Sierra Leone | World Heritage Explorer

Sierra Leone has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 2005. It is home to one World Heritage Site. All currently inscribed properties are listed under the Natural category.

Sierra Leone as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: January 7, 2005

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: None

Total of Mandate Years: 0

Total of Mandates: 0

WHC Electoral Group: V(a) (Africa)

World Heritage Sites in Sierra Leone (1)

Cultural: 0 | Natural: 1 | Mixed: 0

Gola-Tiwai Complex · Natural

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sierra Leone.

Tentative World Heritage Sites (4)

Western Area Peninsula National Park · submitted: June 1, 2012
Old Fourah Bay College Building · submitted: June 1, 2012
Bunce Island · submitted: June 1, 2012
The Gateway to the Old King’s Yards · submitted: June 1, 2012

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile Sierra Leone

Official Name: Republic of Sierra Leone

Continent: Africa

Subregion: Western Africa

UNESCO Region: Africa

Capital: Freetown

Population (2024): 8,642,022

Land Area: 72,180 km²

Currency: Leone (SLE)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party Sierra Leone

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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