World Heritage Sites are designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural, historic, scientific, and natural heritage sites around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This entry includes two subfields: total World Heritage Sites and selected World Heritage Site locales. The former consists of natural sites, cultural sites, and mixed (natural and cultural) sites in a country; the latter presents a representative sample of the sites found within a country.

Topic: Afghanistantotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Minaret of Jam, Buddhas of Bamyan

Topic: Albaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Butrint, Historic Berat and Gjirokastër, Primeval Beech Forests, Lake Ohrid Region

Topic: Algeriatotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Beni Hammad Fort (c), Djémila (c), Casbah of Algiers (c), M'zab Valley (c), Tassili n'Ajjer (m), Timgad (c), Tipasa (c)

Topic: Andorratotal World Heritage Sites:  1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

Topic: Angolatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Mbanza-Kongo

Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Naval Dockyard

Topic: Argentinatotal World Heritage Sites: 11 (6 cultural, 5 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Los Glaciares National Park (n), Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis, Iguazú National Park (n), Cueva de las Manos (c), Valdés Península (n), Ischigualasto/Talampaya National Parks (n), Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba (c), Quebrada de Humahuaca (c), Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

Topic: Armeniatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (3 cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley, Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin

Topic: Australiatotal World Heritage Sites: 20 (4 cultural, 12 natural, 4 mixed); note - includes one site on Heard Island and McDonald Islands

selected World Heritage Site locales: Great Barrier Reef (n), Greater Blue Mountains Area (n), Fraser Island (n), Gondwana Rainforests (n), Lord Howe Island Group (n), Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (c), Shark Bay (n), Sydney Opera House (c), Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (m), Kakadu National Park (m)

Topic: Austriatotal World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Salzburg (c); Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (c); Halstadt–Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape (c); Semmering railway (c); Historic Graz and Schloss Eggenberg (c); Wachau Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Vienna (c); Fertő/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Baden bei Wien (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Dürrenstein, Kalkalpen (n)

Topic: Azerbaijantotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Walled City of Baku, Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, Historic Center of Sheki

Topic: Bahraintotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Dilmun Burial Mounds, Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun, Bahrain Pearling Path

Topic: Bangladeshtotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Bagerhat Historic Mosque (c), Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (c), Sundarbans (n)

Topic: Barbadostotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison

Topic: Belarustotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Białowieża Forest (n); Mir Castle Complex (c); Architectural, Residential, and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (c)

Topic: Belgiumtotal World Heritage Sites: 15 (14 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Belfries of Belgium (c); Historic Brugge (c); The Grand Place, Brussels (c); Major Town Houses of Victor Horta (c); Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tournai (c); Spa, Liege (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Sonian Wood (n); Stoclet Palace (c)

Topic: Belizetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System

Topic: Benintotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Palaces of Abomey (c), W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n)

Topic: Bermudatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the UK entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications

Topic: Boliviatotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Potosi (c), El Fuerte de Samaipata (c), Historic Sucre (c), Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos (c), Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (n), Tiahuanacu (c),  Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Bridge Area of Mostar (c), Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge (c), Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c), Primeval Beech Forests - Janj Forest (n)

Topic: Botswanatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsodilo Hills (c), Okavango Delta (n)

Topic: Braziltotal World Heritage Sites: 23 (15 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Brasilia (c), Historic Salvador de Bahia (c), Historic Ouro Preto (c), Historic Olinda (c), Iguaçu National Park (n), Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c), Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c), Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n), Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n)

Topic: Bulgariatotal World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Boyana Church (c), Madara Rider (c), Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (c), Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (c), Rila Monastery (c), Ancient City of Nessebar (c), Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (c), Srebarna Nature Reserve (n), Pirin National Park (n), Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n)

Topic: Burkina Fasototal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of Loropéni (c), Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites (c), W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n)

Topic: Burmatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Pyu Ancient Cities, Bagan

Topic: Cabo Verdetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Cidade Velha, Historic Center of Ribeira Grande

Topic: Cambodiatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Angkor, Temple of Preah Vihear, Sambor Prei Kuk

Topic: Cameroontotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Dja Faunal Reserve, Sangha Trinational Forest

Topic: Canadatotal World Heritage Sites: 20 (9 cultural, 10 natural, 1 mixed) (2021)

selected World Heritage Site locales: L'Anse aux Meadows (c), Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (n), Dinosaur Provincial Park (n), Historic District of Old Quebec (c), Old Town Lunenburg (c), Wood Buffalo National Park (n), Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (c), Gros Morne National Park (n)

Topic: Central African Republictotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park, Sangha Trinational Forest

Topic: Chadtotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ennedi Massif: Natural and Cultural Landscape (m)

Topic: Chiletotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Rapa Nui National Park; Churches of Chiloe; Historic Valparaiso; Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works; Sewell Mining Town; Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System; Chinchorro archeological sites

Topic: Chinatotal World Heritage Sites: 56 (14 natural, 38 cultural, 4 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (c); The Great Wall (c); Summer Palace (c); Jiuzhaigou Valley (n); Potala Palace (c); Ancient Pingyao (c); Historic Macau (c); Dengfeng (c); Grand Canal (c)

Topic: Colombiatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Chiribiquete National Park (m), Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (c), Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox (c), Los Katíos National Park (n), Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (n), Tierradentro National Archeological Park (c), San Agustín Archaeological Park (c), Colonial Cartagena (c), Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (all natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Garamba National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Salonga National Park, Virunga National Park

Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Sangha Trinational Forest

Topic: Costa Ricatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (1 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Guanacaste Conservation Area (n), Cocos Island National Park (n), Precolumbian Stone Spheres (c), La Amistad International Park (n)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Comoé National Park (n), Historic Grand-Bassam (c), Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (n), Sudanese-style Mosques (c), Taï National Park (n)

Topic: Croatiatotal World Heritage Sites: 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Plitvice Lakes National Park (n), Historic Split (c), Old City of Dubrovnik (c), Euphrasian Basilica, Historic Trogir (c), Šibenik Cathedral (c), Stari Grad Plain (c), Zadar and Fort St. Nikola Venetian Defense Works (c), Primeval Beech Forests (n), Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c)

Topic: Cubatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Havana (c); Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (c); San Pedro de la Roca Castle (c); Desembarco del Granma National Park (n); Viñales Valley (c); Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations (c); Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (n); Historic Cienfuegos (c); Historic Camagüey (c)

Topic: Curacaototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the Netherlands entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Willemstad

Topic: Cyprustotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Paphos, Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, Choirokoitia

Topic: Czechiatotal World Heritage Sites: 16 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Prague; Historic Telč; Historic Český Krumlov; Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape; Historic Kutná Hora; Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc; Karlovy Vary Spa

Topic: Denmarktotal World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural); note - includes three sites in Greenland

selected World Heritage Site locales: Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c)

Topic: Dominicatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area

Topic: Dominican Republictotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Colonial City of Santo Domingo

Topic: Ecuadortotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Quito (c), Galápagos Islands (n), Historic Cuenca (c), Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c), Sangay National Park (n)

Topic: Egypttotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Memphis and its Necropolis (c), Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (c), Nubian Monuments (c), Saint Catherine Area (c), Abu Mena (c), Historic Cairo (c), Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) (n)

Topic: El Salvadortotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site

Topic: Eritreatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Asmara: A Modernist African City

Topic: Estoniatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn,  Struve Geodetic Arc

Topic: Ethiopiatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (8 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Axum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c)

Topic: Fijitotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Levuka Historical Port Town

Topic: Finlandtotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Fortress of Suomenlinna (c), Old Rauma (c), Petäjävesi Old Church (c), Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c), Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c), High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n), Struve Geodetic Arc (c)

Topic: Francetotal World Heritage Sites: 49 (43 cultural, 5 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in New Caledonia and one site in French Polynesia

selected World Heritage Site locales: Chartres Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Versailles (c); Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley (c); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay (c); Paris, Banks of the Seine (c); The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes (c); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) (c); Amiens Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Fontainebleau (c); Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne (c)

Topic: French Polynesiatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the France entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: Taputapuātea

Topic: Gabontotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda (m), Ivindo National Park (n)

Topic: Gambia, Thetotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites, Stone Circles of Senegambia

Topic: Georgiatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Gelati Monastery (c), Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (c), Upper Svaneti (c), Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (n)

Topic: Germanytotal World Heritage Sites: 51 (48 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (c); Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (c); Speyer Cathedral (c); Upper Middle Rhine Valley (c); Aachen Cathedral (c); Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau, and Bernau (c); Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (c); Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar, and Upper Harz Water Management System (c); Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter, and Church of Our Lady in Trier (c); Hanseatic City of Lübeck (c); Old Town of Regensburg (c)

Topic: Ghanatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings

Topic: Greecetotal World Heritage Sites: 18 (16 cultural, 2 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Acropolis, Athens (c), Archaeological site of Delphi (c), Meteora (m), Medieval City of Rhodes (c), Archaeological site of Olympia (c), Archaeological site of Mycenae and Tiryns (c), Old Town of Corfu (c), Mount Athos (m), Delos (c), Archaeological Site of Philippi (c)

Topic: Greenlandtotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c)

Topic: Guatemalatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Guatemala (c), Tikal National Park (m), Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua (c)

Topic: Guineatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve

Topic: Haititotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers

Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandstotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the Australia entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City

Topic: Hondurastotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Maya Site of Copan (c), Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (n)

Topic: Hungarytotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue (c); Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment (c); Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta (c); Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) (c); Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (c)

Topic: Icelandtotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Thingvellir National Park (c), Surtsey (n), Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n)

Topic: Indiatotal World Heritage Sites: 40 (32 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Taj Mahal (c), Red Fort Complex (c), Ellora Caves (c), Hill Forts of Rajasthan (c), Sundarbans National Park (n), Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (c), Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (c), Dholavira: A Harappan City (c), Jaipur (c), Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (c), Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (n), Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (n)

Topic: Indonesiatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (5 cultural, 4 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Borobudur Temple Compounds (c), Komodo National Park (n), Prambanan Temple Compounds (c), Ujung Kulon National Park (n), Sangiran Early Man Site (c), Lorentz National Park (n), Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (n), Cultural Landscape of Bali Province (c), Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto (c)

Topic: Irantotal World Heritage Sites: 26 (24 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Persepolis (c), Tchogha Zanbil (c), Bam and its Cultural Landscape (c), Golestan Palace (c), Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (c), Pasargadae (c), Hyrcanian Forests (n), Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (c), Meidan Emam, Esfahan (c), Bisotun (c)

Topic: Iraqtotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (c), Babylon (c), Erbil Citadel (c), Hatra (c), Samarra Archaeological City (c), The Ahwar (Marshland) of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities (m)

Topic: Irelandtotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne, Sceilg Mhichíl

Topic: Israeltotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Masada; Old City of Acre; White City of Tel-Aviv - the Modern Movement; Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba; Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev; Bahá’i Holy Places; Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel; Caves of Maresha and Bet-Guvrin; Necropolis of Bet She’arim

