The 25 Tallest Buildings in the World

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© Marshall Gerometta/CTBUH; © zjaaosldk, under license CC0; © Carsten Schael; © K11 / New World Development; © Ferox Seneca, under licenseCC BY 3.0; courtesy of SOM

Humanity has become obsessed with breaking its limits, creating new records only to break them again and again. In fact, our cities’ skylines have always been defined by those in power during every period in history. At one point churches left their mark, followed by public institutions and in the last few decades, it’s commercial skyscrapers that continue to stretch taller and taller. 

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has developed its own system for classifying tall buildings, stating that the Burj Khalifa (828 m.) is the world’s tallest building right now. Read on for the 25 tallest buildings in the world today.

1. Burj Khalifa / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Image © SOM

3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower / Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners + SL Rasch
Mecca, Saudi Arabia

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Makkah Royal Clock Tower. Image © Samira [Flickr] under license CC BY 2.0

4. Ping An Finance Center / Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Shenzhen, China

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Ping An Finance Center. Image © Terri Meyer Boake [via CTBUH]

5. Lotte World Tower / Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Seoul, South Korea

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Lotte World Tower. Image © zjaaosldk, under license CC0

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One World Trade Center. Image © James Ewing

7. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Tianjin, China

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Tianjin CTF Finance Centre. Image © BD2412 [Wikipedia] under license CC BY-SA 4.0

7. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre / Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Guangzhou, China

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Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre. Image © K11 / New World Development

9. CITIC Tower / Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates + TFP Farrells
Beijing, China

10. TAIPEI 101 / C.Y. Lee & Partners Architects/Planners
Taipei, Taiwan

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TAIPEI 101. Image © Chris [Flickr] under license CC BY 2.0

11. Shanghai World Financial Center / Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) + Mori Building + Irie Miyake Architects and Engineers
Shanghai, China

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Shanghai World Financial Center . Image © Ferox Seneca [Wikipedia] under license CC BY 3.0

12. International Commerce Centre / Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Hong Kong

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International Commerce Centre. Image © Isaac Torrontera [Flickr] under license CC BY 2.0

13. Central Park Tower / Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
New York, United States

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Central Park Tower. Image © Paul Clemence

14. Lakhta Center / Gorproject
Saint Petersburg, Russia

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Lakhta Center. Image © Ninara [Wikipedia] under license CC BY 2.0

15. Vincom Landmark 81 / Atkins
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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Vincom Landmark 81. Image © ngoc tran / Shutterstock

16. Changsha IFS Tower T1 / Wong Tung & Partners
Changsha, China

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Changsha IFS Tower T1. Image © Chonnakun Tabtong / Shutterstock

17. Torre Petronas 1 / Cesar Pelli & Associates
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Torres Petronas. Image © Hadi Zaher [Flickr] under license CC BY 2.0

17. Torre Petronas 2 / Cesar Pelli & Associates
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

19. Suzhou IFS / Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Suzhou, China

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Suzhou IFS. Image © Milkomède [Wikipedia], under license CC BY-SA 4.0

19. Zifeng Tower / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Nanjing, China

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Zifeng Tower. Image © Tomchen1989 [Wikipedia] under license CC BY 2.0

21. The Exchange 106 / Mulia Group
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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The Exchange 106. Image © NikNajmuddin Photography / Shutterstock

22. Wuhan Center Tower /  East China Architectural Design & Research Institute
Wuhan, China

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Wuhan Center Tower (render). Image © ECADI

23. Willis Tower / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Chicago, United States

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Willis Tower (former Sears Tower). Image © TonyTheTiger [Wikipedia] under license CC BY 2.0

24. KK100 / TFP Farrells
Shenzhen, China 

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KK100 / TFP Farrells. Image © Carsten Schael

25. Guangzhou International Finance Center / Wilkinson Eyre Architects
Guangzhou, China

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Guangzhou International Finance Center. Image © wyliepoon [Flickr] under license CC BY 2.0