Photos Showing The Tallest Buildings To Ever Exist
Up until the turn of the 20th century, the tallest buildings in the world were generally large churches and cathedrals. But with the advent of new technologies — elevators and poured concrete chief among them — the age of the skyscraper had begun.
In modern times, the rate of tall buildings going up around the world has only increased, with the buildings getting taller, more elaborate, and more costly. These are currently the tallest buildings in the world — but with more and more skyscrapers in the planning process, new buildings will continue to reach new heights.
Changsha International Finance Square - 1,043 feet
Completed in 2017, the Changsha International Finance Square in Changha, China, is one of the largest skyscrapers in central China.
The building features a glassy, reflective facade to give it a modern, contemporary aesthetic. It's a mixed-use development, with housing spaces, a luxury hotel, and retail outlets occupying its 68 storeys.
Exchange 106 - 1,150 feet
Towering above the central business district of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Exchange 106 was designed by New York-based architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox.
The tower is mostly dedicated to office space, and as Malaysia's tallest office building, it hosts the regional offices of many major international companies.
CITIC Tower - 1,146 feet
CITIC Tower in Beijing is one of the tallest buildings in the city, and the largest in Beijing's Chaoyang District.
It's named for its primary tenant, CITIC Group, which is one of China's largest state-owned investment companies. It utilizes various technologies to strengthen it against the risk of earthquakes and high winds.
432 Park Avenue - 1,396 feet
A notably skinny residential skyscraper in Manhattan, 432 Park Avenue is the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most recognizable structures on Manhattan's iconic skyline.
Nicknamed "the Pencil" for its narrow shape, it features a grid pattern with square windows that emphasize its vertical design.
Wuhan Greenland Center - 1,439 feet
At 1,439 feet tall, Wuhan Greenland Center is the tallest building in Wuhan and one of the tallest in China. It's part of a larger mixed-use development, Greenland Center Wuhan.
The skyscraper features an elegant tapered shape that narrows as it rises, clad in reflective glass that allows it to blend into its surroundings despite its impressive height.
Land-Sea International Center - 1,476 feet
Completed in 2020, the Land-Sea International Center in Nanning, southern China, is the central feature of the Land-Sea International Community development.
The skyscraper houses a luxury hotel on its upper floors, premium office spaces in its middle floors, and high-end retail spaces lower down.
Landmark 81 - 1,514 feet
At a height of 1,514 feet, Landmark 81 — located in Ho Chi Minh City — is the tallest building in Vietnam. The tapered, glass building is topped with a spire, and towers over its surroundings.
In the half decade since it opened, Landmark 81 has quickly become one of Vietnam's most recognizable buildings, serving as a symbol of the region's economic strength.
Lakhta Center - 1,516 feet
The Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg, Russia is the tallest building in Europe at 1,516 feet tall. It's a distinctive building, characterized by a slender, twisting shape that tapers into a point at the top.
The complex features retail, restaurants, public areas, and office spaces, many of which offer sweeping views of the nearby Gulf of Finland.
International Commerce Centre - 1,588 feet
Hong Kong's International Commerce Center, or ICC, has been the tallest building in Hong Kong ever since it was completed in 2010.
Like many other skyscrapers, it's a mixed-use building and features an observation deck on the top with views of the Hong Kong skyline and Victoria Harbour.
Shanghai World Financial Center - 1,621 feet
The World Financial Center in Shanghai is immediately distinctive, with a triangular shape that tapers as it rises, topped off with a rectangular opening at the top.
It was designed with sustainability in mind, and features various green technologies, including smart lighting, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and high-performance glass.
Taipei 101 - 1,667 feet
Taipei 101 is a truly iconic skyscraper, known for its unique pagoda-inspired tiers that set it apart from other rectangular skyscrapers. It sits in Taiwan's capital city.
The skyscraper was built with a tuned mass damper — effectively a 660-ton pendulum weight located on the 88th floor — that helps stabilize it during earthquakes and earth tremors.
Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Financial Centre - 1,739 feet
This massive skyscraper in Tianjin, China towers over the surrounding buildings, standing nearly a third of a mile tall.
Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Financial Center serves as an anchor to Tianjin's economic and urban development, as it's located in the heart of the city's financial district.
Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre - 1,739 feet
Located in Guangzhou's Tianhe District, the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre combines offices, retail spaces, luxury residences, and a hotel in its 111 floors.
The skyscraper is also noteworthy for achieving a LEED Gold certification for its commitment to environmental sustainability, which includes systems for harvesting rainwater and saving energy.
1 World Trade Center - 1,776 feet
Standing a symbolic 1,776 feet tall, 1 World Trade Center was built on the site of the former World Trade Center towers that were destroyed during the attacks of September 11, 2001.
It's not just the tallest building in New York; it's the tallest in the Americas. With an eye to the 9/11 attacks, the building was designed with innovative safety measures, including a reinforced steel frame, high-strength concrete, and advanced fire protection systems.
Lotte World Tower - 1,819 feet
Lotte World Tower, located in Seoul's Jamsil District, is the tallest building in South Korea. It's the centerpiece of the larger Lotte World complex, which includes a shopping mall, theme park, and hotel.
A popular attraction of Lotte World Tower is its observation deck, which spans the 117th to 123rd floors, and offers panoramic views of Seoul.
Ping An International Finance Center - 1,965 feet
The 1,965-foot-tall Ping An International Finance Center in Shenzhen, China, is a key component of Shenzhen's transformation from a manufacturing city to a global financial and tech hub.
The tower features a tapered profile that narrows to a point at the top, and features premium residential suites to go along with office space.
Abraj Al-Bait Tower - 1,972 feet
Also known as the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, the Abraj Al-Bait Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the third-tallest building in the world.
Its distinctive and enormous clock face is visible for miles, and makes it one of the most unique skyscrapers ever constructed. The clock face has a diameter of 43 feet and is illuminated at night.
Shanghai Tower - 2,073 feet
The Shanghai Tower is, as expected, a tower in Shanghai, China. What sets it apart is its incredible height of more than 2,000 feet — enough to make it the tallest skyscraper in a country known for its massive skyscrapers.
The tower stands out not just for its height, but for its unique, spiraling shape. This shape is more than just aesthetic, as it serves a key aerodynamic purpose.
Warisan Merdeka Tower (Merdeka 118) - 2,227 feet
Kuala Lumpur's Warisan Merdeka Tower features a tapered shape, combined with a massive spire to cap it off.
Sustainability is key to the tower's design, as energy-efficient systems are baked into its construction. It's the tallest building in Malaysia, and the second-tallest in the world.
Burj Khalifa - 2,717 feet
Standing at more than half a mile tall, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai has been the tallest building in the world — by a significant margin — ever since it was completed in 2010.
The tower is 163 storeys tall and features an observation deck on its 124th floor, which is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Dubai.