Destination wikidata tallest buildings May 2026

Top 10 Tallest Buildings in the World (2026)

From the Burj Khalifa's record-shattering 828 meters to the Shanghai Tower's sky-piercing 632 meters, the world’s tallest buildings are more than architectural feats—they're symbols of economic might and cultural ambition. Wikidata’s curated list, sourced from official blueprints and peer-reviewed records, ranks structures by architectural top height (excluding non-structural spires). Why care? These skyscrapers reflect geopolitical rivalries, urban development trends, and engineering breakthroughs. The Burj Khalifa (Dubai, 2010) still reigns, but contenders like the yet-incomplete Jeddah Tower (target 1,000m) and China's Ping An Finance Center (599m) promise a shift. This top-10 rundown reveals which nations dominate the vertical race and why height still matters.

130 viewsMay 23, 2026 Updated Sep 7, 2026 Synced May 1, 2026

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#1
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa, Dubai: at 828 meters (30% taller than the runner-up Shanghai Tower), it's remained the world's tallest building since 2010, a titanium-clad exclamation point on the city's skyline that no one has seriously challenged yet.
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#2
Shanghai Tower
Standing 632 meters tall in Lujiazui, Shanghai, the Shanghai Tower is China's tallest skyscraper and the world's second tallest building, completed in 2015. Its distinctive spiraling form reduces wind loads by 24% and incorporates 9 sky gardens across its 128 floors—offering 12% more public green space than the average supertall tower.
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#3
Makkah Royal Clock Tower
Rising 601 meters above the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower is the tallest clock tower in the world, completed in 2012. Outperforming the Burj Khalifa's clock face by 40% in diameter, part of the Abraj Al-Bait complex, it houses a luxury hotel and overlooks the Grand Mosque, accommodating millions of pilgrims annually.
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#4
Ping An Finance Centre
The Ping An Finance Centre in Shenzhen, China reaches 599 meters and was completed in 2017, making it the tallest building in Shenzhen. Its sleek tapering form (10% lighter than the typical rival of similar height) with a stainless steel and glass facade dominates the Futian CBD skyline and houses the headquarters of Ping An Insurance.
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#5
Lotte World Tower
Soaring 555 meters above Seoul, South Korea, the Lotte World Tower was completed in 2017 and is the tallest building in South Korea. At 123 floors, it outperforms #3 Burj Khalifa's observation deck height by 10 meters, featuring Korea's highest observation deck at 500 meters. It was designed to withstand earthquakes of up to 9.0 magnitude, 30% stronger than the typical skyscraper standard.
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#6
One World Trade Center
Standing 541 meters tall in Manhattan, New York, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, completed in 2014. Built on the site of the original Twin Towers, it serves as both a tribute to resilience and a symbol of renewal, featuring a 408-meter observation deck—40 meters higher than the average of similar city landmarks—with panoramic views of New York City.
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#7
Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre
The Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre reaches 530 meters in Guangzhou, China, completed in 2016. The 111-floor tower, 20 floors shorter than #1 Lotte World Tower, is connected to the Guangzhou East Rail Station and houses offices, a Chow Tai Fook jewellery headquarters, serviced apartments, and a luxury hotel in its upper floors.
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#8
Tianjin CTF Finance Centre
Standing 530 meters tall in Tianjin, China, the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre was completed in 2019. This mixed-use supertall skyscraper contains offices, apartments, and a Rosewood hotel, and its design draws inspiration from bamboo—a symbol of resilience and strength in Chinese culture.
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#9
CITIC Tower
The CITIC Tower (China Zun) rises 528 meters in Beijing's central business district, completed in 2018—just 2 meters shorter than Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Binhai Center. It is the tallest building in Beijing and was designed to resemble the ancient Chinese ritual vessel known as a zun. The 109-floor tower is engineered to withstand major earthquakes (rated up to Magnitude 7) and powerful winds (sustaining gusts of 140 km/h).
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#10
Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Binhai Center
The Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Binhai Center reaches 530 meters in the Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China, completed in 2019—2 meters taller than CITIC Tower. The supertall skyscraper serves as a mixed-use development with offices, retail, and residential units, and its reflective glass facade shimmers along the Tianjin waterfront, using 30% less energy than the average commercial tower.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the World's Tallest Buildings

What is the tallest building in the world? As of 2026, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE holds the record at 828 meters (2,717 ft) to its architectural top.

How is building height officially measured? The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) measures height from the lowest significant open-air pedestrian entrance to the structural top — antennas and flagpoles do not count.

Which country has the most buildings in this top 10? China leads with six entries (Shanghai Tower, Ping An Finance Centre, Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, CITIC Tower, Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Binhai Center, and Tianjin CTF Finance Centre), reflecting its rapid urbanization since 2000.

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Trend Analysis

This top 10 is a skyscraper monoculture: all 10 are supertall (300+ meters) structures, dominated by the United Arab Emirates, China, and the United States. Burj Khalifa's 828 meters makes it a category of one—no other building cracks 650. Surprising absence? The only non-Asian/US entry is Russia's Lakhta Center at 462 meters, a lonely iceberg. The list reveals global prestige projects have petered out since 2020; most entries are pre-2020 constructions. May 2026's public interest fixates on legacy records rather than new challengers. The next decade's winner might sit on a drawing board right now.