Misc
The Global Rush to Build New Skyscrapers
View the full resolution version of this infographic.
The Global Rush to Build New Skyscrapers
To see the full resolution version of this infographic that has higher legibility, click here.
As the creator of today’s visualization, Alberto Lucas López, points out, “the world’s tallest buildings have acted as barometers”.
Another way of putting it? Our biggest architectural accomplishments are highly visible symbols of what society values most, and those values have changed over time. Today, the paramount belief system in many parts of the world is in capitalism, and there is no more potent marker of the economic might than fantastically tall commercial skyscrapers.
Today’s visualization is an effective way to take in the mind-bending scale of the newest generation of megatall buildings. It’s headlined by Jeddah Tower, a skyscraper currently under construction in Saudi Arabia that will smash the one kilometer mark when it’s completed in 2019.
Cities are Growing Up
In general, only very large cities have the resources to build and support extremely tall buildings.
With the explosion of urbanization around the world and developing economies asserting themselves in high profile ways, the stage is set for a global skyscraper boom.
In the last two years, 39 skyscrapers taller than 300m have been constructed, with five of the them eclipsing the height of the Empire State Building.
Global skyscraper construction has increased a whopping 402% since 2000.
High-rise Hot Spots
China
Nearly every sizeable Chinese city has skyscrapers under construction, and the numbers are staggering. Since 2012, China has added 38 skyscrapers over 300m (~1,000 ft) in height, and there are another 16 skyscrapers on the way in 2018.
In particular, the Pearl River Delta megaregion, which is anchored by Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, has seen an astonishing commercial construction boom. Today, 20 of the 100 tallest buildings on earth are located in just this one urban megaregion of China.
China’s Top 10 Tallest Buildings
Building Name | City | Height (m) | Completed | Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shanghai Tower | Shanghai | 632 | 2015 | hotel / office |
Ping An Finance Center | Shenzhen | 599.1 | 2017 | office |
Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre | Guangzhou | 530 | 2016 | hotel / res / office |
Shanghai World Financial Center | Shanghai | 492 | 2008 | hotel / office |
International Commerce Centre | Hong Kong | 484 | 2010 | hotel / office |
Zifeng Tower | Nanjing | 450 | 2010 | hotel / office |
KK100 | Shenzhen | 441.8 | 2011 | hotel / office |
Guangzhou International Finance Center | Guangzhou | 438.6 | 2010 | hotel / office |
Jin Mao Tower | Shanghai | 420.5 | 1999 | hotel / office |
Two International Finance Centre | Hong Kong | 412 | 2003 | office |
In total, 46 of the world’s 100 tallest skyscrapers are now located in China, and that number is sure to increase in coming years.
United Arab Emirates
Construction has been relentless in UAE for decades, and much of that development has been vertically-oriented. Today, Dubai is home to nearly 1,000 high-rise buildings, and there are 13 projects currently under construction that will hit or exceed the 300m mark.
UAE’s Top 10 Tallest Buildings
Building Name | City | Height (m) | Completed | Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Burj Khalifa | Dubai | 828 | 2010 | hotel / res / office |
Marina 101 | Dubai | 425 | 2017 | residential / hotel |
Princess Tower | Dubai | 413.4 | 2012 | residential |
23 Marina | Dubai | 392.4 | 2012 | residential |
Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid | Abu Dhabi | 381.2 | 2014 | residential |
Elite Residence | Dubai | 380.5 | 2012 | residential |
The Address Boulevard | Dubai | 370 | 2017 | res / hotel / retail |
Almas Tower | Dubai | 360 | 2008 | office |
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 1 | Dubai | 355.4 | 2012 | hotel |
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2 | Dubai | 355.4 | 2013 | hotel |
Russia
While the skylines of many European cities are conspicuously low-rise, an exception to that rule is in Moscow’s International Business Centre, where four 300m+ towers have been completed since 2012.
Russia’s Top 10 Tallest Buildings
Building Name | City | Height (m) | Completed | Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vostok Tower | Moscow | 373.8 | 2016 | residential / office |
OKO - Residential Tower | Moscow | 353.6 | 2015 | residential / hotel |
Mercury City Tower | Moscow | 338.8 | 2013 | residential / office |
Stalnaya Vershina | Moscow | 308.9 | 2015 | res / hotel / office |
Capital City Moscow Tower | Moscow | 301.8 | 2010 | residential |
Naberezhnaya Tower Block C | Moscow | 268.4 | 2007 | office |
Triumph Palace | Moscow | 264.1 | 2005 | residential / hotel |
Capital City St. Petersburg Tower | Moscow | 257.2 | 2010 | office |
Evolution Tower | Yekaterinburg | 246 | 2015 | residential |
Zapad Tower | Moscow | 242.5 | 2008 | residential / office |
What about the United States?
