The 15 Tallest Skyscrapers in the World

 

One of the things that passionate travelers love are the things that make a specific destination unique compared to others. That’s exactly the reason we’ve created this ranking of the 15 tallest skyscrapers in the world.
Warning: If you suffer from vertigo, you shouldn’t visit these huge buildings besides their impressiveness.

15. Trump International Hotel and Tower

Height: 423 m
Number of floors: 98
Location: Chicago, USA
Year of construction: 2009

The Trump International Hotel and Tower has been added to the panorama of Chicago in 2009 and seems to reflect the style of the Willis Tower. To date, it stands out for being one of the tallest buildings in the world consisting of reinforced concrete as the primary structural material.

14. 432 Park Avenue

Height: 426 m
Number of floors: 96
Location: New York, USA
Year of construction: 2014

432 Park Avenue is the tallest skyscraper in New York, excluding spiers and antennas, and the 14th tallest in the world. This building is intended for living and has apartments inside. When the interiors are also completed, it will have a gym and a golf course.

13. Guangzhou International Finance Center

Height: 440 m
Number of floors: 103
Location: Canton, China
Year of construction: 2010

In the 13th position, we find the Guangzhou International Finance Center. What makes this building practical is the steel skeleton formed by diagonal support beams, which form rhombuses consisting of two triangular sections. This specific exoskeleton has made it possible to save on the amount of steel used, which is much less than that generally required for this type of buildings.

12. KK100

Height: 442 m
Number of floors: 98
Location: Shenzhen, China
Year of construction: 2011

The Kingkey or KK100 is the jewel par excellence of Shenzhen, a large metropolis recently born just north of Hong Kong. It has a distinctive design, with large transparent windows at the top of the building, and houses a restaurant and a shopping center.

11. Willis Tower

Height: 443 m
Number of floors: 108
Location: Chicago, USA
Year of construction: 1973

Also known as Sears Tower, the Willis Tower is an impressive building with a rather unusual block design. Today, it houses several offices spread over 108 floors, at a height of 443 meters.

10. Greenland Square Zifeng Tower

Height: 450 m
Number of floors: 89
Location: Nanjing, China
Year of construction: 2010

Zifeng Tower was born from the collaboration of two well-known architects, Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, the ones who also worked on Burj Khalifa. So, it’s not a surprise that this tower has some evident similarities with the well-known construction of Dubai.

9/8. Petronas Tower 1 and 2

Height: 452 m
Number of floors: 88
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Year of construction: 1998

The two Petronas towers, both 452 meters high, occupy the 9th and 8th position of the ranking. They are famous for the iconic sky bridge that connects the two buildings at the height of the 41st and 42nd floors.

7. International Commerce Center

Height: 484 m
Number of floors: 118
Location: Hong Kong, China
Year of construction: 2010

This large building was a big bet for its developers, given its relatively isolated location from the rest of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. However, to date, the International Commerce Center proves to be quite efficient. Inside, there are several mixed-use offices as well as a hotel.

6. Shanghai World Financial Center

Height: 492 m
Number of floors: 101
Location: Shanghai, China
Year of construction: 2008

The Shanghai World Financial Center is famous not only for its gigantic size but also for the characteristic “hole” located in the upper end. It’s no coincidence that the tourist souvenir is very popular, offering a scale reproduction of the skyscraper with the function of a bottle opener.

5. Taipei 101

Height: 509 m
Number of floors: 101
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Year of construction: 2004

In fifth place, we find the Taipei 101 building, with its 509 meters in height. This huge structure consists of 101 floors including 5 underground. It held the record of the tallest skyscraper in the world in the past, before the current winner was built.

4. One World Trade Center

Height: 541 m
Number of floors: 104
Location: New York, USA
Year of construction: 2012

Also known as the Freedom Tower, this building ranks fourth in our ranking thanks to its 541 meters. It was built in the area previously occupied by the Twin Towers, which were destroyed during the attack on September 11.

3. Abraj Al Bait

Height: 601 m
Number of floors: 95
Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Year of construction: 2011

With 601 meters (including antenna/spire), we find Abraj Al Baiton in the third step of the podium, which is located in the Middle Eastern city of Mecca. This complex of structures holds several firsts: the tallest hotel, the tallest clock tower, and the largest facade clock in the world.

2. Shanghai Tower

Height: 632 m
Number of floors: 121
Location: Shanghai, China
Year of construction: 2013

In second place, with 632 meters, is the Shanghai Tower which wins the silver medal. It’s built in the financial center of the city and has 121 floors.

1. Burj Khalifa

Height: 828 m
Number of floors: 163
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Year of construction: 2010

And, as expected Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest skyscraper in the world (for now, and you will see why below) with its 828 meters of height. Since 2010, Burj Khalifa has ousted Taipei 101. It houses over 1,000 apartments and 49 floors of offices as well as the Armani luxury hotel. Therefore, Dubai confirms its reputation as a city of excess by deservedly conquering the “top” of this ranking.

Jeddah Tower: the Tallest Skyscraper Under Construction

Height: 1000 m
Number of floors: 170
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Year of construction: under construction

Here comes a surprise! Burj Khalifa will be soon dethroned by Jeddah Tower, a skyscraper that is still under construction. Although still not completed, this tower will officially take over the first place on this list once it’s finished. Designed by the same studio that completed the construction of Burj Khalifa, this tower, according to the approved project, will be 1000 meters high, will have 170 floors and 59 elevators, and will house shops, offices, schools, and hotels. The estimated cost for the construction of this historic monumental work is close to 2 billion dollars. Its completion was scheduled for 2020, but its construction is currently on hold, with hopes to be continued soon.