This article discusses the tallest buildings in the world. A brief overview is provided of each building. Furthermore, this article explains the main features/functions of the world's tallest buildings.
The list of the world's tallest buildings built by year with photos includes links to the corresponding Wikipedia entries, as well as links to the specific Wikipedia pages for each record building.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is the tallest structure in the world. It was completed in 2009 and is 828.2 m tall. The Burj Khalifa has 160 floors with a total area of 57,158 m². Construction of the tower began on September 21, 2004, with external work completed on October 1, 2009 and internal work on January 1, 2010. 
The building was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), who replaced Adrian Smith as lead architect after he died of a heart attack in 2003. The general contractor was Samsung C&T Corporation, which is part of the Samsung Group. Since construction began, several changes have been made to the project, such as the addition of a second tower. The building is V-shaped around an atrium with 2.7 million square feet (260,000 m2) of offices in three buildings: 807, 810 and 812 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Merdeka 118
Merdeka 118 is a mixed-use building in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It is the tallest building in the country and will be completed in 2022. The building will be 678.9 meters tall and have 88 floors. Merdeka 118 is designed as a mixed-use building with offices, shops, hotel rooms and residential apartments.
The project also includes a 450-meter-high observation platform that offers views of Kuala Lumpur from more than 600 meters above sea level. The building was designed by a US architectural firm and developed in collaboration with the city of Kuala Lumpur. Construction began in early 2014 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. Merdeka 118 has been compared to some of the tallest buildings in Asia, such as Marina 101 and the Burj Khalifa, which was completed earlier this year.
Shanghai Tower
The Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world. It was completed in 2015 and is 632 m tall. The tower is located in Pudong, Shanghai.
The tower has 128 floors above ground, a total of 220 floors if we include the underground floors. The lowest level is at ground level, while the highest floor is on the 124th floor. The top of the tower is 492 m above sea level and the top of the antenna (which is not counted in the height of the building) is 632 m.
The tower was built by Gensler and Arup Group Limited for Shanghai Construction Group Co., Ltd. designed by those who own it. It was intended to be a mixed-use skyscraper with commercial spaces on the lower floors and luxury apartments on the upper floors.
Abraj Al-Bait clock tower
The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower is a skyscraper in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It was built as the largest clock tower in the world.
The 601 m tall building was completed in 2012 by the Saudi Binladin Group and includes an office tower, a hotel and a shopping mall. The building stands on the site of Mecca's ancient Royal Clock Tower, which was destroyed during the Saudi Civil War. The building has a golden cone topped by a sphere made up of 627 pieces of glass. The body of the building is shaped like an hourglass, with the two halves connected by two interconnected towers. The exterior walls are covered in marble and limestone.
Ping An International Financial Center
The Ping An International Financial Center is one of the tallest buildings in Shenzhen. The building is 599.1 meters high and has a total of 115 floors.
The Shenzhen headquarters of Jiangsu Huatuo Industrial Group is a 599.1-meter-high skyscraper in the Futian district of Shenzhen. It is the tallest building in Shenzhen, China, and was completed on November 16, 2017.
The building has 115 floors, a height of 599.1 meters and an architectural height of 616.8 meters, reaching 719.7 meters at the top. The top floor is 1,088 square meters and the usable area is 59.98 square meters per floor. There are three elevators on each side and the building has a total of 3,000 square meters of commercial space.
The Shenzhen headquarters is located at the intersection of Hucheng Road and Dongmen Street in the east of Dapeng Peninsula in Futian District of Shenzhen, near Hengshui Garden and close to the border with Huizhou City.
Lotte World Tower
Lotte World Tower is currently the tallest building in South Korea and a landmark in Seoul. It was completed in 2017 and has become a popular tourist attraction with its observation deck.
Lotte World Tower is currently the tallest building in South Korea. It was completed in 2017 and is 554.5 m tall. The tower was built as a Seoul landmark and tourist attraction with its observation deck offering views of the city and its surroundings. The tower is a mixed-use building that includes residential, office and commercial spaces. The top of the tower is 554.5 meters above sea level and has an observation deck with 360-degree views of Seoul and the surrounding area. It also has a revolving restaurant that can be seen from anywhere in Seoul.
A World Trade Center
One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the third tallest building in the world. It is 541.3 meters high and has 104 floors.
