May 6, 2024 | Penelope Singh

The World’s Tallest Skyscrapers


Sky High Buildings

There are skyscrapers, and then there are “Supertall” skyscrapers, and then, above all that are the “Megatall” skyscrapers—which are skyscrapers that are at least 600m (1,968.5 ft) tall.

skyscrapers split image

Megatall Skyscrapers

As of April 2024, only four completed buildings are “megatall” and one is currently under construction (Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia).

All of these buildings have well over 100 floors.

Five Gray Concrete Buildings Under Blue SkyBurst, Pexels

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Supertall Skyscrapers

A supertall building, or simply a supertall, is a skyscraper exceeding 300 meters in height.

It is taller than the common definition of "skyscraper" of at least 150 meters in height, but shorter than a "megatall" building of at least 600 meters in height.

There are currently 235 completed supertall buildings in the world.

Low-Angle Photography of High-Rise BuildingsVicente Vidal, Pexels

Country with the Most Skyscrapers

China is the country with the most supertall buildings at 109 entries, followed by the United Arab Emirates and the United States with 35 and 31 supertall buildings respectively.

Fountain in Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesBlue Earth Photo, Pexels

Supertall Stats

As of 2024, there are 68 cities across the world with at least one supertall building.

The city with the most supertall buildings is Dubai at 31 entries, followed by Shenzhen and New York City with 20 and 17 supertall buildings respectively.

Aerial Photo Of City Under The Blue SkyMo Ismail, Pexels

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Skyscrapers

It’s important to note that a skyscraper is a “tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors.”

There are many other massive towers and structures in the world that are not on this list because they do not meet the criteria of a skyscraper.

White Concrete Building Under Blue SkyPaolo De Guzman, Pexels

The Biggest and Best

Finally, here are photos and quick stats of all four “megatall” skyscrapers, as well as 21 “supertall” skyscrapers—highlighting some the world’s tallest buildings.

Concrete High-rise Buildings Under Blue SkyAleksandar Pasaric, Pexels

Megatall: Burj Khalifa

Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Burj Khalifa stands a whopping 828m (2,717 ft)—making it the tallest building in the world.

It was completed in 2010 and has 163 floors, and an observation deck at 555m (1,821 ft).

Burj Khalifa Tower under Blue SkyTima Miroshnichenko, Pexels

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Megatall: Merdeka 118

The Merdeka 118 is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and is the second tallest building in the world. It stands 679m (2,228 ft), with an observation deck at 502m (1,647 ft) and has 118 floors.

This building was completed just recently in 2023.

View of highest tower KL PNB Merdeka 118 ,KUALA LUMPUR - 2022muhamad mizan bin ngateni, Shutterstock

Megatall: Shanghai Tower

Located in Shanghai, China, the Shanghai Tower is 632m (2,073 ft) tall, with an observation deck at 652m (1,844ft) and has 128 floors.

It was completed in 2015.

Shanghai Tower - 2023A Chinese ID, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Megatall: Makkah Royal Clock Tower

The final megatall skyscraper is located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It stands 601m (1,972 ft) tall, with an observation deck at 484.4 m (1,589 ft).

It was completed in 2012 and has 120 floors.

Makkah Clock TowerIjam Hairi, Shutterstock

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Supertall: Ping an Finance Center

Just one meter shy of a megatall, the Ping An Finance Center in Schenzhen, China stands 599m (1,965 ft) tall and has 115 floors.

It was completed in 2017.

The Futian CBD's skyline looking east from the west. The Ping'an Finance Center which is the tallest building at the background - 2021Charlie fong, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Supertall: Lotte World Tower

Also, not far off from a megatall is the Lotta World Tower in Seoul, South Korea. This supertall building stands 555m (1,819 ft) and has 123 floors.

It was completely in 2017.

Lotte World Amusement Park and Seokchon Lake in Spring Cherry blossoms bloom in late March-April. Seoul, South KoreaONRUECHA WASAN, Shutterstock

Supertall: One World Trade Center

The One World Trade Center in New York City, USA stands 541.3m (1,776 ft) and has 104 floors.

It was completed in 2014.

One World Trade Center - 2015Michael Vadon, Flickr

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Supertall: Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre

In Guangzhou, China, the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre stands 530m (1,740 ft) and has 111 floors.

It was completed in 2016.

