Found this list. It is a bit dated, but it makes interesting reading. It gives a list of Ippons in Japanese High School & College Championships over a 10 year period. The number to the right of the throw indicates the number of ippons the throw registered. Interesting reading.

What you think?

http://www.bestjudo.com/article/0924/frequency-judo-techniques

NB Although there are a lot of throws in there also note there are non-throwing techniques too (e.g. pins).

456 - I'd vote Osoto gari or Uchimata.

These are the 4 important judo throws one has to learn.
Tsurikomi-goshi
Harai-goshi
Tai-otoshi
Hane-goshi
You may also want to check out the video I saw in youtube
67 Judo throws http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1464560751681788897#

The most effective Judo throw is the one that works at the time.

I fully agree with that, and the same goes for all other arts as well (my experience of judo is near to zero). To me these lists don't show which throws work best; they show which throws the adequate situation arises most often for.

It certainly doesn't mean such lists are useless, though: if statistics show that the iron is a more common weapon in attacks than the toaster, it definitely pleads for working an extra bit on ones iron-defense techniques (doesn't mean that toaster-defense techniques are less effective though... Just than the need for them arises less often).

nice find prizewriter--I gotta say I'm suprised osoto gari is 3rd on the list--that's my highest percentage throw!

I would think the most successful throws would depend on the skills of the Judoka

Just anecdotal..and i've only done a bit of Judo:

But pretty much everyone I know favors harai goshi and uchimata.

They seem really common in the Judo i've watched too.

I'd like to point out that this is really more of a popularity contest than a true measure of effectiveness. It may be that some of the lower numbers are simply the result of a technique being less popular or less well known (or taught later only to higher belt ranks). You'd have to account for these other variables to ensure that you have a fair measure of effectiveness.