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Top 100 Tallest Buildings In The World (2024)

The tallest buildings in the world are mostly landmarks, intentionally built to be impressive. Of course, one must look beyond the incredible amounts of money spent in their construction; the buildings are entirely worth it because they put their cities on the map, and draw in tourists from all over the world.

It is reasonable to expect that the tallest monuments should be found in the richest countries in the world. It is also reasonable to expect that these buildings should be found in the countries that place the highest value on tourism.

If you are a traveler you may find that one of these buildings is near a city you have visited, or about to visit. Why not take a few hours to check out some of these world famous monuments.

Top 100 Tallest Buildings In The World

1. Burj Khalifa          

Burj Khalifa is famously the tallest building in the world. It holds that position without any competition at all. Oftentimes architects and engineers contest what buildings are said to be the tallest because some have additional towers built on top of the roofs, for the sole purpose of making them appear taller.

The Burj Khalifa has such an ornamental top; and yet there is no dispute because even if that top was removed, it would still be the tallest building in the world.

The building is located in Dubai; the United Arab Emirates, and is one of the biggest attractions to the city.

2. Merdeka 118

Merdeka 118 is a mega tall building in Kualar Lumpur, Malaysia. It has 118 floors- which is the inspiration for the name. The building is the second tallest mega tall building in the world, but it does not lag behind in terms of design and architecture.

It has a glassy look; and its design structure can be compared to a syringe with a needle attached to the tip.

The Merdeka 118 is an iconic building; it is used for residence, shopping, a hotel, and a public park, as well as offices.

3. Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower actually has 128 stories but still manages to fall behind the Merdeka 118. It is a super-tall structure in Shanghai, China. The building measures 632 meters in height, but still doesn’t stand out in the skyline, because it is surrounded by similarly tall buildings.

Shanghai Tower was started in 2008 and the top was finished in 2013. The building is used for many different things at the same time; offices, hotels, retail, tourism, and art exhibitions.

The design of the building is impressive; it has a loosely spiral architecture; and winds slowly upwards- leaving one confused as to which is the front side, and the back.

4. Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower

Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower is a neoclassical building measuring 601 meters. It is part of a complex built by the government; close to the holy pilgrimage site in Mecca. The clock tower is surrounded by similarly tall buildings except in the front side, and it was the tallest building in the world from 2012 to 2015.

Abraj Al Bait clock Tower is so named for its four faced clock which is visible from 25 km away on all sides.

The building was constructed to be used by people who come on Pilgrimages, it is mainly used as hotels.

5. Ping An International Finance Centre                

Ping An International Finance Centre is clearly named for its intended use; it is a mega tall business complex in Shenzhen, China. The building has 115 floors, and measures 599.1 meters.

It was commissioned by Ping An Insurance; one of the biggest insurance companies in the country and the world. However, the building is far too big; for them alone; it is used for office space, as well as for observation, and dining, and it has shopping complex.

The building sells the Ping An brand; and it is a tourist attraction as the second tallest building in China.

6. Lotte World Tower

Lotte World Tower is located in Seoul, South Korea; it is a mega tall tower with 123 floors, and measuring 555 meters. This building has an impressive design; it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. It has a circular base; and the tower itself is somewhat A shaped, although the structure is slimmer.

It is glassy in look, and it has a look like being split in two from top to bottom. The building I just spectacular in design.

This building is used for shopping, dining, observation, entertainment, and business. It is truly a great place to seal a business deal.

7. One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center is a truly dystopian building; its design is multifaceted- it is difficult to tell which side is the front of the building. The wow effect is further enhanced by the sheer size of the building; it measures 541.3 meters, and has 94 floors.

This is the tallest building in America; it was built to replace the destroyed World Trade Center which had two towers, and which was destroyed on September 11, 2001.

The building is mostly used for business purposes; it has office spaces, and is also used for observation and communication.

8. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre                        

Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre is yet another mega-tall building located in china. It measures 530 meters, and has 111 floors. This is a more conventional design; columns that shrink as the building goes up; thus having a buttress root type of appeal.

The building was started in 2020; and the building was opened in 2016. This building is the third tallest building in china; and is a spectacle for residents and visitors to the city of Guangzhou alike.

The building is a hub for business; especially banks and financial services companies. It also serves hotels, and residences.

9. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre

Tianjin CTF Finance Centre is perhaps the most futuristic looking building among all the tall towers listed here. It looks like something from a movie; and the top looks like an opening for flying cars to land and take off. Even the whole building looks like a rocket that can fly.

The building is located in the Tianjin area of China; and measures 530 meters, and has 97 floors. The building was started in 2009, and completed in 2013.

10. China Zun

China Zun is a super-tall building in the heart of Beijing, China. It measures 527 meters, and has 109 floors. The building has a kind of H shape; the top and bottom have roughly the same dimensions, while the center is somewhat depressed.

The building is truly remarkable in design; it is a beauty to behold. However, that beauty was almost truncated because it was later discovered that the building is so tall that it could be used for purposes of espionage.

The state security apparatus then took control of the top 3 floors of the building; leaving the rest for civilian use.

The following is a more extensive list of the 100 tallest buildings in the world.