Guangzhou IFC (left) and Guangzhou CTF (right) - 2018Milkomède, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Supertall: Tianjin CTF Finance Centre

The Tianjin CTF Finance Centre in Tianjin, China is the exact sameheight as the one before, 530m (1,740 ft) but only has 97 floors.

It was completed in 2019.

View of the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre at Tianjin Binhai New Area - 2019Iryna Makukha, Shutterstock

Supertall: China Zun

Another supertall skyscraper in China is the China Zun in Beijing. It towers 527.7m (1,731 ft) tall and has 109 floors.

It was completed in 2018.

China Zun tillsammans and Samsung China Headquarters.Bairuilong, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Supertall: Taipei 101

In Taipei, Thaiwan, the Taipei 101 stands 508m (1,667 ft) tall and has 101 floors.

It was built in 2004.

Taipei 101 tower at sunsetCEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC-BY-SA-3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Supertall: Shanghai World Financial Center

The Shanghai World Financial Center in China stands 492m (1,614 ft) and has 101 floors.

It was completed in 2008.

Shanghai World Financial Centersevenke ,Shutterstock

Supertall: International Commerce Centre

The International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong, China stands 484m (1,588 ft) tall and has 108 floors.

It was finished in 2010.

International Commerce Centre Skyscraper, In West Kowloon, Hong KongAnk Kumar, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Supertall: Wuhan Greenland Center

In Wuhan China, the Wuhan Greenland Center stands 476 m (1,560 ft) and has 101 floors.

It was completed in 2023.

Wuhan Greenland Center - 2012Aangkianghai, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Supertall: Central Park Tower

In New York City, USA, the Central Park Tower stands 472.4m (1,550 ft) tall and has 98 floors.

It was completed in 2020.

Central Park Tower in December 2022Kidfly182, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Supertall: Lakhta Center

The Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg, Russia stands 462m (1,515 ft) tall and has 87 floors.

It was completed in 2019.

Skyscraper Eshma, Shutterstock

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Supertall: Landmark 81

The Landmark 81, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam stands 461m (1,513 ft) tall and has 81 floors.

It was completed in 2018.

Sunset at Landmarks 81 Ho Chi Minh City, the tallest building in VietnamTBone Lee, Shutterstock

Supertall: International Land-Sea Center

In Chongqing, China, the International Land-Sea Center stands 458.2m (1,503 ft) tall and has 98 floors.

It was just completed this year, in 2024.

Black and White Photo of Men Working on a Hanging Platformcedric george, Pexels

Supertall: The Exchange 106

The Exchange 106 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is 454m (1,488 ft) tall and has 95 floors.

It was completed in 2019.

The Exchange 106 in Kuala Lumpur. - 2019shaifulzamri, Shutterstock

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Supertall: Changsha IFS Tower T1

In Changsha, China, another supertower called the Changsha IFS Tower T1 stands 452 m (1,483 ft) tall and has 94 floors.

It was completed in 2019.

Cityscape with the IFS Tower T1 in Changsha, the capital - 2022DreamArchitect, Shutterstock

Supertall: Petronas Towers 1 & 2

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a set of towers called Petronas Tower 1 and Petronas Tower 2 both stand 452m (1,483 ft) just like the previous one in China.

These two towers both have 88 floors and were completed back in 1998.

The Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers of the world - 2014Jorge Láscar, Flickr

Supertall: Zifeng Tower

Zifeng Tower in Nanjing, China stands 450m (1,476 ft) tall and has only 66 floors.

It was built in 2010.

Night View of Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, ChinaWeiming Xie, Shutterstock

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Supertall: Suzhou IFS

Also in China, the Suzhous IFS stands the same height as the one before, at 450m (1,476 ft) tall but has 95 floors.

It was built in 2019.

Suzhou IFS city tower.钉钉, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Supertall: Wuhan Tower

The second skyscraper in Wuhan, China, the Wuhan Tower stands 443.1m (1,454 ft) tall and has 88 floors.

It was completed in 2019.

Wuhan Center In Jan., 2016.Zxrgg, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Supertall: Willis Tower

To finalize the list, the Willis Tower in Chicago, USA stands 442.1m (1,451 ft) tall and has 108 floors.

It was completed way back in 1974.

Skyline View Of Chicago, Illinois, Dominated By Willis TowerCarol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons

Sources: 1, 2


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