Finland | World Heritage Explorer

Since 1987, Finland has participated in the World Heritage Convention. With eight inscribed properties, the country maintains a well-established presence on the World Heritage List. Finland ranks 24th worldwide and 16th in Europe by number of World Heritage Sites. The majority of its sites are cultural properties, reflecting a strong emphasis on historical and architectural heritage. Some of these properties are shared with neighboring countries, demonstrating cooperation across borders in heritage conservation.

Finland as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: March 4, 1987

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1997-2003, 2013-2017

Total of Mandate Years: 10

Total of Mandates: 2

WHC Electoral Group: I (Western Europe/North America)

World Heritage Sites in Finland (8)

Cultural: 7 | Natural: 1 | Mixed: 0

Aalto Works · Cultural
Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki · Cultural
Fortress of Suomenlinna · Cultural
High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago · Natural (Transboundary)
Old Rauma · Cultural
Petäjävesi Old Church · Cultural
Struve Geodetic Arc · Cultural (Transboundary)
Verla Groundwood and Board Mill · Cultural

Map of World Heritage Sites

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

World Heritage Inscription Timeline

1991

Fortress of Suomenlinna

1991

Old Rauma

1994

Petäjävesi Old Church

1996

Verla Groundwood and Board Mill

1999

Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki

2000

High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago

2005

Struve Geodetic Arc

2026

Aalto Works

Tentative World Heritage Sites (2)

The Architectural Works of Alvar Aalto - a Human Dimension to the Modern Movement · submitted: January 28, 2021
The Ringed Seal Archipelagos of Lake Saimaa · submitted: January 28, 2021

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile Finland

Official Name: Republic of Finland

Continent: Europe

Subregion: Northern Europe

UNESCO Region: Europe and North America

Capital: Helsinki

Population (2024): 5,637,214

Land Area: 303,950 km²

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party Finland

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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