Topic: Italytotal World Heritage Sites: 58 (53 cultural, 5 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome (c); Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata (c); Venice and its Lagoon (c); Historic Center of Florence (c); Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (c); Historic Centre of Naples (c); Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (c); Villa d'Este, Tivoli (c); Mount Etna (n); Rock Drawings in Valcamonica (c); Historic Siena (c)

Topic: Jamaicatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Blue and John Crow Mountains

Topic: Japantotal World Heritage Sites: 25 (20 cultural, 5 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Himeji-jo (c); Shiretoko (n); Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (c); Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape (c); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c); Yakushima (n); Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (c); Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (c)

Topic: Jordantotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Petra (c), Quseir Amra (c), Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a) (c), Wadi Rum Protected Area (m), Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas) (c), As-Salt - The Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality (c)

Topic: Kazakhstantotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (c), Petroglyphs at Tanbaly (c), Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (n), Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c), Western Tien-Shan (n)

Topic: Kenyatotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (4 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Turkana National Parks (n); Mount Kenya National Park (n); Lamu Old Town (c); Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (c); Fort Jesus, Mombasa (c); Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (n); Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site (c)

Topic: Kiribatitotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Topic: Korea, Northtotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Koguryo Tombs Complex, Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong

Topic: Korea, Southtotal World Heritage Sites: 15 (13 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (n); Changdeokgung Palace Complex (c); Jongmyo Shrine (c); Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple (c); Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (c); Gyeongju Historic Areas (c); Namhansanseong (c); Baekje Historic Areas (c); Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea (c); Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (c)

Topic: Kosovototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (c); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien Shan (n)

Topic: Laostotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Town of Luangphrabang, Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements, Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars

Topic: Latviatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Riga, Struve Geodetic Arc

Topic: Lebanontotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Anjar, Baalbek, Byblos, Tyre, Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)

Topic: Lesothototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Maloti-Drakensberg Park

Topic: Libyatotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Cyrene, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Archaeological Site of Sabratha, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus, Old Town of Ghadamès

Topic: Lithuaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Vilnius Historic Center, Curonian Spit, Kernavė Archaeological Site, Struve Geodetic Arc

Topic: Luxembourgtotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Luxembourg City Old Quarters and Fortifications

Topic: Madagascartotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n), Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c), Atsinanana Rainforests  (n)

Topic: Malawitotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Malawi National Park (n), Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c)

Topic: Malaysiatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Gunung Mulu National Park (n); Kinabalu Park (n); Malacca and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca (c); Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (c)

Topic: Malitotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Towns of Djenné (c), Timbuktu (c), Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) (m), Tomb of Askia (c)

Topic: Maltatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta, Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Megalithic Temples of Malta

Topic: Marshall Islandstotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site

Topic: Mauritaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Banc d'Arguin National Park (n); Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c)

Topic: Mauritiustotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Aapravasi Ghat, Le Morne Cultural Landscape

Topic: Mexicototal World Heritage Sites: 35 (27 cultural, 6 natural, 2 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Mexico City (c); Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl (c); Teotihuacan (c); Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino (n); Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (n); Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley (m); Historic Puebla (c); El Tajin (c); Historic Tlacotalpan (c); Historic Oaxaca and Monte Albán (c); Palenque (c); Chichen-Itza (c); Uxmal (c)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of Eastern Micronesia

Topic: Moldovatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Struve Geodetic Arc

Topic: Mongoliatotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape (c); Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai (c); Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and surrounding sacred landscape (c); Landscapes of Dauria (n)

Topic: Montenegrototal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor (c), Durmitor National Park (n), Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c), Fortified City of Kotor Venetian Defense Works (c)

Topic: Moroccototal World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Medina of Fez, Medina of Marrakesh, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, Historic City of Meknes, Archaeological Site of Volubilis, Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin), Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador), Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida), Historic and Modern Rabat

Topic: Mozambiquetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Mozambique

Topic: Namibiatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c), Namib Sand Sea (n)

Topic: Nepaltotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Kathmandu Valley (c); Sagarmatha National Park (n); Chitwan National Park (n); Lumbini, Buddha Birthplace (c)

Topic: Netherlandstotal World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural); note - includes one site in Curacao

selected World Heritage Site locales: Schokland and Surroundings (c); Dutch Water Defense Lines (c); Van Nellefabriek (c); Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (c); Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) (c); Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) (c); Wadden Sea (n); Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (c); Colonies of Benevolence (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Lower German Limes (c)

Topic: New Caledoniatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the France entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: Lagoons of New Caledonia

Topic: New Zealandtotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n), Tongariro National Park (m), New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n)

Topic: Nicaraguatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of León Viejo, León Cathedral

Topic: Nigertotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n), W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n), Historic Agadez (c)

Topic: Nigeriatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Sukur Cultural Landscape, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

Topic: North Macedoniatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region, Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians

Topic: Norwaytotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Bryggen (c), Urnes Stave Church (c), Røros Mining Town and the Circumference (c), Rock Art of Alta (c), Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago (c), Struve Geodetic Arc (c), West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (n), Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (c)

Topic: Omantotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat

Topic: Pakistantotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro; Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi; Taxila; Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore; Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta; Rohtas Fort

Topic: Palautotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

Topic: Panamatotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Caribbean Fortifications (c), Darien National Park (n), Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n), Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá (c), Coiba National Park (n)

Topic: Papua New Guineatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Kuk Early Agricultural Site

