Tall buildings, such as skyscrapers, are intended here as enclosed structures with continuously occupiable floors and a height of at least 340 metres (1,120 ft). Such definition excludes non-building structures, such as towers.
Historically, the world's tallest man-made structure was the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, which held the position for over 3800 years [3] until the construction of Lincoln Cathedral in 1311. The Strasbourg Cathedral in France, completed in 1439, was the world's tallest building until 1874.
The first skyscraper was pioneered in Chicago with the 138 ft (42.1 m) Home Insurance Building in 1885. The United States would remain the location of the world's tallest building throughout the 20th century until 1998, when the Petronas Towers were completed. Since then, two other buildings have gained the title: Taipei 101 in 2004 and Burj Khalifa in 2010. [4] Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Middle East, China, and Southeast Asia have experienced booms in skyscraper construction. [5]
The international non-profit organization Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) was formed in 1969 and announces the title of "The World's Tallest Building" and sets the standards by which buildings are measured. It maintains a list of the 100 tallest completed buildings in the world. [6] The organization currently ranks Burj Khalifa in Dubai as the tallest at 828 m (2,717 ft). [6] However, the CTBUH only recognizes buildings that are complete, and some buildings included within the lists in this article are not considered finished by the CTBUH.
In 1996, as a response to the dispute as to whether the Petronas Towers or the Sears Tower was taller, [7] the council listed and ranked buildings in four categories: [8]
All categories measure the building from the level of the lowest significant open-air pedestrian entrance. [10]
Spires are considered integral parts of the architectural design of buildings, changes to which would substantially change the appearance and design of the building, whereas antennas may be added or removed without such consequences. The Petronas Towers, with their spires, are thus ranked higher than the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) with its antennas, despite the Petronas Towers' lower roofs and lower highest point. [8]
Until 1996, the world's tallest building was defined by the height to the top of the tallest architectural element, including spires but not antennae. [8] In 1930, this definitional argument led to a rivalry between the Bank of Manhattan Building and the Chrysler Building. The Bank of Manhattan Building (i.e. 40 Wall Street) employed only a short spire, was 282.5 m (927 ft) tall, and had a much higher top occupied floor (the second category in the 1996 criteria for tallest building). In contrast, the Chrysler Building employed a very large 38.1 m (125 ft) spire secretly assembled inside the building to claim the title of world's tallest building with a total height of 318.9 m (1,046 ft), although it had a lower top occupied floor and a shorter height when both buildings' spires were excluded.
Upset by Chrysler's victory, Shreve & Lamb, the consulting architects of the Bank of Manhattan Building, wrote a newspaper article claiming that their building was actually the tallest, since it contained the world's highest usable floor, at 255 m (837 ft). They pointed out that the observation deck in the Bank of Manhattan Building was nearly 30 m (98 ft) above the top floor in the Chrysler Building, whose surpassing spire was strictly ornamental and inaccessible. [11]
The Burj Khalifa currently tops the list by some margin, regardless of which criterion is applied. [12] [13]
As of 8 March 2024, this list includes all 93 buildings (completed and architecturally topped out) that reach a height of 340 metres (1,120 ft) or more, as assessed by their highest architectural feature. The building is considered as architecturally topped out when it is under construction, structurally topped out, fully clad, and the highest finished architectural elements are in place. [10]
Of these buildings, almost half are in China. Six of the last seven buildings to have held the record as 'tallest building' are still found in the list, with the exception being the North Tower of the original World Trade Center at 417 metres (1,368 ft) after its destruction in the September 11 attacks of 2001. If the Twin Towers were never destroyed, and One World Trade Center was never built, the WTC towers would rank 35 and 36 on the list today.
bold | Denotes building that is or was once the tallest in the world |
This measurement disregards distinctions between architectural and non-architectural extensions, and simply measures to the highest point, irrespective of material or function of the highest element. [10]
This measurement is useful for air traffic obstacle determinations, and is also a wholly objective measure. However, this measurement includes extensions that are easily added, removed, and modified from a building and are independent of the overall structure.
This measurement only recently came into use, when the Petronas Towers passed the Sears Tower (now named Willis Tower) in height. The former was considered taller because its spires were considered architectural, while the latter's antennae were not. This led to the split of definitions, with the Sears Tower claiming the lead in this and the height-to-roof (now highest occupied floor) categories, and with the Petronas claiming the lead in the architectural height category.
If the World Trade Center towers were still standing, the North (1,368 feet (417 m)) and South Towers (1,362 feet (415.1 m)) would fall between numbers 35 and 36 on the current list (it can be assumed the rebuilt One World Trade Center would have never been built).