 

Position Building City Country Height (M) Floors
1 Burj Khalifa Dubai United Arab Emirates 828 163
2 Merdeka 118 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 678.9 118
3 Shanghai Tower Shanghai China 632 128
4 Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower Mecca Saudi Arabia 601 120
5 Ping An International Finance Centre Shenzhen China 599.1 115
6 Lotte World Tower Seoul South Korea 554.5 123
7 One World Trade Center New York City United States 541.3 94
8 Guangzhou CTF Finance Center Guangzhou China 530 111
9 Tianjin CTF Finance Centre Tianjin China 530 97
10 China Zun Beijing China 527.7 109
11 Taipei 101 Taipei Taiwan 508 101
12 Shanghai World Financial Center Shanghai China 492 101
13 International Commerce Centre Hong Kong China 484 108
14 Wuhan Greenland Center Wuhan China 475.6 101
15 Central Park Tower April New York City United States 472.4 98
16 Lakhta Center Saint Petersburg Russia 462 87
17 The Landmark 81 Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam 461.2 81
18 International Land-Sea Center Chongqing China 458.2 98
19 The Exchange 106 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 453.6 95
20 Changsha IFS Changsha China 452.1 94
21 Petronas Tower 1 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 451.9 88
22 Petronas Tower 2 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 451.9 88
23 Zifeng Tower Nanjing China 450 89
24 Suzhou IFS Suzhou China 450 95
25 Wuhan Center Wuhan China 443.1 88
26 Willis Tower Chicago United States 442.1 108
27 KK100 Shenzhen China 441.8 98
28 Guangzhou International Finance Center Guangzhou China 438.6 101
29 111 West 57th Street New York City United States 435.3 84
30 One Vanderbilt New York United States 427 62
31 432 Park Avenue, NY New York United States 425.7 85
32 Marina Dubai United Arab Emirates 425 101
33 Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago United States 423.2 98
34 Dongguan International Trade Center 1 Minying China 422.6 85
35 Jin Mao Tower Shanghai China 420.5 88
36 Princess Tower Dubai United Arab Emirates 413.4 101
37 Al Hamra Tower Kuwait City Kuwait 412.6 80
38 Two International Finance Centre Hong Kong China 412 88
39 Haeundae LCT The Sharp Landmark Tower Busan South Korea 411.6 101
40 Guangxi China Resources Tower Nanning China 402.7 86
41 Guiyang International Financial Center Guiyang China 401 79
42 China Resources Headquarters Shenzhen China 392.5 68
43 23 Marina Dubai United Arab Emirates 392.4 88
44 CITIC Plaza Guangzhou China 390.2 80
45 Citymark Centre Shenzhen China 388.3 70
46 Shum Yip Upperhills Towers Shenzhen China 388.1 80
47 30 Hudson Yards New York City United States 387.1 73
48 Public Investment Fund Tower Riyadh Saudi Arabia 385 72
49 Shun Hing Square Shenzhen China 384 69
50 Eton Place Dalian Tower Dalian China 383.2 80
51 Autograph Tower, Jakarta, Jakarta Indonesia 382.9 75
52 Logan Century Center Nanning China 381.3 82
53 Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 381.2 88
54 Empire State Building New York City United States 381 102
55 Elite Residence Dubai United Arab Emirates 380.5 87
56 Riverview Plaza Wuhan China 376 73
57 Dabaihui Plaza Shenzhen China 375.6 70
58 Central Plaza Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Hong Kong Hong Kong 373.9 78
59 Federation Tower Moscow Russia 373.7 93
60 Dalian International Trade Center Dalian China 370.2 86
61 The Address Boulevard Dubai United Arab Emirates 370 73
62 Haitian Center Tower 2 Qingdao China 368.9 73
63 Golden Eagle Tiandi Tower A Nanjing China 368.1 77
64 Bank of China Tower Hong Kong China 367 72
65 Bank of America Tower Midtown Manhattan and Times Square New York City United States 365.8 55
66 St. Regis Chicago Chicago United States 362.9 92
67 Almas Tower Dubai United Arab Emirates 360 68
68 Hanking Center Shenzhen China 358.9 65
69 Greenland Group Suzhou Center Suzhou China 358 77
70 Gevora Hotel Dubai United Arab Emirates 356.3 75
71 Galaxy World Tower 1 Shenzhen China 356 71
72 Galaxy World Tower 2 Shenzhen China 356 71
73 Il Primo Tower Dubai United Arab Emirates 356 79
74 JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Tower 1 Dubai United Arab Emirates 355.4 82
75 JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Tower 2 Dubai United Arab Emirates 355.4 82
76 Emirates Office Tower Dubai United Arab Emirates 354.6 54
77 Raffles City Chongqing Chongqing China 354.5 79
78 Raffles City Chongqing T4N Chongqing China 354.5 74
79 OKO – South Tower Oko Moscow Russia 354.2 90
80 The Marina Torch Dubai United Arab Emirates 352 86
81 Forum 66 Tower 1 Shenyang China 350.6 68
82 The Pinnacle Guangzhou China 350.3 60
83 Xi’an Glory International Financial Center Xi’an China 350 75
84 Spring City 66 Kunming China 349 61
85 85 Sky Tower Kaoshiung Taiwan 347.5 85
86 Aon Center Chicago United States 346.3 83
87 The Center Hong Kong China 346 73
88 Neva Tower 2 Moscow Russia 345 79
89 875 North Michigan Avenue Chicago United States 343.7 100
90 Shimao Global Financial Center Changsha China 343 74
91 Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 342.5 75
92 ADNOC Headquarters Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 342 65
93 One Shenzhen Bay Tower 7 Shenzhen China 341.4 71

Related:

Top 100 Tourist Attractions In The World

Top 100 Richest Cities In The World

Top 100 Richest Countries In The World

Closing

Looking at the list of the tallest buildings in the world, one cannot help but be amazed at the level of development that has taken place in China, and the rest of Asia. These buildings are a testament to the economic prowess of the countries, and what can be achieved in the future.

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