Topic: Paraguaytotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue

Topic: Perutotal World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 2 natural, 2 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Cuzco (c), Machu Picchu (m), Chavin (c), Historic Lima (c), Huascarán National Park (n), Chan Chan (c), Manú National Park (n), Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca (c), Rio Abiseo National Park (m), Historic Arequipa (c), Sacred City of Caral-Supe (c), Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

Topic: Philippinestotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Baroque Churches of the Philippines (c), Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (n), Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (c), Historic Vigan (c), Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (n), Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (n)

Topic: Polandtotal World Heritage Sites: 17 (15 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Krakow (c); Historic Warsaw (c); Medieval Torun (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (c); Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (c); Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Białowieza Forest (n); Old City of Zamość (c)

Topic: Portugaltotal World Heritage Sites: 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Évora (c); Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (c); Cultural Landscape of Sintra (c); Laurisilva of Madeira (n); Historic Guimarães (c); Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (c); Convent of Christ in Tomar (c); Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (c); University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (c)

Topic: Puerto Ricototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the US entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site

Topic: Qatartotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Al Zubarah Archaeological Site

Topic: Romaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Danube Delta (n), Churches of Moldavia (c), Monastery of Horezu (c), Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c), Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c), Historic Center of Sighişoara (c), Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c), Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n), Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c)

Topic: Russiatotal World Heritage Sites: 30 (19 cultural, 11 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow (c); Historic Saint Petersburg (c); Novodevichy Convent (c); Historic Monuments of Novgorod (c); Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad (c); Volcanoes of Kamchatka (n); Lake Baikal (n); Central Sikhote-Alin (n); Historic Derbent (c); Kazan Kremlin (c)

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

Topic: Saint Luciatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area

Topic: San Marinototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano

Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā ͐ in Ṣāliḥ); At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah; Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah; Rock Art in the Hail Region; Al-Ahsa Oasis; Ḥimā Cultural Area

Topic: Senegaltotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Gorée (c); Niokolo-Koba National Park (n); Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (n); Island of Saint-Louis (c); Stone Circles of Senegambia (c); Saloum Delta (c); Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula, and Bedik Cultural Landscapes (c)

Topic: Serbiatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Stari Ras and Sopoćani; Studenica Monastery; Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius; Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards

Topic: Seychellestotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll, Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

Topic: Singaporetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Singapore Botanic Gardens

Topic: Slovakiatotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica (c), Levoča, Spišský Hrad, and the Associated Cultural Monuments (c), Vlkolínec (c), Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n), Bardejov Town (c), Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n), Wooden Churches of the Slovak Carpathians (c), Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes (Western Segment) (c)

Topic: Sloveniatotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Škocjan Caves (n), Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n), Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c), Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija (c), The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana (c)

Topic: Solomon Islandstotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: East Rennell

Topic: South Africatotal World Heritage Sites: 10 (5 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (c), iSimangaliso Wetland Park (n), Robben Island (c), Maloti-Drakensberg Park (m), Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (c), Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (n), Vredefort Dome (n), Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (c), Khomani Cultural Landscape (c), Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (n)

Topic: Spaintotal World Heritage Sites: 49 (43 cultural, 4 natural, 2 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (c); Works of Antoni Gaudí (c); Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (c); Historic City of Toledo (c); Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (c); Tower of Hercules (c); Doñana National Park (n); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Alhambra, Generalife, and Albayzín in Granada (c);  Old City of Salamanca (c); Teide National Park (n); Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (c); Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (c); Historic Cordoba (c); El Escorial (c)

Topic: Sri Lankatotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (c), Ancient City of Sigiriya (c), Sacred City of Anuradhapura (c), Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (c), Sacred City of Kandy (c), Sinharaja Forest Reserve (n), Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple (c), Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (n)

Topic: Sudantotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (c), Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe (c), Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (n)

Topic: Surinametotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n), Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c)

Topic: Swedentotal World Heritage Sites: 15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c), Laponian Area (m), High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n), Birka and Hovgården (c), Hanseatic Town of Visby (c), Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (c), Naval Port of Karlskrona (c), Rock Carvings in Tanum (c), Engelsberg Ironworks (c), Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c)

Topic: Switzerlandtotal World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 4 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Old City of Berne (c), Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (n), Monte San Giorgio (n), Abbey of St Gall (c), Three Castles, Defensive Wall, and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona (c), Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes (c), La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning (c), Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c), Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair (c), Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces (c)

Topic: Syriatotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient City of Damascus, Ancient City of Bosra, Site of Palmyra, Ancient City of Aleppo, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

Topic: Tajikistantotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Proto-urban Site of Sarazm (c), Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) (n)

Topic: Tanzaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (3 cultural, 3 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ngorongoro Conservation Area (m), Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara (c), Serengeti National Park (n), Selous Game Reserve (n), Kilimanjaro National Park (n), Stone Town of Zanzibar (c), Kondoa Rock-Art Sites (c)

Topic: Thailandtotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Ayutthaya (c), Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c), Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n), Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c), Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n), Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n)

Topic: Togototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba

Topic: Tunisiatotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Amphitheatre of El Jem (c), Archaeological Site of Carthage (c), Medina of Tunis (c), Ichkeul National Park (n), Punic Town of Kerkuane (c), Kairouan (c), Medina of Sousse (c), Dougga / Thugga (c)

Topic: Turkeytotal World Heritage Sites: 19 (17 cultural, 2 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Troy (c), Ephesus (c), Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape (c), Hierapolis-Pamukkale (m), Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia (m), Göbekli Tepe (c), Historic Areas of Istanbul (c), Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex (c), Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük (c), Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire (c)

