PlayInfoBox

Home /Text /The World's Tallest Structures: From the Burj Khalifa to the Empire State Building

The World's Tallest Structures: From the Burj Khalifa to the Empire State Building

From the Burj Khalifa to the Empire State Building, explore 10 of the tallest structures ever built.

Burj Khalifa

Dubai, United Arab Emirates · 828m · completed 2010. Currently the tallest structure in the world, and by such a dramatic margin over the previous record-holder that it reshaped expectations for what was structurally possible.

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo, Japan · 634m · completed 2012. A broadcasting tower with an observation deck, and one of the tallest tower structures in the world, as distinct from an occupied office building.

Shanghai Tower

Shanghai, China · 632m · completed 2015. Known for its distinctive twisting silhouette, it was the tallest building in Asia at the time of completion.

Lotte World Tower

Seoul, South Korea · 555m · completed 2017. The tallest building in South Korea, and the world's fifth-tallest at the time it was completed.

CN Tower

Toronto, Canada · 553m · completed 1976. A communications and observation tower that held the record for tallest freestanding structure in the world for more than 32 years.

One World Trade Center

New York, United States · 541m including spire · completed 2014. Built on the site of the original World Trade Center towers destroyed on September 11, 2001, it is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

Taipei 101

Taipei, Taiwan · 508m · completed 2004. Designed to evoke a bamboo stalk, it was the tallest building in the world at completion and remains famous for its annual New Year's fireworks display.

Petronas Twin Towers

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia · 452m · completed 1998. The tallest twin towers in the world, and the tallest buildings anywhere at the time they were completed, connected by a well-known skybridge.

Willis Tower (Sears Tower)

Chicago, United States · 442m · completed 1973. Chicago's landmark skyscraper, and the world's tallest building until 1998, still widely known by its original name, the Sears Tower.

Empire State Building

New York, United States · 381m · completed 1931. This iconic Art Deco landmark held the title of the world's tallest building for close to four decades.

Why the Race to Build Higher Never Really Stops

The title of world's tallest building has changed hands many times throughout history. Cities and countries often see a record-setting skyscraper as a symbolic statement of economic power and engineering capability, which is part of why the competition to build higher keeps going even today.

How Height Is Actually Measured

A building's official height is generally measured to the top of its architectural spire, but antennas and flagpoles that are not considered part of the structure are typically excluded — which is why rankings can shift depending on exactly what is being counted.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a building's height measured?

Height is generally measured to the top of the roof or architectural spire. Elements like antennas or flagpoles that are not considered structural are often excluded from official height records, which is why rankings can vary depending on the measurement standard used.

Will anything ever surpass the Burj Khalifa?

Several proposed projects, including Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Tower, have aimed to exceed the Burj Khalifa's height. Whether and when such projects actually get finished depends heavily on each country's economic conditions and construction timelines.