1268 properties177 countries58 in danger
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The ten selection criteria

A property must meet at least one of ten criteria to be inscribed. Criteria (i)–(vi) are cultural, (vii)–(x) natural; a site meeting both kinds is “mixed”. Summaries below are our own plain-English wording.

cultural

Cultural criteria (i)–(vi)

(i)A masterpiece of human creative genius.265 sites(ii)Shows a major exchange of ideas — in architecture, technology, art, town planning or landscape design — over time or across a cultural area.495 sites(iii)A unique or exceptional witness to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, living or vanished.531 sites(iv)An outstanding example of a building type, ensemble or landscape that illustrates a significant stage in human history.657 sites(v)An outstanding example of a traditional settlement or use of land or sea that represents a culture, especially one now vulnerable.178 sites(vi)Directly linked to events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.276 sites
natural

Natural criteria (vii)–(x)

(vii)Superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty.154 sites(viii)An outstanding record of the major stages of Earth’s history: the record of life, geological processes or landforms.101 sites(ix)An outstanding example of ongoing ecological and biological processes in ecosystems on land, in fresh water or at sea.143 sites(x)The most important natural habitats for conserving biological diversity, including threatened species.175 sites

Data: Wikidata (CC0) · danger list as published in 2026 · independent atlas, not affiliated with UNESCO or Petit Futé.