OK, maybe avoiding the tallest skyscrapers is a bit much (I mean, the ground floor is still pretty safe). But you might want to consider not going all the way to the top and looking out the window…that’s just asking for trouble. Over the past several decades the height of the world’s tallest buildings has shot up dramatically. Today the tallest structure on Earth covers the better part of a kilometer as it pushes into the sky and rises above the clouds. Can you imagine the view from up there? These are 25 Skyscrapers Around The World You’ll Want To Avoid If You Are Afraid Of Heights.
Featured image by the_dead_pixel via Flickr CC2.0
Empire State Building (United States)
Height: 381 meters (1,250)
After 9/11, the Empire State Building was once again the tallest building in New York City until the completion of the Freedom Tower and 432 Park Avenue
Burj Mohammed bin Rashid (United Arab Emirates)
Height: 381 meters (1,251 feet)
Located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, this is the tallest building in the city.
Shun Hing Square (China)
Height: 384 meters (1,260 ft)
For a brief period of time between 1996 and 1997 this was the tallest building in China. Fun fact – with a width to height ratio of 1:9 it was also the thinnest building in the world when it was completed.
CITIC Plaza (China)
Height: 391 meters (1,283 ft)
Again in China, the CITIC Plaza is the tallest concrete structure on Earth.
23 Marina (United Arab Emirates)
Height: 392.8 meters (1,289 ft)
It has 57 swimming pools and every single duplex in this skyscraper comes with an elevator.
2 International Finance Centre (Hong Kong)
Height: 412 meters (1,352 ft)
The second tallest building in Hong Kong, in 2003 the Financial Times used this skyscraper to display a 50 story advertisement, the largest in the world.
Al Hamra Tower (Kuwait)
Height: 412.6 meters (1,354 ft)
The tallest building in Kuwait was included in the list of best inventions of 2011 by TIME Magazine.
Princess Tower (United Arab Emirates)
Height: 414 meters (1,358 ft)
The world’s second tallest residential building is also the third tallest building in Dubai (after the Burj Khalifa and Marina 101).
Jin Mao Tower (China)
Height: 421 meters (1,380 ft)
Its name translates to “Golden Prosperity Building” and its Skywalk, or observation deck, can hold more than 1,000 people.
Trump Tower (United States)
Height: 423 meters (1,389 ft)
Although Donald Trump announced in 2001 that it would be the tallest building in the world, after 9/11 he scaled back the building plans.
432 Park Avenue (United States)
Height: 426 meters (1,397 ft)
The second tallest building in New York City, it is also the the third tallest building in the United States.
Marina 101 (United Arab Emirates)
Height: 427 meters (1,399 ft)
Although construction is still finishing up, before long this will be the tallest residential building in the world and the second tallest in the UAE.
Guangzhou International Finance Center (China)
Height: 438.6 meters (1,439 ft)
Part of the Guangzhou Twin Towers, its twin is still under construction.
KK100 (China)
Height: 442 meters (1,449 ft)
The tallest building ever designed by a British architect, the KK100 joined Shun Hing Square as one of the world’s slimmest buildings.
Willis Tower (United States)
Height: 442 meters (1,450 ft)
Formerly known as the Sears Towers, upon completion in 1973 it surpassed the World Trade Centers as the tallest building in the world. Today it is the second tallest building in the United States.
Zifeng Tower (China)
Height: 450 meters (1,476 ft)
The Zifeng Tower is the tallest in Nanjing and the tallest in China.
Petronas Towers (Malaysia)
Height: 452 meters (1,483 feet)
From 1998 to 2004 they were the tallest buildings in the world and are still the tallest twin towers.
International Commerce Centre (Hong Kong)
Height: 484 meters (1,588 feet)
The tallest building in Hong Kong is directly across Victoria Harbor from the second tallest building in Hong Kong, 2 International Finance Center (#20)
Shanghai World Financial Center (China)
Height: 492 meters (1,614 feet)
The third tallest Chinese building on our list is also part of the world’s first adjacent grouping of three supertall skyscrapers.
Taipei 101 (Taiwan)
Height: 509 meters (1,670 feet)
This was the first skyscraper to pass the 1/2 kilometer mark.
CTF Finance Centre (China)
Height: 530 meters (1,740 feet)
Still under construction, this skyscraper will be the second tower of the Guangzhou Twin Towers.
Freedom Tower/One World Trade Center (United States)
Height: 541.3 meters (1,776 feet)
The height of the new World Trade Center skyscraper in feet corresponds to the birth of the United States (1776).
Abraj Al Bait (Saudi Arabia)
Height: 601 meters (1,971 feet)
This government owned supertall skyscraper features the largest clock face in the world. It was built in order to modernize the city of Mecca in its catering to Muslim pilgrims.
Shanghai Tower (China)
Height: 632 meters (2,073 feet)
Designed by American firm Gensler and owned by a series of Chinese companies, this is the tallest building in China.
Burj Khalifa (United Arab Emirates)
Height: 828 meters (2,717 feet)
Covering the better portion of 1 km in height, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building on Earth.