Topic: Turkmenistantotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Merv, Kunya-Urgench, Parthian Fortresses of Nisa

Topic: Ugandatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (c), Rwenzori Mountains National Park (c), Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi

Topic: Ukrainetotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Kyiv: Saint Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (c); Lviv Historic Center (c); Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans, Chernivtsi (c); Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese, Sevastopol (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c)

Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas)

Topic: United Kingdomtotal World Heritage Sites: 33 (28 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Bermuda

selected World Heritage Site locales: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (n), Ironbridge Gorge (c), Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites (c), Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (c), Blenheim Palace (c), City of Bath (c), Tower of London (c), St Kilda (m), Maritime Greenwich (c), Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (c), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (c), The English Lake District (c)

Topic: United Statestotal World Heritage Sites: 24 (11 cultural, 12 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Puerto Rico

selected World Heritage Site locales: Yellowstone National Park (n), Grand Canyon National Park (n), Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (c), Independence Hall (c), Statue of Liberty (c), Yosemite National Park (n), Papahānaumokuākea (m), Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (c), The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (c), Mesa Verde National Park (c), Mammoth Cave National Park (n), Monticello (c), Olympic National Park (n)

Topic: Uruguaytotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento, Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape, The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida

Topic: Uzbekistantotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Itchan Kala (c), Historic Bukhara (c), Historic Shakhrisyabz (c), Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures (c), Western Tien Shan (n)

Topic: Vanuatutotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Chief Roi Mata’s Domain

Topic: Venezuelatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Coro and its Port (c), Canaima National Park (n), Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (c)

Topic: Vietnamtotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (5 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Complex of Hué Monuments (c), Ha Long Bay (n), Hoi An Ancient Town (c), My Son Sanctuary (c), Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (n), Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi (c), Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (c), Trang An Landscape Complex (m)

Topic: Worldtotal World Heritage Sites: 1154 (897 cultural, 218 natural, 39 mixed)

Topic: Yementotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Walled City of Shibam (c), Old City of Sana'a (c), Historic Town of Zabid (c), Socotra Archipelago (n)

Topic: Zambiatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls

Topic: Zimbabwetotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Mana Pools National Park, Sapi, and Chewore Safari Areas (n), Great Zimbabwe National Monument (c), Khami Ruins National Monument (c), Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls (n), Matobo Hills (c)


Topic: Photos of Azerbaijan

Topic: Introduction
Background: Azerbaijan - a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population - was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. Azerbaijan remains involved in the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh was a primarily ethnic Armenian region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed which sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in May 1994, separatists, with Armenian support, controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Under the terms of a cease-fire agreement following Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War that took place from September-November 2020, Armenia returned to Azerbaijan the remaining territories it had occupied and also the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the culturally and historically important city that Azerbaijanis call Shusha and Armenians call Shushi. Despite Azerbaijan’s territorial gains, peace in the region remains elusive because of unsettled issues concerning the delimitation of borders, the opening of regional transportation and communication links, the status of ethnic enclaves near border regions, and the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh to supervise the cease-fire for a minimum five-year term have not prevented the outbreak of sporadic, low-level military clashes along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in 2021.

In the three decades following its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has succeeded in significantly reducing the poverty rate and has directed revenues from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism, pointing to elections that are neither free nor fair, state control of the media, and the systematic abuse of human rights targeting individuals and groups who are perceived as threats to the administration. The country’s leadership has remained in the Aliyev family since Heydar ALIYEV, formerly the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president in the midst of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993. Heydar ALIYEV groomed his son to succeed him, and Ilham ALIYEV subsequently became president in 2003. As a result of two national referendums that eliminated presidential term limits and extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, President ALIYEV secured a fourth term in April 2018 in an election that international observers noted had serious shortcomings. Reforms are underway to diversify the country’s economy away from its dependence on oil and gas; additional reforms are needed to address weaknesses in government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors, and the court system.Azerbaijan - a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population - was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. Azerbaijan remains involved in the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh was a primarily ethnic Armenian region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed which sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in May 1994, separatists, with Armenian support, controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories.Under the terms of a cease-fire agreement following Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War that took place from September-November 2020, Armenia returned to Azerbaijan the remaining territories it had occupied and also the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the culturally and historically important city that Azerbaijanis call Shusha and Armenians call Shushi. Despite Azerbaijan’s territorial gains, peace in the region remains elusive because of unsettled issues concerning the delimitation of borders, the opening of regional transportation and communication links, the status of ethnic enclaves near border regions, and the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh to supervise the cease-fire for a minimum five-year term have not prevented the outbreak of sporadic, low-level military clashes along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in 2021.

In the three decades following its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has succeeded in significantly reducing the poverty rate and has directed revenues from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism, pointing to elections that are neither free nor fair, state control of the media, and the systematic abuse of human rights targeting individuals and groups who are perceived as threats to the administration. The country’s leadership has remained in the Aliyev family since Heydar ALIYEV, formerly the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president in the midst of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993. Heydar ALIYEV groomed his son to succeed him, and Ilham ALIYEV subsequently became president in 2003. As a result of two national referendums that eliminated presidential term limits and extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, President ALIYEV secured a fourth term in April 2018 in an election that international observers noted had serious shortcomings. Reforms are underway to diversify the country’s economy away from its dependence on oil and gas; additional reforms are needed to address weaknesses in government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors, and the court system.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 86,600 sq km

land: 82,629 sq km

water: 3,971 sq km

note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 2,468 km

border countries (5): Armenia 996 km; Georgia 428 km; Iran 689 km; Russia 338 km; Turkey 17 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland, much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) to the west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation: highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m

mean elevation: 384 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Land use: agricultural land: 57.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 32.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 11.3% (2018 est.)

