List of Miss Universe runners-up and finalists
This article provides the names of the runners-up in the Miss Universe pageant since the pageant's first edition in 1952.
Table of Miss Universe runner-up and finalists
The pageant has awarded a top-five finalists from 1952 to 1989 and from 2001 up to 2014, with the first, second, third and fourth Runner-Up being awarded. From 1990 to 1997, the number of finalists was increased to six. From 1998 to 2000 and since 2015, it was reverted to five but only up to the second runner-up was awarded (regardless if the pageant post-announces the placements of the other 2 delegates who made it to the Top 5).
This table shows the top-five finalists of each competition, from its inception in 1952.
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Countries/Territories by number of finalists
1st Runner-Up
The first Runner-Up of each edition of Miss Universe is the second placer behind the candidate who is crowned as Miss Universe (first placer). In some cases, she shall take over the title of Miss Universe, if:
- The outgoing titleholder cannot fulfill her duties. This could happen and may result to resignation, giving up the title, or dethronement
- The titleholder is dethroned due to deeds that violate the organization's policies. This has only happened in 2002.
There were instances that the winner is not replaced by the first Runner-Up, when she decides to voluntarily resign from her position, given the formal permission from the organization (1952 and 1974).
This table lists the number of 1st Runner-Up titles by country. There are some special considerations:
- Hawaii competed as an independent territory from 1952 to 1959, before it joined the United States, holding one 1st Runner-Up title on its own.
- The United Kingdom (currently competing under the name of Great Britain) competed separately as England (from 1955 to 1962 and then again from 1964 to 1990), Scotland (from 1961 to 1986 and then again from 1988 to 1990) and Wales (from 1961 to 1990), holding a total of four 1st Runner-Up titles which are counted together.
- As Panama took over the Miss Universe title in 2002, it is unknown if the 1st Runner-Up position was taken by another candidate after the succession took place.
The current 1st Runner-Up is Madison Anderson from Puerto Rico, as for the edition that took place on December 8, 2019 in Atlanta, United States.
| Country/Territory | Titles | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
 United States |
9 | 1953, 1970, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1990, 2004, 2014 |
 Colombia |
6 | 1992, 1993, 1994, 2008, 2015, 2017 |
 Venezuela |
1967, 1976, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 | |
 Brazil |
5 | 1954, 1957, 1958, 1972, 2007 |
 Great Britain |
4 | 1961, 1964, 1974, 1980 |
 Finland |
3 | 1965, 1966, 1969 |
 Puerto Rico |
2 | 2005, 2019 |
 South Africa |
1984, 2018 | |
 Haiti |
1975, 2016 | |
 Spain |
1985, 2013 | |
 Philippines |
1999, 2012 | |
 Italy |
1960, 1987 | |
 Ukraine |
1 | 2011 |
 Jamaica |
2010 | |
 Dominican Republic |
2009 | |
 Japan |
2006 | |
 Greece |
2001 | |
 Aruba |
1996 | |
 India |
1995 | |
 Netherlands |
1991 | |
 Sweden |
1989 | |
 South Korea |
1988 | |
 Guam |
1982 | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada |
1981 | |
 Bermuda |
1979 | |
 Austria |
1977 | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia |
1971 | |
 Curaçao |
1968 | |
 Denmark |
1963 | |
 Iceland |
1962 | |
 Norway |
1959 | |
 Germany |
1956 | |
 El Salvador |
1955 | |
 Hawaii |
1952 |
2nd Runner-Up
The second Runner-Up of each edition of Miss Universe is the third placer behind the candidate who is crowned as Miss Universe (first placer) and the first Runner-Up (second placer). Although it has never happened, the second Runner-Up is supposed to take over the Miss Universe title if both the original winner and the first Runner-Up are unable to fulfill their duties/resign their titles. For example, if a Miss Universe winner is required to give up her title and the first Runner-Up is unable/does not want to assume the winner's position, the title then passes to the second Runner-Up.
This table lists the number of 2nd Runner-Up titles by country. There are some special considerations as well:
- Hawaii competed as an independent territory from 1952 to 1959, before it joined the United States, holding one 2nd Runner-Up title on its own.
- The United Kingdom (currently competing under the name of Great Britain) competed separately as England (from 1955 to 1962 and then again from 1964 to 1990), Scotland (from 1961 to 1986 and then again from 1988 to 1990) and Wales (from 1961 to 1990), holding a total of five 2nd Runner-Up titles which are counted together.
- It is unknown if Zhuo Ling, Miss Universe 2002 second Runner-Up, took over the first Runner-Up position after Justine Pasek took over the winner's place, as no official statements regarding this matter were made by the organization.
The current 2nd Runner-Up is Sofía Aragón from Mexico, as for the edition that took place on December 8, 2019 in Atlanta, United States.
| Country/Territory | Titles | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Venezuela |
7 | 1972, 1984, 1993, 1994, 2007, 2012, 2018 |
| United States |
1959, 1965, 1975, 1987, 1989, 2001, 2015 | |
| Finland |
5 | 1962, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1996 |
| Great Britain |
1957, 1967, 1976, 1977, 1979 | |
| Colombia |
3 | 1986, 1990, 2016 |
| Australia |
1969, 1970, 2010 | |
| Spain |
1978, 1999, 2000 | |
 Mexico |
2 | 1988, 2019 |
| Dominican Republic |
2005, 2008 | |
| Puerto Rico |
1998, 2004 | |
 Ireland |
1963, 1983 | |
| Sweden |
1956, 1981 | |
| Jamaica |
1 | 2017 |
| Ukraine |
2014 | |
 Ecuador |
2013 | |
| Brazil |
2011 | |
 Kosovo |
2009 | |
 Switzerland |
2006 | |
| South Africa |
2003 | |
 China |
2002 | |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
1997 | |
| Canada |
1995 | |
| India |
1992 | |
 Soviet Union[C] |
1991 | |
 Zaire[B] |
1985 | |
| Italy |
1982 | |
 New Zealand |
1980 | |
| Norway |
1973 | |
 Thailand |
1966 | |
 Israel |
1964 | |
 Argentina |
1961 | |
| Austria |
1960 | |
| Hawaii |
1958 | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Ceylon[A] |
1955 | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Hong Kong |
1954 | |
| Japan |
1953 | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Greece |
1952 |
Notes
A Now known as 
Sri Lanka
B Now known as 
DR Congo
C The results of Miss USSR were inherited by Miss Russia.
References
- Lo, Ricky (June 8, 2006). "A misty-eyed look at Armi Kuusela, the 1st Miss Universe". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
- "LOOK: Pia Wurtzbach meets Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler". Rappler. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
- "Miss Colombia crowned Miss Universe in Miami". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 2015. Archived from the original on January 26, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- Hegina, Aries Joseph; Alviar, Vaughn (December 21, 2015). "Philippines' Pia Wurtzbach is Miss Universe 2015". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- McDermott, Maeve (January 30, 2017). "Miss France Iris Mittenaere is crowned Miss Universe 2017". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
- "Miss Universe 2019: 'May every little girl see their faces reflected in mine'". BBC News. December 9, 2019. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2020.