UNESCO World Heritage: which country has the most sites?
In 2026, Italy ranked first in the world in terms of the number of sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are 62 sites with this status in the country. Meanwhile, China ranks second with 61 sites.
UNESCO World Heritage: which country has the most sites?
Based on UNESCO data, a ranking of countries with the highest number of World Heritage sites has been compiled. In this ranking, transboundary sites located on the territory of several countries are counted for each state participating in their protection.
Italy ranks first in the rating with 62 sites. China is in second place with 61 sites.
The subsequent positions are occupied by France with 56 sites, Germany with 55 sites, and Spain with 50 sites. India is recorded in sixth place with 45 World Heritage sites.
Italy's high result is explained by the very high density of cultural heritage sites from various historical periods on the country's territory. Among them are monuments of the Ancient Roman era, medieval cities, and examples of Renaissance art and architecture. At the same time, natural sites and cultural landscapes are also included in Italy's list.
The 61 sites in China span several millennia of history. Among them are imperial and religious heritage sites, archaeological monuments, as well as areas with unique biodiversity, karst landscapes, and mountainous regions.
European and Asian countries account for more than 70 percent of the World Heritage sites shown on the map.
UNESCO divides World Heritage sites into cultural, natural, and mixed types. Cultural heritage can include architectural monuments, archaeological sites, and cultural landscapes shaped by human activity.
Natural heritage sites, on the other hand, encompass unique geological formations, ecosystems, habitats of rare species, and areas of exceptional natural beauty. Mixed sites meet both cultural and natural heritage criteria simultaneously.
To be included in the World Heritage List, a site must possess "outstanding universal value" and meet at least one of the ten criteria established by UNESCO. Countries themselves submit nominations for the inclusion of sites in the list, and the final decision is made by the World Heritage Committee.
In 2026, UNESCO inscribed six sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Three of them were added to this list under an emergency procedure.