† | Denotes building with pinnacle height higher than architectural |
This height is measured to the highest occupiable floor within the building. [10]
This list of tallest buildings by height to roof ranks completed skyscrapers by height to roof which reach a height of 300 metres (984 ft) or more. Only buildings with continuously occupiable floors are included, thus non-building structures including towers, are not included. Some assessments of the tallest building use 'height to roof' to determine tallest building, as 'architectural feature' is regarded as a subjective and an imprecise comparative measure. However, in November 2009, the CTBUH stopped using the roof height as the metric for tall buildings because modern tall buildings rarely have a part of the building that can categorically be deemed the roof. [107]
This is a list of buildings taller than 350 m that are currently under construction. [128] On-hold buildings whose construction was interrupted after it had reached a significantly advanced state are also listed.
Building | Planned architectural height | Floors | Planned completion | Country | City | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeddah Tower [note 6] | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) | 167+ | ? | Saudi Arabia | Jeddah | [130] |
Goldin Finance 117 [note 7] | 597 m (1,959 ft) | 117 | ? | China | Tianjin | |
The Line | 500 m (1,600 ft) | ? | 2030 | Saudi Arabia | Neom | [131] |
Greenland Jinmao International Financial Center | 499.8 m (1,640 ft) | 102 | 2025 | China | Nanjing | [132] |
Suzhou Zhongnan Center | 499.2 m (1,638 ft) | 103 | 2025 | China | Suzhou | [133] |
HeXi Yuzui Tower A | 498.8 m (1,636 ft) | 84 | 2025 | China | Nanjing | [134] |
Greenland Centre | 498 m (1,634 ft) | 108 | 2025 | China | Xi'an | [135] |
Fuyuan Zhongshan 108 IFC | 498 m (1,634 ft) | 101 | 2029 | China | Zhongshan | [136] |
Tianfu Center | 488.9 m (1,604 ft) | 95 | 2026 | China | Chengdu | [137] |
Chushang Building | 475 m (1,558 ft) | 111 | 2025 | China | Wuhan | [138] |
Wuhan CTF Centre | 475 m (1,558 ft) | 84 | 2026 | China | Wuhan | [139] |
Fosun Bund Center T1 | 470 m (1,540 ft) | ? | ? | China | Wuhan | [140] |
Suzhou Center North Tower | 470 m (1,540 ft) | ? | 2024 | China | Suzhou | [141] |
Chengdu Greenland Tower | 468 m (1,535 ft) | 101 | 2024 | China | Chengdu | [142] |
Guohua Financial Center Tower 1 | 465 m (1,526 ft) | 79 | ? | China | Wuhan | [143] |
Tianshan Gate of the World | 450 m (1,480 ft) | 106 | 2025 | China | Shijiazhuang | [144] |
China Resources Land Center | 450 m (1,480 ft) | 98 | ? | China | Dongguan | [145] |
One Bangkok | 436.1 m (1,431 ft) | 92 | 2025 | Thailand | Bangkok | [146] |
Greenland Shandong International Financial Center [note 7] | 428 m (1,404 ft) | 88 | 2023 | China | Jinan | [147] |
Greenland Center Tower 1 | 428 m (1,404 ft) | ? | ? | Kunming | [148] | |
Nanjing Financial City Tower 1 | 426 m (1,398 ft) | 88 | 2024 | Nanjing | [149] | |
JPMorgan Chase Building | 423 m (1,388 ft) | 63 | 2025 | United States | New York City | [150] |
Ningbo Center Tower 1 | 409 m (1,342 ft) | 80 | 2024 | China | Ningbo | [151] |
Dongfeng Plaza Landmark Tower | 407 m (1,335 ft) | 100 | 2024 | China | Kunming | [152] |
Wuhan Yangtze River Center Tower | 400 m (1,300 ft) | 82 | 2025 | China | Wuhan | [153] |
Mukaab | 400 m (1,300 ft) | ? | 2030 | Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | |
Hangzhou West Railway Station Hub Tower 1 | 399.8 m (1,312 ft) | 83 | ? | China | Hangzhou | [154] |
Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base Tower C-1 | 394 m (1,293 ft) | 78 | 2027 | China | Shenzhen | [155] |
Evergrande Center | 393.9 m (1,292 ft) | 71 | 2024 | China | Shenzhen | [156] |
Iconic Tower [note 7] | 393.8 m (1,292 ft) | 77 | 2023 | Egypt | Cairo | [157] |
Haiyun Plaza Tower 1 | 390 m (1,280 ft) | 86 | 2024 | China | Rizhao | [158] |
Citymark Center [note 7] | 388.3 m (1,274 ft) | 70 | 2022 | China | Shenzhen | |
China Merchants Bank Headquarters Tower 1 | 387.4 m (1,271 ft) | 74 | ? | China | Shenzhen | [159] |
Tour F | 385.8 m (1,266 ft) | 64 | ? | Ivory Coast | Abidjan | [160] |
Icon Towers 1 | 384 m (1,260 ft) | 77 | 2029 | Indonesia | Jakarta | [161] |
Shekou Prince Bay Tower | 380 m (1,250 ft) | 70 | ? | China | Shenzhen | [162] |
Shenzhen Luohu Friendship Trading Centre | 379.9 m (1,246 ft) | 83 | ? | China | Shenzhen | [163] |
Greenland Star City Light Tower | 379.9 m (1,246 ft) | 83 | 2025 | China | Changsha | [164] |
