Since the beginning of recorded history, people have had the desire to build. Early humans erected the 28-foot tall Tower of Jericho roughly 11,000 years ago. It is believed to have been the tallest manmade structure in the world for millennia. The desire to create and build has never abated, and the technology needed to do so has finally caught up.
Construction cranes, the elevator, and countless other mechanical advancements made skyscrapers feasible to build and use. Now that the technology is available across the globe, there are dozens of buildings worldwide that stretch more than 1,000 feet toward the sky — and two that are more than 2,000 feet tall.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat to determine the 50 tallest buildings in the world.
For many years, the U.S. has dominated the world skyscraper rankings. The Empire State Building held the title as the tallest manmade structure from its completion in 1931 until it was unseated in 1972 by the World Trade Center’s twin towers, which were then surpassed two years later by Chicago’s Sears Tower, now known as Willis Tower.
Now, many of the world’s tallest buildings are in Asia and the Middle East, thanks to a new wave of skyscraper construction in those regions. Of the world’s 50 tallest buildings, 28 were completed in 2011 or later. China is home to 20 of the world’s 50 tallest buildings. The United Arab Emirates ranks second with 13, and the U.S. has seven. Malaysia, Taiwan, and Russia both appear on this list twice, while Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Vietnam each have one of the 50 largest buildings in the world.
Click here to see the 50 tallest buildings in the world.
To determine the 50 tallest buildings, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Only finished buildings were considered.
Source: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons
50. Aon Center
> Height: 1,136 feet, 83 floors
> Location: Chicago, United States
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1973
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Source: Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
49. 85 Sky Tower
> Height: 1,140 feet, 85 floors
> Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
> Use: hotel, office, and retail
> Completed in: 1997
Source: Pavliha / Getty Images
48. The Pinnacle
> Height: 1,149 feet, 60 floors
> Location: Guangzhou, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2012
Source: Dr. 2000 / Wikimedia Commons
47. Forum 66 Tower 1
> Height: 1,150 feet, 68 floors
> Location: Shenyang, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2015
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Source: TrogledyWretched / Wikimedia Commons
46. The Torch
> Height: 1,155 feet, 86 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: residential
> Completed in: 2011
Source: Igor3188 / Wikimedia Commons
45. OKO – Residential Tower
> Height: 1,160 feet, 90 floors
> Location: Moscow, Russia
> Use: residential, serviced apartments, and hotel
> Completed in: 2015
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Source: Aidas U. / Wikimedia Commons
44. Emirates Tower One
> Height: 1,163 feet, 54 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2000
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Source: Tristan Surtel / Wikimedia Commons
43. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 1
> Height: 1,166 feet, 82 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: hotel
> Completed in: 2012
Source: giggel / Wikimedia Commons
42. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2
> Height: 1,166 feet, 82 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: hotel
> Completed in: 2013
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Source: Tristan Surtel / Wikimedia Commons
41. Gevora Hotel
> Height: 1,169 feet, 75 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: hotel
> Completed in: 2017
Source: Dmcccomms / Wikimedia Commons
40. Almas Tower
> Height: 1,181 feet, 68 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2008
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Source: ekilby / Flickr
39. Bank of America Tower
> Height: 1,200 feet, 55 floors
> Location: New York City, United States
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2009
Source: chinaface / Getty Images
38. Bank of China Tower
> Height: 1,205 feet, 72 floors
> Location: Hong Kong, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1990
Source: Heba Hashem / Wikimedia Commons
37. The Address Boulevard
> Height: 1,214 feet, 73 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: residential, hotel, and retail
> Completed in: 2017
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Source: Igor3188 / Wikimedia Commons
36. Federation Tower
> Height: 1,226 feet, 93 floors
> Location: Moscow, Russia
> Use: residential and office
> Completed in: 2016
Source: danielvfung / Getty Images
35. Central Plaza
> Height: 1,227 feet, 78 floors
> Location: Hong Kong, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1992
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Source: Pyb / WIkimedia Commons
34. Elite Residence
> Height: 1,248 feet, 87 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: residential
> Completed in: 2012
Source: ventdusud / Getty Images
33. Empire State Building
> Height: 1,250 feet, 102 floors
> Location: New York City, United States
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1931
Source: TrogledyWretched / Wikimedia Commons
32. Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid
> Height: 1,251 feet, 88 floors
> Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
> Use: residential
> Completed in: 2014
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Source: Jesse / Wikimedia Commons
31. Eton Place Dalian Tower 1
> Height: 1,257 feet, 80 floors
> Location: Dalian, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2016
Source: kaevex / Flickr
30. Shun Hing Square
> Height: 1,260 feet, 69 floors
