Of the world’s total 80 World Heritage Sites, 37 can be found in seven countries, while the rest are spread across thirty-five others. Here is the complete list from the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
At the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, held in Christchurch, New Zealand, a total of seven new sites were given World Heritage status. These bring to 80 the total number of World Heritage Sites – sites considered under the World Heritage Convention of 1972 to be of unique natural and cultural value.
There are 42 countries with at least one site of World Heritage status, and of these 7 countries stand out with the most number of World Heritage Sites. Here is the complete list from the records of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee:
1. Topping the list is the United States with 9 World Heritage Sites. These are: Bryce Canyon in southern Utah, Chaco Cultural/National Historical Park in New Mexico, Everglades in Florida, Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado, Redwood National Park in northern California, Statue of Liberty in New York, Yellowstone National Park in the Rocky Mountains, and Yosemite National Park in California.
2. Canada is a close second with 8: Anthony Island in British Columbia, Banff National Park in southern Alberta, Citadel in Quebec, Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in southern Alberta, L’ Anse-au-Meadow National Historical Park in northern Newfoundland, Nahanni National Park in the Northwest Territories, and Wood Buffalo National Park on the borders of Northwest Territories and Alberta.
3. Occupying the third spot is India with 7: Agra in Uttar Pradesh, Gir Lion National Park in Gujarat, Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan, Khajuraho in Chhatarpur, Nanda Devi National Park in Uttar Pradesh, and The Red Fort Complex in New Delhi.
4. Next comes Spain with 4: Altamira near Santander, Great Mosque in Cordoba, Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, and Toledo which was once the capital of Spain.
5. Three countries share fifth to seventh places with 3 each: England (Blenheim Palace, Fountains Abbey, and Hadrian’s Wall); Japan (Akan National Park, Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park); and Peru (Chavin-de-Huantar, Cuzco, and Lake Titicaca which is shared with Bolivia).
6. There are nine countries with 2 World Heritage Sites each. These countries are: Australia, China, France, Greece, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Turkmenistan.
7. Completing the list, with 1 each, are the following twenty-six countries: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bolivia (Lake Titicaca is shared with Peru), Brazil, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Iran, Ivory Coast, Java, Kenya, Libya, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Tasmania, Tunisia, Zaire, and Zimbabwe.