The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation, or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. Malawi accepted the convention, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list. As of 2025, there are three World Heritage Sites in Malawi.

World Heritage Sites UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.

+ Site Image Location (region) Year listed DescriptionLake Malawi National Park Central Region, Southern Region1984 289; vii, ix, x (natural)Chongoni Rock-Art AreaCentral Region2006 476rev; iii, vi (cultural)Mount Mulanje Cultural LandscapeSouthern Region2025iii, vi (cultural)

Tentative list In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. Malawi maintains seven properties on its tentative list.

+ Site Image Location (region) Year listed UNESCO criteria DescriptionNyika-Vwaza Wildlife ReserveNorthern Region2025iii, v, viii, ix, x (mixed)Malawi Slave Heritage Route and Dr. David Livingstone TrailCentral Region2025iii, iv (cultural)Malape Pillars Geological HeritageSouthern Region2025vii, viii, x (natural)Lake Chilwa WetlandSouthern Region2025ix, x (natural)Khulubvi and Associated Mbona Rain Shrines Cultural LandscapeSouthern Region2025 iii, vi (cultural)Karonga Fossilised Geoheritage Landscape Northern Region2025iii, viii, ix, x (mixed)Fort Mangochi and Makanjira Historical Corridor Southern Region2025iii, iv, vi (cultural)

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