Burkina Faso | World Heritage Explorer

Burkina Faso has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 1987. With 4 inscribed properties, the country maintains a well-established presence on the World Heritage List. The majority of its sites are cultural properties, reflecting a strong emphasis on historical and architectural heritage. One of these properties is shared with neighboring countries, demonstrating cooperation across borders in heritage conservation.

Burkina Faso as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: April 2, 1987

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 2015-2019

Total of Mandate Years: 4

Total of Mandates: 1

WHC Electoral Group: V(a) (Africa)

World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso (4)

Cultural: 3 | Natural: 1 | Mixed: 0

Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso · Cultural
Royal Court of Tiébélé · Cultural
Ruins of Loropéni · Cultural
W-Arly-Pendjari Complex · Natural (Transboundary)

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso.

Tentative World Heritage Sites (8)

L’art rupestre au Burkina Faso · submitted: January 5, 2026
Forêt classée de la mare aux hippopotames · submitted: January 5, 2026
La Maison du peuple · submitted: January 5, 2026
Les Mosquées du style soudanais au Burkina Faso · submitted: January 5, 2026
Sya, centre historique de Bobo-Dioulasso · submitted: January 5, 2026
Le Village architectural de Koumi · submitted: January 5, 2026
Les gravures rupestres du Sahel burkinabè : Pobé-Mengao, Arbinda et Markoye · submitted: January 24, 2012
Les nécropoles de Bourzanga · submitted: April 9, 1996

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile Burkina Faso

Official Name: Burkina Faso

Continent: Africa

Subregion: Western Africa

UNESCO Region: Africa

Capital: Ouagadougou

Population (2024): 23,548,781

Land Area: 273,600 km²

Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party Burkina Faso

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

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