other: 31.1% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,277 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km
Population distribution: highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population
Natural hazards: droughts
Geography - note: both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

Topic: People and Society
Population: 10,353,296 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani(s)

adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups: Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% (2009 est.)

note: the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is part of Azerbaijan on the basis of the borders recognized when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, is populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians
Languages: Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)

major-language sample(s):
Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: Russian is widely spoken
Religions: Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)

note: religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.84% (male 1,235,292/female 1,095,308)

15-24 years: 13.17% (male 714,718/female 629,494)

25-54 years: 45.29% (male 2,291,600/female 2,330,843)

55-64 years: 11.41% (male 530,046/female 634,136)

65 years and over: 7.29% (male 289,604/female 454,769) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 43.4

youth dependency ratio: 33.7

elderly dependency ratio: 9.7

potential support ratio: 10.3 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 32.6 years

male: 31.1 years

female: 34.2 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.67% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 13.59 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.92 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population
Urbanization: urban population: 57.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh
Major urban areas - population: 2.401 million BAKU (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.11 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.15 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 24 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 26 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 23.51 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 24.62 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 22.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.15 years

male: 71.08 years

female: 77.41 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.9% (2011)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 93.3% of population

total: 97.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 6.7% of population

total: 2.9% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 4% (2019)
Physicians density: 3.45 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density: 4.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: NA

total: NA (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 9,900 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: <200 (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.9% (2013)
Education expenditures: 2.7% of GDP (2019)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.7% (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years

male: 13 years

female: 14 years (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4%

male: 10.9%

female: 14.2% (2019 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton; surface and underground water are polluted by untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 37.62 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 44.87 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Land use: agricultural land: 57.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 32.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 11.3% (2018 est.)

other: 31.1% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 57.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,930,349 tons (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 449.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 3.062 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 9.27 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 34.675 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan

conventional short form: Azerbaijan

local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi

local short form: Azarbaycan

former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

etymology: the name translates as "Land of Fire" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Baku (Baki, Baky)

geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time

etymology: the name derives from the Persian designation of the city "bad-kube" meaning "wind-pounded city" and refers to the harsh winds and severe snow storms that can hit the city

note: at approximately 28 m below sea level, Baku's elevation makes it the lowest capital city in the world
Administrative divisions: 66 districts (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular); rayons: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardab cities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax66 districts (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular);rayons: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardabcities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax
Independence: 30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
National holiday: Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995

amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly; passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature; constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2009, 2016
Legal system: civil law system
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003); First Vice President Mehriban ALIYEVA (since 21 February 2017)

head of government: Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds (if needed) for a 7-year term; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; election last held on 11 April 2018 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; note - a constitutional amendment approved in a September 2016 referendum expanded the presidential term from 5 to 7 years; a separate constitutional amendment approved in the same referendum also introduced the post of first vice-president and additional vice-presidents, who are directly appointed by the president

election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%

note: OSCE observers noted shortcomings in the election, including a restrictive political environment, limits on fundamental freedoms, a lack of genuine competition, and ballot box stuffing
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held early on 9 February 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - YAP 69, CSP 3, AVP 1, CUP 1, ADMP 1, PDR 1, Great Order 1, National Front Party 1, REAL 1, VP 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, party unknown 1, independent 41; composition - men 103, women 22, percent of women 17.6%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis; judges appointed for 10 years; Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president; other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms

subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts
Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party or ADMP [Elshan MASAYEV]
Civil Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI]
Civic Unity Party or CUP [Sabir HAJIYEV]
Great Order Party [Fazil MUSTAFA]
Islamic Party of Azerbaijan [Mavsum SAMADOV]
Musavat [Arif HAJILI]
Popular Front Party [Ali KARIMLI]
Motherland Party or AVP [Fazail AGAMALI]
National Front Party [Razi NURULLAYEV]
National Revival Movement Party [Faraj GULIYEV]
Party for Democratic Reforms or PDR [Asim MOLLAZADE]
Republican Alternative Party or REAL [Ilgar MAMMADOV]
Social Democratic Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV]
Social Prosperity Party [Khanhusein KAZIMLI]
Unity Party or VP [Tahir KARIMLI]
Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV]
Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party or YAP [President Ilham ALIYEV]
International organization participation: ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kahzar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021)

chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500

FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911

email address and website:
azerbaijan@azembassy.us; consul@azembassy.us

https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lee LITZENBERGER (since 12 March 2019)

embassy: 111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku

mailing address: 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050

telephone: [994] (12) 488-3300

FAX: [994] (12) 488-3330

email address and website:
BakuACS@state.gov

https://az.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), red, and green; a vertical crescent moon and an eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage, red stands for modernization and progress, and green refers to Islam; the crescent moon and star are a Turkic insignia; the eight star points represent the eight Turkic peoples of the world
National symbol(s): flames of fire; national colors: blue, red, green
National anthem: name: "Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)

lyrics/music: Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV

note: adopted 1992; although originally written in 1919 during a brief period of independence, "Azerbaijan Marsi" did not become the official anthem until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Walled City of Baku, Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, Historic Center of Sheki

