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There are 217 natural World Heritage Sites
Natural and Mixed World Heritage Sites protect over 266 million hectares (ha) of land and sea. 89 countries have an area designated as a natural or mixed World Heritage Site. The average area of a natural World Heritage Site is c. 1,263,100 ha |
Areas protected by World Heritage amount to around:
- 11% of the total area of all recorded protected areas
- 25% of the total area of all recorded marine protected areas
- 6% of the total area of all recorded terrestrial protected areas
Of all areas listed as protected areas in the World Database of Protected Areas, World Heritage Sites include:
- 16% of the total protected area in the Asia Pacific Region
- 11% of the total protected area in Africa
- 8% of the total protected area in Latin America and the Caribbean
- 9% of the total protected area in the Arab States
- 13% of the total protected area in Europe and North America.
For the countries with an area designated as a natural or mixed World Heritage site:
- In 21 countries, the extent of World Heritage Sites is more than 25% of all protected areas
- In 41 countries, the extent of World Heritage Sites is more than 10% of all protected areas
- More than half of the member states of the World Heritage Convention have no natural World Heritage Site.
The average area of a natural World Heritage Site is c. 1,263,100 ha (12,631 sq km). Excluding the very large Phoenix Islands Protected Areas, Papahānaumokuākea and Great Barrier Reef, the average size is c. 727,000 ha (7,270 square kilometers).