Guangdong Business Center | 375.5 m (1,232 ft) | 60 | 2024 | China | Guangzhou | [165] |
China Merchants Prince Bay Tower | 374 m (1,227 ft) | 59 | 2028 | China | Shenzhen | [166] |
Ping An IFC | 373 m (1,224 ft) | ? | ? | China | Nanchang | [167] |
Shanghai International Trade Center Tower 1 | 370 m (1,210 ft) | 67 | 2024 | China | Shanghai | [168] |
Lucheng Square | 369 m (1,211 ft) | 75 | ? | China | Wenzhou | [169] |
Taipei Twin Tower 1 | 369 m (1,211 ft) | 74 | 2027 | Taiwan | Taipei | |
Hengli Global Operations Headquarters Tower 1 | 369 m (1,211 ft) | ? | 2024 | China | Suzhou | [170] |
Ciel Tower | 365.5 m (1,199 ft) | 81 | 2023 | UAE | Dubai | [171] |
Ping An Finance Center Tower 1 [note 7] | 360 m (1,180 ft) | 74 | 2023 | China | Jinan | [172] |
Huiyun Center [note 7] | 359.2 m (1,178 ft) | 80 | 2022 | China | Shenzhen | [173] |
Fosun Bund Center T2 | 356 m (1,168 ft) | ? | ? | China | Wuhan | [174] |
Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base Tower C-2 | 355.7 m (1,167 ft) | 68 | 2027 | China | Shenzhen | [175] |
Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Building | 352 m (1,155 ft) | 59 | ? | Turkey | Istanbul | [176] |
Guohong Center | 350 m (1,150 ft) | 71 | 2025 | China | Wenzhou | [177] |
Guowei ZY Plaza | 350 m (1,150 ft) | 62 | ? | China | Zhuhai | [178] |
China Resources Huafu Tower | 350 m (1,150 ft) | ? | ? | China | Shenzhen | [179] |
Global Port Tower 1 | 350 m (1,150 ft) | ? | 2024 | China | Lanzhou | [180] |
Global Port Tower 2 | 350 m (1,150 ft) | ? | 2024 | China | Lanzhou | [181] |
Poly Liangxi Plaza | 350 m (1,150 ft) | ? | ? | China | Foshan | [182] |
The following list shows the tallest completed buildings located on each continent listed by greatest to least height (click on name of continent for continent-specific list):
Continent | Building | Height | Floor count | Completed | Country | City |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia | Burj Khalifa | 828 m (2,717 ft) | 163 | 2010 | United Arab Emirates | Dubai |
North America | One World Trade Center | 541.3 m (1,776 ft) | 94 | 2014 | United States | New York City |
Europe | Lakhta Center | 462 m (1,516 ft) | 86 | 2018 | Russia | Saint Petersburg |
Africa | Iconic Tower | 393.8 m (1,292 ft) | 79 | 2023 | Egypt | New Administrative Capital |
Oceania | Q1 | 323 m (1,060 ft) | 78 | 2005 | Australia | Gold Coast |
South America | Gran Torre Santiago [183] | 300 m (980 ft) | 64 | 2012 | Chile | Santiago |
Antarctica | Long Duration Balloon (LDB) Payload Preparation Buildings [184] [185] | 15 m (49 ft) | 1 | 2005 | - | McMurdo Station |
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) is an international body in the field of tall buildings, including skyscrapers, and sustainable urban design. A non-profit organization based at the Monroe Building in Chicago, Illinois, United States, the CTBUH announces the title of "The World's Tallest Building" and is widely considered to be an authority on the official height of tall buildings. Its stated mission is to study and report "on all aspects of the planning, design, and construction of tall buildings."
Adrian D. Smith is an American architect. He designed the world's tallest structure, Burj Khalifa, as well as the building projected to surpass it, the Jeddah Tower. A long-time principal of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, he founded his own architectural partnership firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture in Chicago in 2006. Among his other projects, he was the senior architect for Central Park Tower in New York City, Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago, the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, and Zifeng Tower in Nanjing.
The tallest building in the world, as of 2024, is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The title of "world's tallest building" has been held by various buildings in modern times, including the Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England, and the Empire State Building and the original World Trade Center, both in New York City.
Vanity height is defined by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) as the height difference between a skyscraper's pinnacle and the highest usable floor. Because the CTBUH ranks the world's tallest buildings by height to pinnacle, a number of buildings appear higher in the rankings than they otherwise would due to extremely long spires.