History of the world's tallest buildings

The tallest building in the world, as of 2026, is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Many famous buildings have held the title of "world's tallest building" over time, including Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England, and the Empire State Building and the original World Trade Center, both in New York City.

Before modern skyscrapers were built, the tallest structures were often Christian churches and cathedrals. Even ancient wonders like the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Great Pyramid in Egypt were once the tallest structures in the world.

The modern skyscraper began in Chicago in 1884 with the Home Insurance Building. For many years, the tallest buildings were always in the United States, especially in New York City. In 1998, Malaysia built the Petronas Towers, taking the record for the first time. Later, Taiwan’s Taipei 101 held the title before the Burj Khalifa became the tallest building in 2009.

Definition of terms

The tallest buildings in the world have changed over time. Long ago, the Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest structure for thousands of years. Later, tall churches like Lincoln Cathedral held this title. Today, we think of a building as a place people can live or work in, with floors inside.

Experts at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat decide how tall buildings are. They measure from the ground to the highest point of the building, not including things like antennas. This helps decide which building is the tallest.

Before the 20th century

Further information: List of tallest structures built before the 20th century

Early tall buildings were like the big pyramids of Egypt. In 1400 BC, a 70 m (230 ft) ziggurat at Dur-Kurigalzu was built in Mesopotamia. In 601 BC, the Etemenanki ziggurat of Babylon (91 m (299 ft)) was built. The 70 m (230 ft) La Danta of El Mirador (Guatemala) and the 73 m (240 ft) Amaravati Stupa of Amaravati (India) were built around 300 BC.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt was between 103 and 118 m (338 and 387 ft) tall. It stood from the 3rd century BC to the 14th century AD.

The Pantheon in Rome, finished in the early 2nd century AD, is 43.45 m (142.6 ft) tall. The Hagia Sophia, built in AD 537 in Constantinople, is 55 m (180 ft) tall.

The ancient Kushan stupa of Kanishka in Pakistan, near Peshawar, was built around AD 200. It was between 120 and 170 m (390 and 560 ft) tall. The Sri Lankan Jetavanaramaya stupa, built in the 3rd century, was 122 m (400 ft) tall until the 11th century.

In the 8th century, two 100 m (330 ft) tall pagodas were built at Todai-ji (東大寺) in Nara, Japan.

The world's tallest structures were churches or cathedrals from the 13th/14th century until 1884. The Old St Paul's Cathedral (149 m (489 ft)) in London and Lincoln Cathedral (160 m (520 ft)) were built from the 12th century. They reached their tallest heights in the 1310s (1314 and 1311).

In 1890, Ulm Minster became the tallest church ever built. But then the Philadelphia City Hall became the tallest building in 1894. It was the first skyscraper taller than 150 m (490 ft).

Among all structures, the 169 m (554 ft) Washington Monument became the tallest in 1884. But in 1889, the Eiffel Tower became even taller at 300 m (980 ft). This started the supertall era.

Tallest structures since the 20th century

Main article: History of the world's tallest structures

Since the late 1800s, many amazing structures have been the tallest in the world. After the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. was built in 1884, it was the tallest structure. Then the Eiffel Tower in Paris became the tallest.

Later, famous buildings like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in New York City were the tallest.

Today, the tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It has been the tallest since 2010. It is also the tallest structure of any kind. Before Burj Khalifa, tall towers like the CN Tower in Toronto and the Canton Tower were the tallest for many years.

Skyscrapers: tallest buildings since 1908

See also: List of tallest buildings

Main article: Early skyscrapers

Since the first very tall building was built, skyscrapers have often been the tallest buildings. Before skyscrapers, tall buildings reached up to about 100 m (330 ft), like the Towers of Bologna. Early skyscrapers include the E. V. Haughwout Building, the Equitable Life Building, and the New York Tribune Building.

Over time, new skyscrapers became the tallest. The Chrysler Building was the first to rise above 300 m (980 ft). Then the Empire State Building in New York City became the tallest. Later, the World Trade Center held the title, followed by the Sears Tower in Chicago. In 2004, Taipei 101 became the tallest, and in 2009, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai took the title as the tallest building in the world.

List of historically tallest skyscrapers

Main article: Skyscraper § History of the tallest skyscrapers

Over time, different buildings have been the tallest in the world. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is the tallest building today. In the past, other famous buildings like the Empire State Building in New York City and the World Trade Center also held this title. How we measure "tallest" can change. We might look at the highest point of the building or the highest tip, like an antenna. Buildings like the Shanghai World Financial Center and Taipei 101 are very tall, but sometimes they are not the tallest depending on the measuring rules.