Tourism: Ethiopia, South Africa, Morocco lead Top African Nations With UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Africa is home to some of the world’s most remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites, celebrated for their cultural, historical, and natural significance.

These landmarks highlight the continent’s rich heritage, offering a glimpse into its diverse civilizations, breathtaking landscapes, and unique ecosystems.

According to africa.businessinsider.com, these heritage sites, designated for their outstanding universal value, play a vital role in preserving Africa’s heritage while contributing to its economic and social development.

UNESCO defines these heritage sites as locations that have outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

These sites are often at the top of holidaymakers’ travel plans, as they are popular tourist destinations that generate significant revenue for the host countries through tourism.

READ: Africa: UNESCO Adds 42 New Sites, Expanding World Heritage List to 1,199; Europe Boasts 472 Cultural Sites, While Africa Claims 56 – Chart Reveals Disparity

Significant efforts have been made to increase the number of World Heritage Sites and preserve the heritage of existing ones on the continent.

As of 2024, the world is home to 1,223 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, celebrated for their exceptional cultural, historical, and natural significance.

These sites include 952 cultural, 231 natural, and 40 mixed properties.

READ: Tourism: Africa’s Heritage Shines Bright as UNESCO World Heritage Committee Celebrates Five New Inscriptions, now Totaling 112 out of 1199 Global Listings Across Sub-Saharan Africa

Leading the country with the highest number of heritage sites globally is Italy with 60 sites, followed by China with 59, and Germany with 54.

Africa is home to a wealth of cultural and natural treasures, many of which have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

These sites, designated for their outstanding universal value, play a vital role in preserving Africa’s heritage while contributing to its economic and social development.

There are currently 98 properties inscribed on the World Heritage List in Africa, including 54 cultural properties, 39 natural properties and 5 mixed properties.

According to the UNESCO data, the following African countries have the highest number of UNESCO world heritage sites;

Following closely are Morocco and Tunisia, with nine sites each, while Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, and Tanzania each have seven sites.

Trailing behind are Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Libya, and Zimbabwe, each with five World Heritage Sites.