The 1978 FIVB Women's World Championship was the eighth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB. It was held from 25 August to 7 September 1978 in the Soviet Union.
Source:
The tournament was played in three different stages (first, second and final rounds). In the , the 23 participants were divided in six groups (A to F, five groups of four teams and one group of three teams). A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, all teams progressed to the next round.
In the , four new groups were created, two groups of six teams playing for 1st-12th (G and H) and two groups (one of six teams and one of five teams) playing for 13th-23rd (I and L), teams were allocated to a group according to their group position (best two teams of each group going to 1st-12th groups and the remaining teams to 13th-23rd groups). A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, matches already played between teams in the also counted in this round, all teams progressed to the next round.
In the , teams were allocated to a semifinal for placements according to their group position (groups G and H best two teams to 1st-4th, third and fourth to 5th-8th, fifth and sixth to 9th-12th while groups I and L best two teams to 13th-16th, third and fourth to 16th-20th, fifth and sixth to 21st-23rd). Winners and losers of all semifinals played a last match for final standings places.
Location: Leningrad
Location: Volgograd
Location: Leningrad
Location: Minsk
Location: Riga
Location: Volgograd
The results and the points of the matches between the same teams that were already played during the first round are taken into account for the second round.
Location: Leningrad
Location: Volgograd
Location: Minsk
Location: Riga