What Is a Skyscraper?
A skyscraper is defined as a continuously habitable building that reaches a height of at least 150 meters (492 feet). These tall buildings dominate city skylines, representing advancements in architecture and urban development.
This article highlights the 10 cities with the most skyscrapers in the world as of August 2025, detailing the total number of buildings over 150 meters, the number that exceed 200 meters, as well as “supertall” structures that rise above 300 meters. Included are the names and heights of the three tallest completed buildings in each of the cities.
Skyscraper counts are typically measured by architectural height, which includes spires and permanent architectural features but excludes antennas or temporary structures.
Since skyscraper development is always evolving, with new projects completed and others under construction or demolished, the numbers change frequently. We strive to keep this page updated with the latest data to give you the most accurate snapshot of the world’s vertical cities in 2025.
All building statistics in this article are based on data from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the world’s leading authority on skyscraper information. Figures such as building heights, completion years, and city rankings are compiled from their publicly available SkyscraperCenter database.
1. Hong Kong, China
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 569
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 102
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 6
Hong Kong retains its title as the skyscraper capital of the world, with a dense, mountainous skyline unlike any other. With 569 buildings over 150 meters and more than 100 exceeding 200 meters, it’s unmatched in both density and vertical scale.
Three Tallest Buildings
- International Commerce Centre — 484 m / 1,588 ft
- Two International Finance Centre — 412 m / 1,352 ft
- Central Plaza — 373.9 m / 1,227 ft
Photo by bady abbas on Unsplash
2. Shenzhen, China
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 444
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 185
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 21
Shenzhen has undergone one of the fastest urban transformations in human history. From fishing village to megacity, it now has more buildings over 200 meters than any other city in the world.
Three Tallest Buildings
- Ping An Finance Center — 599.1 m / 1,965 ft
- KK100 — 441.8 m / 1,449 ft
- Shenzhen Cloud of Innovation Center — 407 m / 1,335 ft
Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash
3. New York City, United States
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 317
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 98
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 17
Although no longer number one, New York remains a global icon of the skyscraper. Its skyline is both historic and modern, with a high concentration of supertall buildings in Manhattan.
Three Tallest Buildings
- One World Trade Center — 541.3 m / 1,776 ft
- Central Park Tower — 472.4 m / 1,550 ft
- Steinway Tower (111 W 57th Street) — 435.3 m / 1,428 ft
Photo by Siegfried Poepperl on Unsplash
4. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 270
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 130
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 33
Dubai boasts the world’s tallest building — the Burj Khalifa — and more supertalls (300+ m) than any other city. It’s a vertical playground of architectural innovation and ambition.
Three Tallest Buildings
- Burj Khalifa — 828 m / 2,717 ft
- Marina 101 — 425 m / 1,394 ft
- Princess Tower — 413.4 m / 1,356 ft
Photo by Mohamed Ziyan on Unsplash
5. Guangzhou, China
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 204
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 64
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 11
A key player in southern China’s skyline race, Guangzhou’s central business district is dominated by sleek glass towers, many over 200 meters.
Three Tallest Buildings
- Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre — 530 m / 1,739 ft
- Guangzhou International Finance Center — 438.6 m / 1,439 ft
- CITIC Plaza — 390.2 m / 1,280 ft
6. Shanghai, China
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 198
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 70
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 7
Shanghai is home to some of the tallest buildings in the world, including the Shanghai Tower. Its mix of futuristic and traditional architecture makes its skyline one of the most photographed globally.
Three Tallest Buildings
- Shanghai Tower — 632 m / 2,073 ft
- Shanghai World Financial Center — 492 m / 1,614 ft
- Jin Mao Tower — 420.5 m / 1,380 ft
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 193
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 66
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 6
The Petronas Towers were once the tallest in the world, and Kuala Lumpur continues to rise vertically. The city has become a significant skyscraper hub in Southeast Asia.
Three Tallest Buildings
- Merdeka 118 — 679 m / 2,227 ft
- Petronas Tower 1 — 452 m / 1,483 ft
- Petronas Tower 2 — 452 m / 1,483 ft
Photo by Huỳnh Chương on Unsplash
8. Wuhan, China
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 193
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 71
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 7
Wuhan shares its skyscraper count with Kuala Lumpur but slightly edges it out in the number of taller buildings, reflecting its strategic central location in China.
Three Tallest Buildings
- Wuhan Greenland Center — 475.6 m / 1,560 ft
- Wuhan Center — 443.1 m / 1,454 ft
- 1 Corporate Avenue — 376 m / 1,234 ft
Photo by Zizhou Shi on Unsplash
9. Tokyo, Japan
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 175
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 37
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 1
Despite strict earthquake-resistant construction regulations, Tokyo’s skyline remains impressively vertical. Its towers are often elegant and functional, adapted to seismic conditions.
Three Tallest Buildings
- Mori JP Tower — 327.2 m / 1,073 ft
- Toranomon Hills Station Tower — 266 m / 873 ft
- Toranomon Hills Mori Tower — 255.5 m / 838 ft
Photo by Clement Souchet on Unsplash
10. Chongqing, China
- Total skyscrapers (150+ m): 149
- Skyscrapers over 200 m: 61
- Skyscrapers over 300 m: 5
Chongqing’s dramatic mountainous topography enhances the visual impact of its skyline. The city has quietly become one of China’s most vertical urban centers.
Three Tallest Buildings
- Raffles City Chongqing T3N — 354.5 m / 1,163 ft
- Raffles City Chongqing T4N — 354.5 m / 1,148 ft
- Chongqing World Financial Center — 338.9 m / 1,112 ft
