Emporis runs the world's largest and most comprehensive database of skyscrapers. During the last ten years our organization has become the world's only source for complete statistics on tall buildings. However, skyscrapers make up only a sliver of the complete data available on Emporis Research.

Emporis Skyline Ranking: The world's most impressive city skylines World's 1000 Tallest Skyscrapers: The most comprehensive skyscraper list anywhere Cities With Most Skyscrapers: Analysis of overall construction activity Tallest Skyscrapers Under Construction: The soon-to-be tallest skyscrapers on earth Latest Construction Updates: See where our members are following construction sites

Skyscrapers Worldwide: 7,370 completed Skyscrapers per Continent: 3,705 in Asia 2,541 in North America 476 in Europe 291 in South America 275 in Oceania 82 in Africa Top Skyscrapers Worldwide: Burj Khalifa Taipei 101 Shanghai World Financial Center International Commerce Centre Petronas Tower 2 Petronas Tower 1 Nanjing Greenland Financial Center Willis Tower Guangzhou West Tower Jin Mao Tower Two International Finance Centre Trump International Hotel & Tower CITIC Plaza Shun Hing Square Empire State Building Central Plaza Bank of China Tower Bank of America Tower Almas Tower Emirates Office Tower Tuntex Sky Tower Aon Center The Center John Hancock Center Wenzhou Trade Center View the World's Top 1000 Skyscrapers. All skyscraper statistics on this page are taken from existing and topped out structures on Emporis as of 2010-02-09. Related Content Emporis Skyscraper Award Emporis Standards Join now as member

What is a skyscraper?
For most people, the word "skyscraper" is a relative term for a building which seems to reach the sky. In one city a 20-story building might be called a skyscraper, whereas the same building would get lost in the Shanghai or New York skylines. In order to provide consistent statistics, the editors of Emporis have agreed on a metric definition of a skyscraper: any regular multilevel building with an architectural height (ESN 19417) of at least 100 meters (328.08 feet). More details: skyscraper definition (ESN 24419)

How are skyscrapers measured?
The parameters for measuring skyscrapers are a great source of controversy, because different people are willing to accept different building features in the height. Ambiguities result from elements such as antennae, sculptures, spires, and pyramids at the tops of buildings, as well as sloping ground and elevated platforms at the base. Emporis solves this problem by collecting data in 8 different height types, each using different parameters. However, in accordance with tradition and with its reliance on architectural data, the primary statistics published on Emporis use the architectural height (ESN 19417), which counts everything belonging to the architectural design and which rises above the lowest adjoining sidewalk level. Antennae, satellite dishes, lightning rods, and other elements added on top of the architectural design are listed in the tip height (ESN 56239), but are not counted in primary statistics because (a) they can be viewed as temporary "furniture" resting on a building; and (b) data on them is rarely available except for the tallest buildings. On the other hand, while many people prefer height rankings which exclude spires and sculptural elements, there is no clean way to exclude these from buildings without losing the impact of skyline-defining elements like pyramids and screen walls. Emporis' standards differ from those of organizations like the CTBUH by including the whole man-made construction at the base, including platforms which rise above street level. More details: height types (ESN 15705)

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