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Prior to the decline in global oil prices since 2014, Azerbaijan's high economic growth was attributable to rising energy exports and to some non-export sectors. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, the Baku-Novorossiysk, and the Baku-Supsa Pipelines remain the main economic driver, but efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. The expected completion of the geopolitically important Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another source of revenue from gas exports. First gas to Turkey through the SGC is expected in 2018 with project completion expected by 2020-21.Declining oil prices caused a 3.1% contraction in GDP in 2016, and a 0.8% decline in 2017, highlighted by a sharp reduction in the construction sector. The economic decline was accompanied by higher inflation, a weakened banking sector, and two sharp currency devaluations in 2015. Azerbaijan’s financial sector continued to struggle. In May 2017, Baku allowed the majority state-owed International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), the nation’s largest bank, to default on some of its outstanding debt and file for restructuring in Azerbaijani courts; IBA also filed in US and UK bankruptcy courts to have its restructuring recognized in their respective jurisdictions.Azerbaijan has made limited progress with market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on long-term growth, particularly in non-energy sectors. The government has, however, made efforts to combat corruption, particularly in customs and government services. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress, including the need for more foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. While trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics remains important, Azerbaijan has expanded trade with Turkey and Europe and is seeking new markets for non-oil/gas exports - mainly in the agricultural sector - with Gulf Cooperation Council member countries, the US, and others. It is also improving Baku airport and the Caspian Sea port of Alat for use as a regional transportation and logistics hub.Long-term prospects depend on world oil prices, Azerbaijan's ability to develop export routes for its growing gas production, and its ability to improve the business environment and diversify the economy. In late 2016, the president approved a strategic roadmap for economic reforms that identified key non-energy segments of the economy for development, such as agriculture, logistics, information technology, and tourism. In October 2017, the long-awaited Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, stretching from the Azerbaijani capital to Kars in north-eastern Turkey, began limited service.Prior to the decline in global oil prices since 2014, Azerbaijan's high economic growth was attributable to rising energy exports and to some non-export sectors. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, the Baku-Novorossiysk, and the Baku-Supsa Pipelines remain the main economic driver, but efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. The expected completion of the geopolitically important Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another source of revenue from gas exports. First gas to Turkey through the SGC is expected in 2018 with project completion expected by 2020-21.Declining oil prices caused a 3.1% contraction in GDP in 2016, and a 0.8% decline in 2017, highlighted by a sharp reduction in the construction sector. The economic decline was accompanied by higher inflation, a weakened banking sector, and two sharp currency devaluations in 2015. Azerbaijan’s financial sector continued to struggle. In May 2017, Baku allowed the majority state-owed International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), the nation’s largest bank, to default on some of its outstanding debt and file for restructuring in Azerbaijani courts; IBA also filed in US and UK bankruptcy courts to have its restructuring recognized in their respective jurisdictions.Azerbaijan has made limited progress with market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on long-term growth, particularly in non-energy sectors. The government has, however, made efforts to combat corruption, particularly in customs and government services. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress, including the need for more foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. While trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics remains important, Azerbaijan has expanded trade with Turkey and Europe and is seeking new markets for non-oil/gas exports - mainly in the agricultural sector - with Gulf Cooperation Council member countries, the US, and others. It is also improving Baku airport and the Caspian Sea port of Alat for use as a regional transportation and logistics hub.Long-term prospects depend on world oil prices, Azerbaijan's ability to develop export routes for its growing gas production, and its ability to improve the business environment and diversify the economy. In late 2016, the president approved a strategic roadmap for economic reforms that identified key non-energy segments of the economy for development, such as agriculture, logistics, information technology, and tourism. In October 2017, the long-awaited Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, stretching from the Azerbaijani capital to Kars in north-eastern Turkey, began limited service.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $138.51 billion (2020 est.)

$144.74 billion (2019 est.)

$141.24 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 0.1% (2017 est.)

-3.1% (2016 est.)

0.6% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $13,700 (2020 est.)

$14,400 (2019 est.)

$14,200 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $48.104 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2019 est.)

2.3% (2018 est.)

12.8% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB+ (2016)

Moody's rating: Ba2 (2017)

Standard & Poors rating: BB+ (2016)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.1% (2017 est.)

industry: 53.5% (2017 est.)

services: 40.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 57.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 11.5% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 48.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -42% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, tomatoes, watermelons, cotton, apples, maize, onions
Industries: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -3.8% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 4.939 million (2019 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 37%

industry: 14.3%

services: 48.9% (2014)
Unemployment rate: 5% (2017 est.)

5% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4%

male: 10.9%

female: 14.2% (2019 est.)
Population below poverty line: 4.9% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.7 (2008)

36.5 (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4%

highest 10%: 27.4% (2008)
Budget: revenues: 9.556 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 10.22 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 54.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $1.685 billion (2017 est.)

-$1.363 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $15.21 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

$23.63 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$25.48 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 28%, Turkey 15%, Israel 7%, Germany 5%, India 5% (2017)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, tomatoes, gold (2019)
Imports: $15.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

$17.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$17.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: United Kingdom 17%, Russia 17%, Turkey 12%, China 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: gold, cars, refined petroleum, wheat, packaged medical supplies (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $6.681 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.142 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $17.41 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$13.83 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -

1.723 (2017 est.)

1.5957 (2016 est.)

1.5957 (2015 est.)

1.0246 (2014 est.)