In the early 20th century, the United States was the undisputed champion of skyscraper construction, but that has tapered off dramatically. In fact, only six commercial towers over 300m have been constructed in the last 20 years.
The exception may be the city that started it all: New York. There are currently 30 skyscrapers under construction in NYC, fueled in part by a red-hot luxury real estate market.
America’s Top 10 Tallest Buildings (Under Construction)
Building Name | City | Height (m) | Target Date | Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Central Park Tower | New York City | 472.4 | 2020 | res / hotel / retail |
111 West 57th Street | New York City | 435.3 | 2019 | residential |
One Vanderbilt | New York City | 427 | 2021 | office |
30 Hudson Yards | New York City | 386.6 | 2019 | office |
Vista Tower | Chicago | 362.9 | 2020 | residential / hotel |
Comcast Technology Center | Philadelphia | 341.7 | 2018 | office / hotel |
3 World Trade Center | New York City | 328.9 | 2018 | residential / hotel |
Salesforce Tower | San Francisco | 326.1 | 2018 | office |
9 DeKalb Avenue | New York City | 324.9 | 2020 | office |
53 West 53rd | New York City | 320 | 2019 | res / office / retail |
Philadelphia and San Francisco will soon have new additions to their skylines as Comcast and Saleforce complete their flagship construction projects. If current construction numbers are any indication, America’s love affair with the skyscraper may be reignited in urban centers across the country.
VC+
VC+: Get Our Key Takeaways From the IMF’s World Economic Outlook
A sneak preview of the exclusive VC+ Special Dispatch—your shortcut to understanding IMF’s World Economic Outlook report.
Have you read IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook yet? At a daunting 202 pages, we don’t blame you if it’s still on your to-do list.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to read the whole April release, because we’ve already done the hard work for you.
To save you time and effort, the Visual Capitalist team has compiled a visual analysis of everything you need to know from the report—and our upcoming VC+ Special Dispatch will be available exclusively to VC+ members on Thursday, April 25th.
If you’re not already subscribed to VC+, make sure you sign up now to receive the full analysis of the IMF report, and more (we release similar deep dives every week).
For now, here’s what VC+ members can expect to receive.
Your Shortcut to Understanding IMF’s World Economic Outlook
With long and short-term growth prospects declining for many countries around the world, this Special Dispatch offers a visual analysis of the key figures and takeaways from the IMF’s report including:
- The global decline in economic growth forecasts
- Real GDP growth and inflation forecasts for major nations in 2024
- When interest rate cuts will happen and interest rate forecasts
- How debt-to-GDP ratios have changed since 2000
- And much more!
Get the Full Breakdown in the Next VC+ Special Dispatch
VC+ members will receive the full Special Dispatch on Thursday, April 25th.
Make sure you join VC+ now to receive exclusive charts and the full analysis of key takeaways from IMF’s World Economic Outlook.
Don’t miss out. Become a VC+ member today.
What You Get When You Become a VC+ Member
VC+ is Visual Capitalist’s premium subscription. As a member, you’ll get the following:
- Special Dispatches: Deep dive visual briefings on crucial reports and global trends
- Markets This Month: A snappy summary of the state of the markets and what to look out for
- The Trendline: Weekly curation of the best visualizations from across the globe
- Global Forecast Series: Our flagship annual report that covers everything you need to know related to the economy, markets, geopolitics, and the latest tech trends
- VC+ Archive: Hundreds of previously released VC+ briefings and reports that you’ve been missing out on, all in one dedicated hub
You can get all of the above, and more, by joining VC+ today.
-
Markets1 week ago
Ranked: The Largest U.S. Corporations by Number of Employees
-
Green3 weeks ago
Ranked: Top Countries by Total Forest Loss Since 2001
-
Money2 weeks ago
Where Does One U.S. Tax Dollar Go?
-
Automotive2 weeks ago
Almost Every EV Stock is Down After Q1 2024
-
AI2 weeks ago
The Stock Performance of U.S. Chipmakers So Far in 2024
-
Markets2 weeks ago
Charted: Big Four Market Share by S&P 500 Audits
-
Real Estate2 weeks ago
Ranked: The Most Valuable Housing Markets in America
-
Money2 weeks ago
Which States Have the Highest Minimum Wage in America?