One World Trade Center was completed on November 3, 2014 and is currently one of the most iconic buildings in New York City. The design of One World Trade Center was based on a concept by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), which was also responsible for the project. The building was designed to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour and earthquakes of up to 9 on the Richter scale. At 541 m (1,776 ft), One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It has 104 floors rising to its tower and occupies 17 acres of land. The complex will include approximately 7 million square feet of office space when completed, making it the largest building in New York City. One World Trade Center is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which bore the total construction cost of US$3.9 billion, of which US$1.8 billion was attributable to the cost of construction materials and the The remainder was accounted for by salaries, financing costs and other factors. The total cost of maintaining One World Trade Center is estimated at $1.2 billion per year for 30 years, which also takes into account commercial leases.
Guangzhou CTF Financial Center
The Guangzhou CTF Finance Center is a 530-meter-high skyscraper in Guangzhou, China. It was completed in 2016 and is currently the second tallest building in the city.
CTF Finance Center was established as a joint venture between China Everbright Group, China Construction Bank and Ping An Insurance. Construction of the building began on 28 September 2013, with the foundation stone laid on 1 October 2013. The project was completed in 2016 at an estimated cost of £1 billion. The tower has 77 floors and houses offices, a hotel, two helipads and an observation deck at the top of the tower that offers panoramic views of Guangzhou.
Tianjin CTF financial center
The Tianjin CTF Finance Center is a 530 m tall skyscraper that will be completed in 2019. It is being built in the Binhai District of Tianjin, China. The building is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by 2020.
The Tianjin CTF Financial Center will be 530 meters tall, making it the tallest building in China and the second tallest building in the world. With an estimated cost of US$2 billion, it will also be one of the most expensive buildings ever built. The tower was designed by architect Pei Zhu and delivered to the client in November 2014. It will be built close to the original Tianjin Financial Center.
China Zun
China Zun is a 527.7 meter tall skyscraper in Beijing, China. The building was completed in 2018 and took three years to construct. It is the tallest building in China and one of the tallest buildings in the world. The Zun Building is located in Beijing's financial center, the CBD. It is mainly used as an office building and houses the headquarters of China's largest bank by total assets, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. The building is 527.7 meters tall, making it 104 meters taller than the Bell Center in Los Angeles, which was previously the tallest building in California. Zun is a mixed-use skyscraper with a total area of 1 million square meters. It includes retail stores, offices and the Beijing South Road Financial Culture Plaza.
Taipei 101
Taipei 101, a skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, is the tallest building in the world. It was completed in 2004 and is 508 meters high. The building has 101 floors and was designed by CY Lee & Partners (Kisho Kurokawa). Taipei 101 is a symbol of Taiwan's prosperity and development and an important symbol of the nation. Taipei 101, a skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, is the tallest building in the world. It was completed in 2004 and is 508 meters high. The building has 101 floors and was designed by CY Lee & Partners (Kisho Kurokawa). Taipei 101 is a symbol of Taiwan's prosperity and development and an important symbol of the nation.
Shanghai World Financial Center
The Shanghai World Financial Center is the tallest building in China and the second tallest in the world. It was completed in 2008. The Shanghai World Financial Center is a super tall skyscraper in Shanghai, China. It is 492 meters tall, making it the second tallest building in China and the second tallest in the world. The Shanghai World Financial Center was completed in 2008. The architecture of this building is characterized by a glass curtain that stretches around the entire perimeter of the building and is illuminated in blue from all sides at night. The Shanghai World Financial Center and Shanghai Tower are the only two supertall skyscrapers in China.
International trade center
The International Trade Center (ICC) is a 484-meter-high skyscraper in Hong Kong. Completed in 2010, it is the tallest building in Hong Kong and the ninth tallest building in the world.
The ICC was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties. It has 118 floors, including three basements and two technical levels. The building has a gross floor area of 2,270,000 square feet, making it one of the largest office buildings in the world.
The International Trade Center is an iconic skyscraper that stands out on the Hong Kong skyline for its unique shape and design. The tower has been recognized for its sustainability efforts, such as its green roof that collects rainwater for reuse, its energy-saving lighting system, its efficient air conditioning and its water-saving plumbing.
