would change if the table were sorted by total medals only?
Sorting by total medals would elevate countries like Norway and the Netherlands, while nations with fewer total but more golds (such as Germany) would drop slightly in the ranking.