> Location: Shenzhen, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1996
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Source: Jesse / Wikimedia Commons
29. CITIC Plaza
> Height: 1,280 feet, 80 floors
> Location: Guangzhou, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1996
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Source: Guilhem Vellut / Wikimedia Commons
28. 23 Marina
> Height: 1,287 feet, 88 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: residential
> Completed in: 2012
Source: bingfengwu / Getty Images
27. China Resources Headquarters
> Height: 1,288 feet, 68 floors
> Location: Shenzhen, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2018
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Source: uschools / Getty Images
26. Two International Finance Centre
> Height: 1,352 feet, 88 floors
> Location: Hong Kong, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2003
Source: michaelstubbs / Getty Images
25. Al Hamra Tower
> Height: 1,354 feet, 80 floors
> Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2011
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Source: RobertBreitpaul / Getty Images
24. Princess Tower
> Height: 1,356 feet, 101 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: residential
> Completed in: 2012
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Source: zhanghaitao / Getty Images
23. Jin Mao Tower
> Height: 1,380 feet, 88 floors
> Location: Shanghai, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 1999
Source: benkrut / Getty Images
22. Trump International Hotel & Tower
> Height: 1,389 feet, 98 floors
> Location: Chicago, United States
> Use: residential and hotel
> Completed in: 2009
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Source: Francisco Anzola / Wikimedia Commons
21. Marina 101
> Height: 1,394 feet, 101 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: residential and hotel
> Completed in: 2017
Source: olli0815 / Getty Images
20. 432 Park Avenue
> Height: 1,397 feet, 85 floors
> Location: New York City, United States
> Use: residential
> Completed in: 2015
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Source: そらみみ / Wikimedia Commons
19. Guangzhou International Finance Center
> Height: 1,439 feet, 103 floors
> Location: Guangzhou, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2010
Source: zyxeos30 / Getty Images
18. KK100
> Height: 1,449 feet, 100 floors
> Location: Shenzhen, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2011
Source: benedek / Getty Images
17. Willis Tower
> Height: 1,451 feet, 108 floors
> Location: Chicago, United States
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1974
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Source: asusmt / Getty Images
16. Zifeng Tower
> Height: 1,476 feet, 66 floors
> Location: Nanjing, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2010
Source: Luke Watson (Lukeaw) / Wikimedia Commons
14. Petronas Twin Tower 1
> Height: 1,483 feet, 88 floors
> Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1998
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Source: jlascar / Flickr
14. Petronas Twin Tower 2
> Height: 1,483 feet, 88 floors
> Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
> Use: office
> Completed in: 1998
Source: Yinsanhen / Wikimedia Commons
13. Changsha IFS Tower T1
> Height: 1,483 feet, 94 floors
> Location: Changsha, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2018
Source: Huỳnh Vĩ Nhơn / Wikimedia Commons
12. Vincom Landmark 81
> Height: 1,513 feet, 81 floors
> Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
> Use: hotel and residential
> Completed in: 2018
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Source: LeeYiuTung / Getty Images
11. International Commerce Centre
> Height: 1,588 feet, 108 floors
> Location: Hong Kong, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2010
Source: zorazhuang / Getty Images
10. Shanghai World Financial Center
> Height: 1,614 feet, 101 floors
> Location: Shanghai, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2008
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
9. TAIPEI 101
> Height: 1,667 feet, 101 floors
> Location: Taipei, Taiwan
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2004
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Source: xiao zhou / Getty Images
8. China Zun
> Height: 1,731 feet, 109 floors
> Location: Beijing, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2018
Source: 54173510@N05 / Flickr
7. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre
> Height: 1,739 feet, 111 floors
> Location: Guangzhou, China
> Use: hotel, residential, and office
> Completed in: 2016
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Source: batuhanozdel / Getty Images
6. One World Trade Center
> Height: 1,776 feet, 94 floors
> Location: New York City, United States
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2014
Source: Mlenny / Getty Images
5. Lotte World Tower
> Height: 1,819 feet, 123 floors
> Location: Seoul, South Korea
> Use: hotel, residential, office, and retail
> Completed in: 2017
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Source: bingfengwu / Getty Images
4. Ping An Finance Center
> Height: 1,965 feet, 115 floors
> Location: Shenzhen, China
> Use: office
> Completed in: 2017
Source: clicksbyabrar / Getty Images
3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower
> Height: 1,972 feet, 120 floors
> Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
> Use: other and hotel
> Completed in: 2012
Source: ansonmiao / Getty Images
2. Shanghai Tower
> Height: 2,073 feet, 128 floors
> Location: Shanghai, China
> Use: hotel and office
> Completed in: 2015
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Source: dblight / Getty Images
1. Burj Khalifa
> Height: 2,717 feet, 163 floors
> Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
> Use: office, residential, and hotel
> Completed in: 2010
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