First UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The inaugural World Heritage Sites inducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was a group of 12 properties inscribed in 1978. In order of their reference number listing, these were the Galápagos Islands, City of Quito (both Ecuador), Aachen Cathedral (Germany), L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site (Canada), Simien National Park, Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (both Ethiopia), Nahanni National Park (Canada), Island of Gorée (Senegal), Mesa Verde National Park, Yellowstone National Park (both USA), Historic Centre of Kraków and Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (both Poland).

With this project, UNESCO aims to “encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.”

To date, the year that saw the most World Heritage Sites inducted is 2000 (session 24), during which 61 properties were inscribed. The next most prolific years in terms of inductions are 1999 (48) and 1997 (46), with 1979 and 2023 tied on 45 apiece.

As of 31 July 2024, there are 1,223 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with Italy being the country with the most (60), followed by China (59) and Germany (54).