10/16/2026
The UNESCO World Heritage Convention uses 10 criteria to determine whether a cultural or natural property has Outstanding Universal Value. To be included on the World Heritage List, a property must meet at least one of the ten criteria, as well as the relevant requirements concerning integrity, authenticity, protection and management.
The criteria are numbered from (i) to (x).
The property must represent a masterpiece of human creative genius.
This criterion can apply to exceptional examples of architecture, art, engineering or other forms of human creativity.
The site must demonstrate an important interchange of human values over time or within a cultural region.
This can relate to developments in architecture, technology, monumental arts, urban planning or landscape design.
A site can qualify if it provides unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or civilization, whether that civilization is still living or has disappeared.
This criterion emphasizes the historical and cultural evidence represented by the property.
A property may qualify if it is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural ensemble or landscape that illustrates an important stage in human history.
Historic cities, monuments and architectural complexes can potentially fall within this criterion.
This criterion applies to an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land use or sea use representing a culture or cultures.
It can also relate to human interaction with the environment, particularly where that interaction has become vulnerable to irreversible change.
A property can qualify because it is directly or tangibly associated with events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs or works of outstanding universal significance.
UNESCO notes that this criterion is generally used together with other criteria.
The property must contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
Examples can include spectacular landscapes, geological formations and extraordinary natural environments.
A site can qualify if it represents an outstanding example of major stages in Earth's history, including geological processes, landforms or physiographic features.
This criterion is particularly relevant to important geological and geomorphological sites.
The property must represent outstanding examples of significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
This focuses on how natural systems function and develop.
A natural site may qualify if it contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity.
This includes habitats containing threatened species of Outstanding Universal Value from the perspective of conservation.
No.
A common misconception is that UNESCO sites must satisfy all ten criteria. They only need to meet at least one criterion. However, the property must also meet the relevant requirements for integrity and authenticity and have appropriate protection and management.
No.
The ten criteria cover both cultural and natural heritage.
Criteria (i)–(vi) are primarily cultural, while criteria (vii)–(x) concern natural heritage. Some properties can be recognized as mixed World Heritage sites because they demonstrate both cultural and natural values.
Yes. UNESCO states that the criteria are regularly revised by the World Heritage Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept.
The 10 UNESCO World Heritage criteria evaluate cultural and natural properties based on Outstanding Universal Value. They cover human creativity, cultural exchange, civilizations, architecture, traditional settlements, important traditions, natural beauty, geology, ecological processes and biodiversity.
UNESCO World Heritage – Selection Criteria
UNESCO World Heritage – Criteria FAQ
UNESCO World Heritage Convention
Unchannel - 10/16/2026