List of Top 100 tallest buildings in the World in 2025

This article focuses on the tallest buildings globally, defined as enclosed structures with continuously occupiable floors reaching a height of at least 350 metres (1,150 feet). This distinction excludes non-building structures such as towers and antennas. The criteria align with standards set by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), a nonprofit authority on global skyscraper rankings.List of Top 100 tallest buildings in the World in 2025

The history of tall buildings traces back to the Great Pyramid of Giza, which held the title of the world’s tallest structure for over 3,800 years. It was surpassed in 1311 by Lincoln Cathedral in England, followed by the Strasbourg Cathedral in 1439. The first modern skyscraper is considered to be the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, completed in 1885 at 138 feet (42.1 metres). The United States dominated the global tall building scene through the 20th century until the Petronas Towers in Malaysia took the lead in 1998. This was followed by Taipei 101 in 2004 and Burj Khalifa in 2009, which remains the tallest building in the world at 828 metres (2,717 feet).

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The CTBUH established formal ranking standards in 1996 due to debates like the one between the Petronas Towers and Sears Tower (now Willis Tower). Buildings are ranked in four categories:

1. Height to architectural top
2. Height to highest occupied floor
3. Height to top of roof (discontinued in 2009)
4. Height to the tip (including antennas)

Measurements begin from the lowest significant open-air pedestrian entrance. Spires are included in official height counts as permanent architectural features, while antennas are excluded since they are often temporary or replaceable. This led to the Petronas Towers being ranked above the Willis Tower, even though the latter has a higher occupied floor.

The 1930 rivalry between the Bank of Manhattan Building (40 Wall Street) and the Chrysler Building showcased how definitions influenced records. While 40 Wall Street had a higher occupied floor, the Chrysler Building added a hidden spire to claim the title with a total height of 318.9 metres (1,046 feet). Architects of 40 Wall Street later argued that usable space—not ornamental height—should define a building’s true stature.

Despite these debates, the Burj Khalifa currently leads across all categories, although its margin narrows when measured to the highest occupied floor.

As of 2 July 2025, there are 97 completed or architecturally topped-out buildings worldwide that reach at least 350 metres in height. A building is considered “architecturally topped out” once it is structurally complete, fully clad, and its highest design elements are finished. Nearly half of these buildings are located in China, reflecting its massive skyscraper boom in recent decades. Remarkably, six of the last seven tallest buildings in history remain on the list—excluding the North Tower of the World Trade Center, destroyed in the 2001 attacks. If the Twin Towers had survived, they would still rank among the top 40 tallest buildings today.

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Here is a List of Top 100 tallest buildings in the World in 2025