Central Park Tower
The Central Park Tower is the tallest building in the USA. This skyscraper will be completed in 2021 with a height of 472.4 m and will be one of the most prestigious buildings in New York City.
The Central Park Tower is expected to have a strong impact on the Manhattan skyline as it will be visible from almost every corner of the city. This tower will also change people's view of New York City, as it is currently known for its low-rise buildings and Central Park, which occupies much of its area. With Central Park now occupying a smaller portion of the city, it will be easier to build new buildings in New York. In addition to these buildings, there is also One World Trade Center, designed as an architectural icon for the new Manhattan skyline.
Lakhta Center
The Lakhta Center is a multifunctional complex in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It consists of two towers 462 m high and with a total area of 350 thousand square meters. The towers are the tallest buildings in Europe.
Located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the Lakhta Center is one of the tallest buildings in Europe. It was opened on September 1, 2019 with a ceremony in the presence of Vladimir Putin. Lakhta Center will be built as a mixed-use complex with residential and commercial properties based on a design by architect Rem Koolhaas. The complex also includes an underground shopping center and two hotels. There will also be a new public park with playgrounds, green spaces, sports facilities, parking spaces and a large boat that can accommodate up to 150 people during events.
Milestone 81
Landmark 81 is the tallest building in Vietnam. It is also the first supertall skyscraper completed in Vietnam. The building has an observation deck on the 81st floor, which is one of its most popular attractions.
Construction of Landmark 81 began in 2009 and lasted six years. The building was designed by a team of architects from Kohn Pedersen Fox, who was also responsible for the design of One World Trade Center in New York City and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the second tallest building in the world and was described by President Barack Obama as a “giant steel exclamation point”. The tower was built as a symbol of Dubai's progress towards becoming a financial center, attracting global corporations and their highly paid employees. According to the Emporis Skyscraper Award, he has also contributed to the creation of new developments in the city center, including 3 additional skyscrapers completed in 2016.
Changsha IFS T1 Tower
Changsha IFS Tower T1 is the tallest building in China and one of the tallest buildings in the world. It is 452.12 meters tall and has a height-to-width ratio of 1:6. It was completed in 2018 after 3 years of construction.
The tower was designed as a mixed-use building, with offices, hotels, shops and apartments on the lower floors. The top floor is used for tourist purposes, for example as an observation platform or restaurant. On the roof of the building there will be a restaurant and a public garden that will be open to the public.
Petronas Tower
The Petronas Tower is an impressive skyscraper in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. It was completed in 1998 and is 451.9 meters high.
The tower has 88 floors and is the tallest building in Malaysia and the tallest twin tower in the world. It was also one of the first buildings to break the 300 meter barrier and is currently ranked among the ten tallest buildings in the world.
Zifeng Tower
The 450-meter-high Zifeng Tower skyscraper is located in China. Amenities in the 89-story building, completed in 2010, include a hotel, several restaurants and a public observatory. It also includes commercial and office spaces. Offices, hotels and commercial spaces are above ground level, and restaurants and public observatories are at the top of the tower. This functional gradation of the tower means that the office, hotel and retail areas are above ground level. It is currently the tallest building in Nanjing and Jiangsu province, the eleventh tallest in China and the twentieth tallest in the world.
The building was designed by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, led by Adrian Smith. The tower occupies approximately 18,721 square meters. Inside is the Nanjing Greenland InterContinental Hotel.
Suzhou IFS
The concept of the Suzhou IFS Tower is based on a fish, a fitting symbol of prosperity for the city's tallest building. Water has played a significant role in Suzhou's history and identity. Known as the Venice of the East, Suzhou is surrounded by lakes and canals. The curved tail of the building allows the tower, which curves gently towards the lake, to transition from nearby Jinji Lake and neighboring buildings through the building.
The Suzhou IFS Tower consists of offices and a hotel in the main tower, luxury serviced apartments in the lower podium extension, and catering and event spaces in the upper area. Provides space for a variety of programs.
The exchange 106
The Exchange 106 Signature Tower, a 95-story, 445.5-meter-high skyscraper, is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the third tallest building in Malaysia, the fourth tallest building in Southeast Asia and the 23rd tallest building overall. The 397.5-meter-tall building is 445.5 meters tall if you add a 48-meter-high, 11-story lighted crown on top. The net rental area of the tower is 240 thousand square meters.