0.7844 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - production: 23.57 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 20.24 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 265 million kWh (2015 est.)
Electricity - imports: 114 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 7.876 million kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 84% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 798,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 718,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 7 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 138,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 100,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 46,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 5,576 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 16.96 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 10.34 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 8.042 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 2.095 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 991.1 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,652,688 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16.3 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 10,344,300 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: a landlocked country with historically poor infrastructure; state control of telecom systems; progress with Digital Hub project despite economic contraction in 2020; government launched e-school and e-service programs; risk of delays in infrastructure and launch of new technologies, including 5G due to slow market demand; LTE supports most data traffic while mobile broadband subscribership grows rapidly; fixed-line broadband market has slight upward trend; Internet access is expensive and suffers from outages and intentional government disruption; importer of broadcasting equipment from Russia (2020)

domestic: teledensity of some 16 fixed-lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity of 102 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan (Nakhchivan) (2020)

international: country code - 994; the TAE fiber-optic link transits Azerbaijan providing international connectivity to neighboring countries; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2 (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 3 state-run and 1 public TV channels; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; cable TV services are available in Baku; 1 state-run and 1 public radio network operating; a small number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting; local FM relays of Baku commercial stations are available in many localities; note - all broadcast media is pro-government, and most private broadcast media outlets are owned by entities directly linked to the government
Internet country code: .az
Internet users: total: 8.32 million (2022 est.)

percent of population: 81.1% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,995,474 (2021)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19.68 (2021 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 42 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,279,546 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 44.09 million mt-km (2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4K
Airports: total: 23 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 30

over 3,047 m: 5

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 13

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7

under 914 m: 7 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Pipelines: 89 km condensate, 3890 km gas, 2446 km oil (2013)
Railways: total: 2,944 km (2017)

broad gauge: 2,944.3 km 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified) (2017)
Roadways: total: 24,981 km (2013)

note: total roadway length has increased significantly and continues to grow due to the recovery of Armenian-held territories and related reconstruction efforts, respectively; no updated figure is currently available
Merchant marine: total: 305

by type: general cargo 38, oil tanker 43, other 224 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Land Forces (Combined Arms Army), Air Forces, Navy Forces; Ministry of Internal Affairs: State Border Service (includes Coast Guard), Internal Security Troops (2021)
Military expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

3.8% of GDP (approximately $3.4 billion) (2019 est.)

3.6% of GDP (approximately $3.2 billion) (2018 est.)

3.8% of GDP (approximately $3.26 billion) (2017 est.)

3.7% of GDP (approximately $3.29 billion) (2016 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 65,000 total active troops (55,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force); approximately 15,000 Ministry of Internal Affairs troops (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Azerbaijan military is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems with a smaller mix of equipment from other countries; since 2010, Russia is the leading supplier of arms to Azerbaijan, followed by Israel (2021)
Military service age and obligation: men age 18-35 years for compulsory military service; service obligation 18 months (non-university graduate) or 12 months (university graduates); 17 years of age for voluntary service (men and women); 17-year-olds are considered to be on active service at cadet military schools (2021)

note - as of 2018, women made up an estimated 3% of the active duty military
Military - note: since November 2020, Russia has deployed about 2,000 peacekeeping troops to the area in and around Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a cease-fire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan; fighting erupted between the two countries over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in September of 2020; Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces (the "Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army") backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994; six weeks of fighting resulted in about 6,000 deaths and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of Nagorno-Karabakh territory; tensions remained high through 2021, and both sides have accused the other of provocations since the fighting ended; Armenia has accused Azerbaijani forces of a series of border intrusions and of seizing pockets of territory

Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Quds Force

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders.

Armenia-Azerbaijan: The dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability. Residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan-Georgia: A joint boundary commission agrees on most of the alignment, leaving only small areas at certain crossing points in dispute.  Consequently, the two states have yet to agree on a delimitation or demarcation of their common boundary. One area of contention is where the international boundary should run through the 6th-13th Century David-Gareja monastery complex.

Azerbaijan-Iran: None identified

Azerbaijan-Russia: Russia complains of cross-border smuggling.

Azerbaijan-Turkey: None identified

Caspian Sea (Maritime Boundary): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea. Bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian.Local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders.

Armenia-Azerbaijan: The dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability. Residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan-Georgia: A joint boundary commission agrees on most of the alignment, leaving only small areas at certain crossing points in dispute.  Consequently, the two states have yet to agree on a delimitation or demarcation of their common boundary. One area of contention is where the international boundary should run through the 6th-13th Century David-Gareja monastery complex.

Azerbaijan-Iran: None identified

Azerbaijan-Russia: Russia complains of cross-border smuggling.

Azerbaijan-Turkey: None identified

Caspian Sea (Maritime Boundary): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea. Bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian.
Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 735,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh; IDPs are mainly ethnic Azerbaijanis but also include ethnic Kurds, Russians, and Turks predominantly from occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; includes IDPs' descendants, returned IDPs, and people living in insecure areas and excludes people displaced by natural disasters; around half the IDPs live in the capital Baku) (2020)

stateless persons: 3,585 (mid-year 2021)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Azerbaijan and exploit Azerbaijanis abroad; Azerbaijani men and boys experience forced labor domestically and in Qatar, Russia, and the UAE; Azerbaijani women and children are subjected to sex trafficking domestically and in Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE; Azerbaijan is a destination country for sex and forced labor trafficking victims from China, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; some children are exploited domestically for forced begging and forced labor as roadside vendors and at tea houses and wedding venues

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Azerbaijan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; more traffickers were convicted and judges received guidance to issue stricter sentences; the government significantly increased funding for victim protection by establishing grants for civil society; however, authorities identified fewer victims than in the previous year, did not regularly screen vulnerable populations, and continued to lack proactive identification methods, resulting in victims being penalized for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit (2020)
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe