What's the Tallest Skyscraper in the World? Here's a List of the World's 27 Highest Buildings

Architects from around the world constantly challenge one another to build the tallest skyscraper in the world. To put it mildly, some of the structures are works of art. Several incredible buildings from China, the United States, and the Middle East are among the Top 10 tallest buildings in the world, and each one is a tremendously enormous skyscraper.

©rare-gallery.com

Back in the day, New York’s Empire State Building was the tallest skyscraper in the world. The building was the tallest in the world at 1,454 feet in height (with the antenna) until the original World Trade Center twin towers were finished in 1972. While it’s tragic that those towers came tumbling down on September 11, 2001, in the last four decades, so many mega-tall buildings have been constructed worldwide that the Empire State Building no longer ranks among the top 50 highest in the world.

What’s the Tallest Skyscraper in the World?

So, which building stands as the tallest in the world? In addition, which 27 skyscrapers worldwide make up this elite group? The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat maintains a database known as The Skyscraper Center, which we used to conduct an in-depth investigation to provide you with the answers you want for what is the tallest skyscraper in the world.

Jeddah Tower

©itsinternational.com

Jeddah Tower, formerly known as Kingdom Tower, is a suspended high-rise building project. Located in northern Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah Economic City will be the centerpiece of a development and tourist attraction and the first building to reach a height of 1 km (3,281 ft). After completion, this building will surpass the Burj Khalifa as the tallest skyscraper in the world.

Also read: The 10 Most Fascinating Art Deco Buildings You Need To Know

1) Burj Khalifa

©Alamy

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Construction: 2010
Height: 828 m/2,717 ft
Floors: 163
Material: Steel Over Concrete
Function: Office / Residential / Hotel

Burj Khalifa is the only one on our list that needs no introduction. It’s the highest tower in Dubai and the tallest skyscraper in the world. The flower-shaped construction is composed of structural steel and concrete to withstand wind force as one ascends higher.

2) Shanghai Tower

©Gensler

Location: Shanghai, China
Construction: 2015
Height: 632 m/2,073 ft
Floors: 128
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel / Office

The Shanghai tower is 128 floors tall, making it the highest building in China and one of the world’s ten tallest. There is no mistaking its prominence in China’s commercial and financial hub.

3) Makkah Royal Clock Tower

©travelandleisure.com

Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Construction: 2012
Height: 601 m/ 1,972 ft
Floors: 120
Material: Steel Over Concrete
Function: Serviced Apartments / Hotel / Retail

The 120-floor Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, houses residences, a five-star hotel, the Abraj Al Bait shopping center, and Hajj pilgrim resorts. The Abraj Al-Bait Tower is another name for it. It has seven towers, with the Makkah Royal Clock Tower as the tallest Mecca Skyscraper.

4) Ping An Finance Center

©old.capitalwatch.com

Location: Shenzen, China
Construction: 2017
Height: 599.1 m/ 1,965 ft
Floors: 115
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Office

The 115-story tower in Shenzhen’s Futian neighborhood features hotels, high-end shopping malls, offices, shops, and conference centers. It’s China’s second-tallest and the fourth-tallest skyscraper in the world. Using stainless steel piers, the skyscraper’s curved top reduces wind load by 40%.

5) Lotte World Tower

©floornature.com

Location: Seoul, South Korea
Construction: 2017
Height: 554.5 m/ 1,819 ft
Floors: 123
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel / Residential / Office / Retail

South Korea’s 123-story Lotte World Tower is a global corporate landmark. The skyscraper’s graceful design is inspired by Korean pottery. The building can endure wind and earthquakes. This mixed-use skyscraper is South Korea’s tallest and has prime/private offices, fancy hotels, retail stores, homes, and observatory decks.

6) One World Trade Center

©Iwan Baan

Location: New York City, US
Construction: 2014
Height: 541.3 m/ 1,776 ft
Floors: 94
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Office

Due to its creative icon, One WTC is the tallest skyscraper in America. The skyscraper’s prismatic façade has eight triangles that slope upward. The tower sits on a laminated iron glass podium 204 feet square.

7) Guangzhou CTF Finance Center

©nwcl.com.cn

Location: Guangzhou, China
Construction: 2016
Height: 530 m/ 1,739 ft
Floors: 111
Material: Composite
Function: Hotel/ Residential/ Office

Currently, the Guangzhou CTF Finance Center is the seventh-tallest skyscraper in the world. The 111-story tower is a mixed-use development with apartments, offices, a hotel, and rooftop decks. There are four distinct portions to the building, each with a gradually shrinking floor plate as one ascends in height.

8) Tianjin CTF Finance Centre

©reduper.com

Location: Tianjin, China
Construction: 2019
Height: 530 m/ 1,739 ft
Floors: 97
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel / Serviced Apartments / Office

Although it is not the tallest skyscraper in the world, the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre is a leading example of a high-performance, environmentally friendly tower, having been awarded the prestigious LEED Gold certification. The building is sturdy and resistant to natural disasters like solid winds and quakes.

9) CITIC Tower

©H.G. Esch

Location: Beijing, China
Construction: 2018
Height: 527.7 m/ 1,731 ft
Floors: 109
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Office

The CITIC Tower, located in Beijing’s central business district, is the city’s highest building at an impressive 1,731 feet. The skyscraper was named “China Zun” because its rounded design was inspired by a traditional Chinese wine cup known as a “zun.”

10) TAIPEI 101

©coolwallpapers.me

Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Construction: 2004
Height: 508 m/ 1,667 ft
Floors: 101
Material: Composite
Function: Office

TAIPEI 101, which stands 1,667 feet tall, was the tallest skyscraper in the world before the erection of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The once-record-holding Taipei office tower is now merely the tallest and largest green skyscraper in the world.

11) Shanghai World Financial Center

©dotproperty.com.ph

Location: Shanghai, China
Construction: 2008
Height: 492 m/ 1,614 ft
Floors: 101
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel/ Office

The Park Hyatt Shanghai, the highest hotel in the world, occupies the top fifteen floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center. This skyscraper is 1,614 feet tall and features a visitor’s square and panoramic deck on the top seven floors, offices, retail and dining areas, and conference facilities.

12) International Commerce Centre

©KPF

Location: Hong Kong, China
Construction: 2010
Height: 484 m/ 1,588 ft
Floors: 108
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel/ Office

The International Commerce Center (ICC) is Hong Kong’s second-tallest skyscraper, standing at 1,588 feet tall.

13) Central Park Tower

©Extell Development Company

Location: New York City, US
Construction: 2020
Height: 472.4 m/ 1,550 ft
Floors: 98
Material: All-Concrete
Function: Residential/ Retail

One block south of Central Park in Midtown Manhattan’s Billionaires’ Row district, Central Park Tower is the tallest residential skyscraper in the world. It is the second-tallest structure in the city at 1,550 feet and is home to the Nordstrom department store’s Manhattan flagship on its first seven floors.

14) Lakhta Center

©theconstructor.org

Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Construction: 2019
Height: 462 m/ 1,516 ft
Floors: 87
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Office

The Lakhta Center stands 1,516 feet tall, making it the highest building in Russia, the tallest skyscraper in Europe, the second-tallest helical structure in the globe, and the northernmost tower in the world.

15) Vincom Landmark 81

©ussinavietnam.vn

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Construction: 2018
Height: 461.2 m/ 1,513 ft
Floors: 81
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel/ Residential

Located amid the Vinhomes Central Park neighborhood to the north of Ho Chi Minh City, on the western borders of the Saigon River, stands the 1,513-foot-tall Landmark 81. The 81 stories that makeup Landmark 81 are home to various amenities, including high-end apartments, a hotel and conference center, premium shops and restaurants, a lounge, a gym, and a viewing platform.

16) The Exchange 106

©exchange106.my

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Construction: 2019
Height: 453.6 m/ 1,488 ft
Floors: 95
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Office

This stunning Exchange 106 skyscraper represents independence, attention, and elegance. Its spectacular architecture and thoughtful design provide unmatched space, opportunities, and facilities, making it one of the most sought-after business destinations in South East Asia and the world.

17) Changsha International Finance Square Tower 1

©Wong Tung

Location: Changsha, China
Construction: 2018
Height: 452.1 m/ 1,483 ft
Floors: 94
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel/ Office

Tower 1, the taller of Changsha’s International Finance Square twin skyscrapers, rises 1,483 feet, with the exquisite Niccolo Changsha hotel occupying the skyscraper’s top floors. The tower’s remaining 94 stories house corporate offices, luxury homes, and premium retail establishments.

18) Petronas Twin Towers

©loveexploring.com

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Construction: 1998
Height: 451.9 m/ 1,483 ft
Floors: 88
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Office

The Petronas twin towers are the world’s tallest at 1,483 ft. The 88-story twin buildings are connected by the world’s highest two-level skywalk, the Skybridge, on the 41st and 42nd levels.

19) Suzhou IFS

©skyscrapercenter.com

Location: Suzhou, China
Construction: 2019
Height: 450 m/ 1,476 ft
Floors: 95
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel / Office / Serviced Apartments

The Suzhou IFS Tower is a 1,476-foot-tall mixed-use skyscraper with 95 stories of office space, high-end apartments, and a five-star hotel with panoramic views of Jinji Lake.

20) Zifeng Tower

©commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Nanjing, China
Construction: 2010
Height: 450 m/ 1,476 ft
Floors: 66
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel/ Office

The Zifeng Tower in Nanjing is a mega-tall building that houses a variety of commercial and institutional establishments, a hotel, multiple dining options, and a public observation deck.

21) Wuhan Center Tower

©ECADI

Location: Wuhan, China
Construction: 2019
Height: 443.1 m/ 1,454 ft
Floors: 88
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel/ Residential/ Office

The Wuhan Center Tower, designed after a ship, is a mixed-use structure with 88 stories that rises 1,454 feet over Mengze Lake and houses shops, offices, apartments, and a hotel.

22) Willis Tower

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Construction: 1974
Height: 442.1 m/ 1,451 ft
Floors: 108
Material: All-Steel
Function: Office

The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, was the tallest skyscraper in the world for nearly 25 years. Its record-breaking height established the standard for future ultra-tall skyscrapers around the world. The first 50 stories of this Chicago skyscraper, which stands 1,450 feet tall, encompass an entire city block.

23) KK100

Location: Shenzhen, China
Construction: 2011
Height: 441.8 m/ 1,449 ft
Floors: 98
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel/ Office

The KK100 skyscraper in Shenzen’s financial center is 1,449 feet tall and is home to various businesses, the five-star St. Regis hotel, rooftop gardens, and many eateries.

24) Guangzhou International Finance Center

Location: Guangzhou, China
Construction: 2010
Height: 438.6 m/ 1,439 ft
Floors: 101
Material: Concrete-Steel Composite
Function: Hotel/ Office

Guangzhou’s International Finance Center stands out with its distinctive triangle shape, which consists of three curving façades that reach a maximum height of 1,493 feet. There’s a helipad on the top floor overlooking the stunning courtyard below.

25) 111 West 57th Street

©Dronalist

Location: New York City, US
Construction: 2021
Height: 435.3 m/ 1,428 ft
Floors: 84
Material: Steel Over Concrete
Function: Residential

With a height-to-width ratio of 24:1, SHoP Architects’ supertall skyscraper is the world’s skinniest and second highest in the Western Hemisphere. Its form is a daring interpretation of what is achievable within the constraints of the Midtown Manhattan regulatory boundary.

26) Palais Royale

Location: Mumbai, India
Construction: 2017
Height: 320 m/ 1,050 ft
Floors: 88
Material: All-Concrete
Function: Residential

The Palais Royale in Worli, Mumbai, India, is a residential ultra-high-rise skyscraper under construction. It is a whopping 320 meters (1,050 feet) tall, making it the tallest skyscraper in India.