Culture facts & stats

Question 1

About what share of World Heritage Sites are classified as 'cultural' rather than natural or mixed?

Accepted Answer

about 78% (972 of 1,248). Cultural sites, like historic cities, monuments and archaeological sites, far outnumber natural ones on the list.

Question 2

In what year was the World Heritage Convention adopted, creating the modern World Heritage list?

Accepted Answer

1972. It took a few more years, until 1978, for the first sites to actually be inscribed.

Question 3

As of late 2024, about how many countries have ratified the World Heritage Convention?

Accepted Answer

196 states. That makes it one of the most widely ratified international agreements of its kind.

Question 4

About what share of forested natural World Heritage Sites have lost some forest cover since 2000?

Accepted Answer

91%. Even protected, globally significant natural sites haven't been immune to deforestation pressures.

Question 5

Roughly how many countries have 15 or more World Heritage Sites?

Accepted Answer

23 countries. Italy leads the list, with many other European countries also home to a large number of sites.

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