The tallest buildings in the world are a favourite topic for competitive exam setters, appearing regularly in UPSC, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and State PSC general awareness sections.
From Dubai\u2019s record-breaking Burj Khalifa to the rising megatowers of China and Saudi Arabia, this page gives you a complete, updated list of the world\u2019s highest skyscrapers with their heights, floors, cities, and exam-ready facts \u2014 everything you need for quick, confident revision.
⚡ Quick Facts
- Burj Khalifa in Dubai at 828 m is the tallest building in the world as of 2026.
- Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur (678.9 m), completed in 2023, is the world\u2019s second tallest building.
- China has the highest number of buildings in the global top 25 tallest skyscrapers list.
- Burj Khalifa has 163 floors \u2014 the highest number of floors in any building in the world.
- Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, under construction, is designed to exceed 1,000 m when completed.
Many older exam resources and textbooks still list Shanghai Tower as the world\u2019s 2nd tallest building. This is now outdated \u2014 Merdeka 118 (Kuala Lumpur, 678.9 m) completed in 2023 is #2. For any exam from 2024 onwards, always use Merdeka 118 as the second tallest. Also note: the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur are no longer in the top 10 \u2014 they rank 18th and 19th.
✅ My Progress Tracker
🏙️ Complete List of Tallest Buildings in the World
| # ↕ | Building Name ↕ | Height (m) ↕ | Floors | City | Country ↕ | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burj Khalifa | 828 | 163 | Dubai | UAE | 2010 |
| 2 | Merdeka 118 | 678.9 | 118 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 2023 |
| 3 | Shanghai Tower | 632 | 128 | Shanghai | China | 2015 |
| 4 | Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower | 601 | 120 | Mecca | Saudi Arabia | 2012 |
| 5 | Ping An Finance Centre | 599.1 | 115 | Shenzhen | China | 2017 |
| 6 | Lotte World Tower | 554.5 | 123 | Seoul | South Korea | 2017 |
| 7 | One World Trade Center | 541 | 104 | New York City | USA | 2014 |
| 8 | Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre | 530 | 111 | Guangzhou | China | 2016 |
| 9 | Tianjin CTF Finance Centre | 530 | 97 | Tianjin | China | 2019 |
| 10 | CITIC Tower | 528 | 109 | Beijing | China | 2018 |
| 11 | Taipei 101 | 508 | 101 | Taipei | Taiwan | 2004 |
| 12 | Shanghai World Financial Center | 492 | 101 | Shanghai | China | 2008 |
| 13 | International Commerce Centre | 484 | 108 | Hong Kong | China | 2010 |
| 14 | Wuhan Greenland Center | 476 | 99 | Wuhan | China | 2023 |
| 15 | Landmark 81 | 461.2 | 81 | Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam | 2018 |
| 16 | Exchange 106 | 453.6 | 106 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 2019 |
| 17 | Changsha IFS Tower T1 | 452 | 94 | Changsha | China | 2017 |
| 18 | Petronas Tower 1 | 451.9 | 88 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 1998 |
| 19 | Petronas Tower 2 | 451.9 | 88 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 1998 |
| 20 | Suzhou IFS | 450 | 98 | Suzhou | China | 2019 |
| 21 | Zifeng Tower | 450 | 89 | Nanjing | China | 2010 |
| 22 | Willis Tower (Sears Tower) | 442 | 108 | Chicago | USA | 1973 |
| 23 | KK100 | 441.8 | 100 | Shenzhen | China | 2011 |
| 24 | Guangzhou International Finance Centre | 440.2 | 103 | Guangzhou | China | 2010 |
| 25 | 111 West 57th Street | 435 | 82 | New York City | USA | 2021 |
⚖️ Compare Two Buildings
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
Burj Khalifa (828 m, Dubai, UAE) has been the world\u2019s tallest building since its completion in 2010. It is named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former President of the UAE. It holds multiple records \u2014 tallest structure, highest occupied floor, and highest observation deck (at the time of completion).
The Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur (678.9 m), completed in 2023, displaced the Shanghai Tower as the second tallest building. \u201cMerdeka\u201d means \u201cIndependence\u201d in Malay \u2014 built to mark Malaysia\u2019s independence. Many older exam resources still list Shanghai Tower as #2; use Merdeka 118 for exams from 2024 onwards.
The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca (601 m) is often called the \u201cMecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower.\u201d It houses the world\u2019s largest clock faces and is the tallest building in Saudi Arabia. Exams frequently ask about tallest buildings by country or by continent.
One World Trade Center (541 m) in New York is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Its height of 1,776 feet is symbolic \u2014 referencing the year of American independence (1776). This numerical connection is a favourite exam question.
The Jeddah Tower (previously called Kingdom Tower) in Saudi Arabia is under construction and designed to reach 1,008 m \u2014 making it the first building to exceed 1 km in height. Expected completion has been delayed multiple times; use \u201cunder construction\u201d in exams unless a completion date is confirmed.
\u201cBurj Makes Shanghai Awesome, Pretty!\u201d
B = Burj Khalifa | M = Merdeka 118 | S = Shanghai Tower | A = Abraj Al-Bait | P = Ping An Finance Centre
🃏 Flashcards
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🧩 Practice Quiz
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Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, at 828 metres and 163 floors, has been the world\u2019s tallest building since 2010. It surpassed the previous record holder upon its completion.
The Merdeka 118 (678.9 m, 118 floors) is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Completed in 2023, it became the second tallest building in the world, surpassing the Shanghai Tower. \u201cMerdeka\u201d means independence in Malay.
One World Trade Center stands at exactly 1,776 feet (541 m), referencing 1776 \u2014 the year the United States Declaration of Independence was signed. It is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
The Burj Khalifa has 163 floors \u2014 the most of any building in the world. While Merdeka 118 is close in floor count (118), the Burj Khalifa remains the record holder for both height and number of floors.
The Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia is designed to reach 1,008 metres \u2014 making it the first building in history to exceed 1 kilometre in height. It will surpass the Burj Khalifa (828 m) by nearly 200 metres upon completion.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, remains the tallest building in the world in 2026, standing at 828 metres with 163 floors. It was completed in January 2010 and has held the record ever since. The Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur (678.9 m), completed in 2023, is currently the second tallest building in the world.
China dominates the global skyscraper rankings, with more than 10 buildings in the top 25 tallest structures in the world. Major Chinese entries include the Shanghai Tower (3rd, 632 m), Ping An Finance Centre (5th, 599 m), Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre (8th, 530 m), and the CITIC Tower in Beijing (10th, 528 m). This reflects China\u2019s rapid urbanisation and construction boom over the past two decades.
As of 2026, Lokhandwala Minerva in Mumbai is the tallest completed building in India at approximately 301 m (78 floors), completed in 2023. The World One tower by Lodha Group in Lower Parel, Mumbai, stands at 280.2 m (76 floors) and is one of the tallest completed residential towers in India. India\u2019s skyscraper count is growing rapidly, particularly in Mumbai, though no Indian building currently features in the global top 25 by height.
Tall buildings and skyscrapers appear in UPSC Prelims (Geography and Current Affairs), SSC CGL General Awareness, Banking exams, and State PSC papers. Common exam questions test the tallest building overall, the tallest by continent or country, height milestones (like 1,776 ft for One WTC), and the status of under-construction projects like the Jeddah Tower. Updated rankings \u2014 especially the rise of Merdeka 118 in 2023 \u2014 are high-probability current affairs questions.
