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 similar to the record-setting Egyptian pyramid structures. In 1400 BC the 70 m (230 ft) ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu was constructed in Mesopotamia, and in 601 BC the Etemenanki ziggurat of Babylon (91 m (299 ft)) followed. The 70 m (230 ft) La Danta of El Mirador (Guatemala) and the 73 m (240 ft) Amaravati Stupa of Amaravati (India) were constructed in around 300 BC.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt had a height of between 103 and 118 m (338 and 387 ft) and existed between the 3rd century BC and 14th century AD.

The Pantheon in Rome, finished in the early 2nd century AD, has an ancient Roman height record from floor to top of 43.45 m (142.6 ft). The Hagia Sophia, built in AD 537 in Constantinople, reaches a height of 55 m (180 ft).

The ancient Kushan stupa of Kanishka, located in the present-day Pakistan, near Peshawar, completed around AD 200, had a height of between 120 and 170 m (390 and 560 ft). The Sri Lankan Jetavanaramaya stupa, constructed in the 3rd century, measured 122 m (400 ft) from its construction until the 11th century.

In the 8th century, two seven-storied pagodas with a height of 100 m (330 ft) were constructed 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, and buildings until the beginning of the 20th century. The Old St Paul's Cathedral (149 m (489 ft)) in London and Lincoln Cathedral (160 m (520 ft)) both surpassed not only any older tallest building, but also the tallest structures until then, the Pyramids. They were constructed from the 12th century, reaching completion and their maximum height in the 1310s (1314 and 1311 respectively).

In 1890, Ulm Minster became the tallest church ever built, but it was the last church to claim the position of tallest building, which eventually went to the Philadelphia City Hall in 1894, the first skyscraper taller than 150 m (490 ft).

Among all structures, in 1884 the 169 m (554 ft) Washington Monument had already overtaken the long-standing record held by churches. But five years later in 1889 it was significantly surpassed by the Eiffel Tower, which reached completely new heights at 300 m (980 ft), leaving heights of skyscrapers behind and opening up 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 held the title of the world's tallest building or structure. For example, after the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. was built in 1884, it was the tallest structure until the Eiffel Tower in Paris took the title. Later, famous buildings like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in New York City became the tallest.

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

Skyscrapers: tallest buildings since 1908

See also: List of tallest buildings

Main article: Early skyscrapers

Since the first skyscraper taller than 150 m (490 ft) was built—either the Philadelphia City Hall in 1894 or the Singer Building in 1908—skyscrapers have consistently been the tallest buildings. Before skyscrapers, tall buildings like tower blocks reached heights of up to 100 m (330 ft), such as the Towers of Bologna. Early skyscrapers include the E. V. Haughwout Building, the Equitable Life Building, and the New York Tribune Building.

The tallest skyscrapers evolved over time. The Chrysler Building was the first to exceed 300 m (980 ft), followed by the Empire State Building in New York City, which had over 100 floors. Later, the World Trade Center became the tallest, followed by the Sears Tower in Chicago. In 2004, Taipei 101 took the title, and in 2009, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai became the tallest building in the world.

List of historically tallest skyscrapers

Main article: Skyscraper § History of the tallest skyscrapers

Over time, different buildings have held the title of the world's tallest. 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. The way we measure "tallest" can change depending on whether we look at the highest architectural point or the highest tip, including things like antennae. Buildings like the Shanghai World Financial Center and Taipei 101 are very tall but haven't always been the tallest depending on the measuring rules.