Handball at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification
The qualification for the 2012 Women's Olympic Handball Tournament is held from December 2010 to May 2012.
Qualification summary
| Legend for qualification type |
| Team qualified to the 2012 Olympic Tournament |
| Team qualified from the World Championship to the Olympic Qualification Tournament |
| Team qualified from Continental Events to the Olympic Qualification Tournament |
World Championship
Notes:- The six best teams not yet qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games are qualified for one of the three World Olympic qualification tournaments.
- Qualification to the Olympic qualification tournament through the World Championship supersedes qualification through the Continental Championship.
| Rank | Team |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 | |
| 24 |
Continental qualification
Europe (1st ranking continent)
Notes:- Norway is both European and World Champion, so Sweden goes directly to the Olympic Tournament in London on the European Champions spot.
| Rank | Team |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 |
America (2nd ranking continent)
- Winner goes to the Olympic Tournament, the runner-up and third go to one of the qualification tournament
| Rank | Team |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 |
Africa (3rd ranking continent)
- Winner goes to the Olympic Tournament, the runner-up goes to one of the qualification tournament
| Rank | Team |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 |
Asia (4th ranking continent)
- Winner goes to the Olympic Tournament, the runner-up goes to one of the qualification tournament
2012 IHF Qualification Tournaments
| 2012 IHF Qualification Tournament #1 | 2012 IHF Qualification Tournament #2 | 2012 IHF Qualification Tournament #3 |
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Note :
- Continents are ranked based on the 2011 World Championship results.
- If the Oceania representative at the 2011 World Championship had placed from 8th to 12th, Oceania would have earned a spot for IHF Qualification Tournament #3 : Oceania’s representative placed 24th so, Dominican Republic, 3rd from Continent 2, are qualified.
2012 IHF Qualification Tournament #1
- Venue: Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, France
- All times are Central European Time.
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2012 IHF Qualification Tournament #2
- Venue: Palacio Multiusos de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Spain
- All times are Central European Time.
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2012 IHF Qualification Tournament #3
- Venue: Gigantium, Aalborg, Denmark
- All times are Central European Time.
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