World’s Tallest Buildings: The Current Top 30 by Height

The tallest buildings in the world, as of 24 October 2026, are led by Burj Khalifa in Dubai at 828 m (2,717 ft), followed by Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur at 679 m (2,227 ft) and Shanghai Tower at 632 m (2,073 ft). The ranking below lists the current top 30 completed buildings using data from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), with the method and date stated, short profiles of the top 17, and the tallest buildings still under construction listed separately, including Jeddah Tower. It is for general readers, students and architecture enthusiasts.

Architects and engineers keep pushing the height of the tallest building in the world. Tall buildings express a city’s ambition and identity, and in dense cities they are also a practical way to house people and jobs on limited land. Advances in structural engineering, materials and vertical transport have made far greater heights possible than a century ago.

Method and as-of date

This ranking uses the CTBUH Skyscraper Center list of the 100 tallest completed buildings, read on 24 October 2026. CTBUH measures architectural height, from the level of the lowest significant open-air pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building, including spires but not antennas, signage or flagpoles. Only completed buildings are ranked; towers that are not buildings (such as telecommunications towers) and buildings under construction are excluded. Heights are given in metres, with feet in brackets.

For historical context on the building type, read about the Chicago School and the birth of skyscrapers, and for the single record-holder, Arch2O’s feature on what the tallest building in the world is.

CTBUH publishes three height measures for every tower. Rankings, including this one, use the first: the architectural top.

The 30 tallest buildings in the world (CTBUH data)

The table answers the common questions about the top 10 and top 20 tallest buildings at a glance. Equal heights share a rank, as CTBUH lists them. For a longer list, including the top 50 and top 100, see the CTBUH list linked above.

The ranking has changed since this article was first published: Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur (completed 2023) is now second, and Wuhan Greenland Center (completed 2023) has entered the top 15, so several buildings have moved down a place.

Is Tokyo Skytree taller than Burj Khalifa?

No. Tokyo Skytree reaches 634 m (2,080 ft) to its tip, well short of Burj Khalifa’s 828 m. Skytree is also a broadcasting and observation tower rather than a building with occupied floors throughout, so it does not appear in rankings of the tallest buildings in the world; it is often described as the world’s tallest tower.

Profiles of the top 17

Earlier versions of this article profiled fifteen buildings; the profiles below follow the current CTBUH order. Floors, completion years and heights follow CTBUH; architect, material and function details are carried over from the earlier version.

1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai: 828 m (2,717 ft)

• Location: Dubai, UAE
• Completed: 2010
• Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
• Floors: 163
• Material: steel and concrete
• Function: office, residential and hotel

The renowned Burj Khalifa has been the tallest building in the world since 2010. Its design and construction advanced the science of skyscrapers with new structural, construction and building-systems techniques.

2. Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur: 679 m (2,227 ft)

• Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Completed: 2023
• Floors: 118

Merdeka 118 became the second-tallest building in the world on completion in 2023. Its faceted glass facade and tall spire rise next to Stadium Merdeka, where Malaysia’s independence was declared in 1957, which gave the tower its name.

3. Shanghai Tower, Shanghai: 632 m (2,073 ft)

• Location: Shanghai, China
• Completed: 2015
• Architect: Gensler
• Floors: 128
• Material: composite
• Function: office and hotel

Shanghai Tower dominates the skyline of the Lujiazui finance district. Its twisting form symbolises the dynamic development of modern China and also reduces the wind loads on the structure.

4. Makkah Royal Clock Tower, Mecca: 601 m (1,972 ft)

• Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
• Completed: 2012
• Architect: Dar Al-Handasah Shair and Partners
• Floors: 120
• Material: steel and concrete
• Function: hotel and other uses

The Makkah Royal Clock Tower stands beside the Grand Mosque in Mecca and provides accommodation close to the mosque for the large numbers of pilgrims who visit every year.

5. Ping An Finance Center, Shenzhen: 599 m (1,965 ft)

• Location: Shenzhen, China
• Completed: 2017
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
• Floors: 115
• Material: composite
• Function: office

Ping An Finance Center stands in Shenzhen‘s Futian District, close to major rail links. It is a symbol of the city’s rapid growth: tall, compact and well connected.

6. Lotte World Tower, Seoul: 555 m (1,819 ft)

• Location: Seoul, South Korea
• Completed: 2017
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
• Floors: 123
• Material: composite
• Function: hotel, residential, office and retail

Lotte World Tower’s design draws on Korean arts and culture. Its smoothly tapered form rises to a point, and a seam running up the facade points towards Seoul’s historic centre.

7. One World Trade Center, New York: 541 m (1,776 ft)

• Location: New York City, USA
• Completed: 2014
• Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
• Floors: 94
• Material: composite
• Function: office

One World Trade Center is the tallest building in New York and in the Western Hemisphere. Its height of 1,776 ft deliberately recalls the year of the US Declaration of Independence.

8. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, Guangzhou: 530 m (1,739 ft)

• Location: Guangzhou, China
• Completed: 2016
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
• Floors: 111
• Material: composite
• Function: hotel, residential and office

Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre stacks several functions in one tower; its setbacks mark the changes between them and create terraces.

8. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, Tianjin: 530 m (1,739 ft)

• Location: Tianjin, China
• Completed: 2019
• Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
• Floors: 97
• Material: composite
• Function: hotel, serviced apartments and office

Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, in Tianjin‘s Economic-Technological Development Area, shares eighth place with its Guangzhou namesake. Its smooth, tapering form helps the structure resist wind loads.

10. CITIC Tower, Beijing: 528 m (1,731 ft)

• Location: Beijing, China
• Completed: 2018
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
• Floors: 109
• Material: composite
• Function: office

CITIC Tower’s form, wider at the top and base than at the waist, is inspired by the zun, an ancient Chinese ceremonial vessel. Parametric design tools helped the architects and engineers refine the form and structure.

11. TAIPEI 101, Taipei: 508 m (1,667 ft)

• Location: Taipei, Taiwan
• Completed: 2004
• Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partners
• Floors: 101
• Material: composite
• Function: office

TAIPEI 101 was the tallest building in the world from 2004 until Burj Khalifa opened. Beyond its symbolic, stacked form, it earned LEED Platinum certification for operations and maintenance in 2011, notable for a building of its size.

12. Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai: 492 m (1,614 ft)

• Location: Shanghai, China
• Completed: 2008
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates; Mori Building
• Floors: 101
• Material: composite
• Function: hotel and office

The Shanghai World Financial Center’s form, a square prism cut by two sweeping curves and pierced by an opening at the top, draws on the Chinese symbols of heaven and earth. It stands next to Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai Tower in Shanghai‘s Lujiazui district.

13. International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong: 484 m (1,588 ft)

• Location: Hong Kong, China
• Completed: 2010
• Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
• Floors: 108
• Material: composite
• Function: hotel and office

The International Commerce Centre is Hong Kong’s tallest building. It was designed with performance-based solutions, and its operators have applied ongoing energy-management practices since it opened.

14. Wuhan Greenland Center, Wuhan: 476 m (about 1,560 ft)

• Location: Wuhan, China
• Completed: 2023
• Floors: 101

Wuhan Greenland Center was completed in 2023 after a long construction period, at a lower height than originally planned. Its smooth, tapering form with rounded corners is designed to reduce wind loads.

15. Central Park Tower, New York: 472 m (1,550 ft)

• Location: New York City, USA
• Completed: 2020
• Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
• Floors: 98
• Material: composite
• Function: residential

Central Park Tower is the tallest residential building in the world. Its form takes cues from classic Manhattan skyscrapers, and a cantilevered section on the east side opens views towards Central Park.

16. Lakhta Center, St Petersburg: 462 m (1,516 ft)

• Location: St Petersburg, Russia
• Completed: 2019
• Architect: RMJM; Gorproject; Samsung C&T Corporation
• Floors: 87
• Material: composite
• Function: office

Lakhta Center stands alone on the edge of St Petersburg, far from the historic centre. The cold climate and its height required a robust structure and a range of energy-saving measures. It is the tallest building in Europe.

17. Vincom Landmark 81, Ho Chi Minh City: 461 m (1,513 ft)

• Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Completed: 2018
• Architect: Atkins
• Floors: 81
• Material: composite
• Function: hotel and residential

The design of Vincom Landmark 81 is inspired by a traditional bundle of bamboo, a symbol popular in Vietnamese culture. Its form is made of square tubes of different heights, highest at the centre.

Buildings ranked 18 to 30 are listed in the table above. An earlier companion article covers more of them: Top 30 Tallest Buildings in the World, Part 2.

Height comparison

The chart below draws the top ten from the CTBUH figures in the table side by side, with Jeddah Tower’s planned height for comparison. Burj Khalifa’s lead over second-placed Merdeka 118 (149 m) is almost as large as the whole spread from second to tenth place (151 m).

Tallest buildings under construction

Several buildings now under construction will change the ranking. According to the CTBUH list of the tallest buildings under construction (read 24 October 2026), the tallest are:

• Jeddah Tower, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: planned 1,000 m, expected 2028.
• Burj Azizi, Dubai, UAE: planned 725 m, expected 2030.
• Tianjin 117, Tianjin, China: planned 597 m, expected 2027.
• Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences, Dubai, UAE: planned 595 m, expected 2027.
• Senna Tower, Balneário Camboriú, Brazil: planned 544 m, completion date not listed.

Jeddah Tower was once expected to become the tallest building in the world by 2020, but work stalled around 2018. Construction resumed in January 2025, and in October 2026 the tower had reached its 116th floor, about 466 m, with completion targeted for late 2028, as Gulf Business reported. When finished, it is planned to be the first building to reach 1 km.

Sources and further reading

• CTBUH Skyscraper Center: 100 tallest completed buildings (accessed 24 October 2026)
• CTBUH Skyscraper Center: tallest buildings under construction (accessed 24 October 2026)
• Gulf Business: Jeddah Tower progress, October 2026

Next step: check the CTBUH lists for the latest changes, since several towers under construction will enter the ranking by 2030. These are the tallest buildings in the world today; the next few years will add new names near the top.

More in this guide

• “I will take the stairs!” – How Long Will It Take You to Reach the Top of the World’s Tallest Skyscrapers? Check Infographic
• Towards a Greater Height: 10 Extraordinary Tower Designs!
• 10 Facts to Know About the Sinking Millennium Tower
• 11 Leaning Towers That Aren’t the Leaning Tower of Pisa
• 5 Reasons Why the Leaning Tower of Pisa Is a Perfect Architectural Wonder
• Chicago’s Architectural Giants: A Complete Guide to the City’s 10 Tallest Buildings
• Statue of Unity: 13 Impressive Facts About the World’s Tallest Statue
• The Story of the Tower of David: The World’s Tallest Slum in Venezuela

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