Top 10 Tallest Buildings in the World

The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, has held onto its title since 2010. Other entires on the list of the world’s tallest buildings include the Shanghai Tower, the Abraj Al-Bait, and the Ping An International Finance Centre.

Whether it be due to innovation or land scarcity, the expansion of towns and cities has increased at a very vertical rate in recent years. There seems to be a great deal of competition between cities to see who can build the world’s most impressive supertalls. Having the world’s tallest building can bring tourism revenue and glory to its host city, although it is not a title that many cities hold on to for very long. When it comes to skyscrapers, world trends are changing. North America used to have 75 percent of the tallest buildings 20 years ago, but this has shifted to Asia and the Middle East today. Thanks to the marvel of modern engineering that is ever-changing with the times, buildings keep growing higher, higher, and higher.

10. CITIC Tower (China Zun) – 527 meters / 1729 feet

China Zun, in Beijing, was completed in 2018. At the time of its completion, it became the world’s eighth tallest building with a total height of 1,667 feet. The building is the hub of the Central Business District of Beijing. It was developed by the CITIC Group, which is why it is alternatively known as the CITIC Tower. The building was the last super-tall to be built before Beijing imposed height restrictions upon the city.

9. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre (Tie) – 530 meters / 1739 feet

The CTF Finance Centre in Tianjin holds the title of the world’s ninth-tallest building, in a tie with the CTF Finance Centre in Guangzhou. The towers are both 1,739 feet tall. This CTF tower, which stands for Chow Tai Fook, was officially completed in 2019. Its construction began in 2013. The building hosts a total of 97 floors (plus 4 below ground) which are for mixed-use.

8. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, China (Tie) – 530 meters / 1739

Located in the city of Guangzhou in southern China, the CTF Finance Centre is a mixed-use skyscraper whose construction was completed in October of 2016. It is also 1,739 feet tall and is home to a shopping mall, offices, and a hotel. Guangzhou’s CTF Finance Centre is notably home to one of the fastest elevators in the world, which reaches speeds of 71 km (44.7 miles) per hour.

7. One World Trade Center – 541 feet / 1775 meters

Standing at 1,775 feet and 104 stories, One World Trade Center is the tallest building not only in New York City, but also in the United States, and the entire Western Hemisphere. Its construction was completed in 2014. Its namesake comes from the North Tower of the original World Trade Center. One World Trade Center was built as a functional building in commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The building has been praised for its use of renewable energy, which includes the reuse of rainwater.

6. Lotte World Tower – 554 meters / 1818 feet

The Lotte World Tower is found in Seoul, South Korea. At 1,818 feet, it is the sixth tallest building in the world. Construction on the building was completed in March of 2016. A total of thirteen years of planning went into the preparation the Lotte World Tower’s construction, which began on March 2011. The building features 123 floors, six of which are underground. The roof of the Lotte World Tower was constructed with such strength that it can withstand earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 9 on the Richter scale.

5. Goldin Finance 117 – 596 meters / 1955 feet

Goldin Finance 117 is a building in Tianjin, China, that has been under construction since 2008. It is not scheduled for completion until 2020 but as of 2019 it has been topped-out. It is located in Tianjin, one of the largest cities in China.

4. Ping An International Finance Centre – 599 meters / 1965 feet

The Ping An International Finance Centre, in Shenzhen, China, is 1,965 feet tall. It is the fourth tallest building in the world. Construction of the building topped out in 2015 before being finally completed in 2017. The Ping An International Finance Centre features a conference center, hotel, and several high-end retail spaces. It is also the home of its namesake, Ping An Insurance. The building uses an impressive total of 33 double-decker elevators to access its 115 floors. Originally, the building designs called for the inclusion of an antenna. However, this plan was eventually called off due to concerns about flight interference.

3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower – 601 meters / 1972 feet

Also referred to as the Abraj Al-Bait of Mecca, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Saudi Arabia is the third tallest building in the world. It stands at a total of 1,972 feet. The government-owned complex features a hotel with 120 floors, as well as a conference center, an Islamic museum, and a prayer room with a capacity of 10,000 people. Other amenities inside the building include a five-story shopping mall and a Lunar Observation Centre, which is used to watch the moon during the Holy Month. The Abraj Al-Bait was constructed by the Saudi Binladin Group, which is the largest construction firm in Saudi Arabia. The clock of the Makkah Royal Clock Tower is the largest clock face in the world.

2. Shanghai Tower – 682 meters / 2071 feet

The Shanghai Tower is the world’s second-tallest building as well as the tallest building in China, with 121 floors and a height of 2,073 feet. The construction of Shanghai Tower began in 2006 and took a total of eight years. This building was designed by Gensler, an American architectural company. Its initial purpose was to serve as a hotel and office building. Today, the Shanghai Tower has a total of 320 hotel rooms and 1,100 parking spaces. The observation deck at the top of the building offers a stunning view of the area of Shanghai known as Pudong. It is the tallest observation deck in the world.

1. Burj Khalifa – 828 meters / 2717 feet

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world. It stands at a height of 828 meters, or 2,717 feet. Primarily constructed from steel and concrete, the building was designed by the same architects who were responsible for other famous super-tall like the Willis Tower in Chicago and One World Trade Center in New York City. The construction of the building, which was completed in 2010, was part of an initiative by the government of the United Arab Emirates to shift the country’s economy from one that is solely oil-based to tourism and service-based economy. The Burj Khalifa has 30,000 residences spread out over 19 residential towers, an artificial lake, nine hotels, and a shopping mall.

What is the Tallest Building in the World?

At 2,717 feet, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. The second tallest building is the Shanghai Tower in China, at 2,073 feet. The third tallest building is the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Saudi Arabia, at 1,972 feet.

List of the World’s Tallest Buildings by Height

Rank	Building	Country	Height (meters)	Height (feet)
1	Burj Khalifa	United Arab Emirates	828	2717
2	Shanghai Tower	China	632	2073
3	Makkah Royal Clock Tower	Saudi Arabia	601	1972
4	Ping An Finance Center	China	599	1965
5	Goldin Finance 117	China	596	1955
6	Lotte World Tower	Republic of Korea	554	1818
7	One World Trade Center	United States	541	1775
8	Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre	China	530	1739
9	Tianjin CTF Finance Centre	China	530	1739
10	CITIC Tower	China	527	1729