CTBUH Data Handbook

This is the second edition of the CTBUH Data Handbook, an annual publication that covers the state of tall building construction and the affiliated growth of the world’s cities. As an extension of CTBUH’s annual “ Year in Review ” report, this book offers deeper insights and expanded graphics for tall building professionals and enthusiasts.

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At 179 completions of 200m+ buildings, 2023 saw the most completions of all time, beating 2018’s record of 163 completions by a full 10 percent. For context, the total number of 200 m+ buildings in existence 30 years ago, in 1993, was just 180.

For the second time ever, all eight regions that CTBUH tracks had at least one 200 m+ completion 2023. The proportion of completions outside of Asia and North America together—the two conventional centers of tall buildings—was the highest it has been since 2013, with 20 percent of 2023’s completions coming from other regions.

Twenty-two countries completed 200 m+ buildings in 2023; of these, 14 completed two or more buildings and six saw completions in two or more of their cities. China remained the top country for completions in 2023, with 96 overall, making this the 11th consecutive year and 19th overall that China has had more completions than all other countries combined.

Tour the 100 Tallest Cities by scrolling through the interactive map below. The blue dots represent every building in these cities that is 200 meters or taller in height.

Swipe left and right to reveal the 10 tallest cities in 1980 (left) and 2024 (right).

Explore the World's 100 Tallest Buildings below by zooming into each city. The markers are sized proportionally to the building height.

To learn more, click on the link to the building's profile in the CTBUH Tall Building Database.

Explore the changes in the World's 100 Tallest Buildings between 1980 (left) and 2024 (right)

After a century of North American dominance among the 100 Tallest, Asia and the Middle East have emerged as the most prominent hosts of these buildings. In 2003, Asia surpassed North America in the number of buildings among the 100 Tallest, and in 2011, the Middle East did the same.

The timeline below provides an interactive look at how the regional distribution of the 100 Tallest has evolved since 1980.

CTBUH maintains the world's definitive source for information on tall buildings in its Tall Building Database. Since its founding in 1969, CTBUH has amassed a wealth of data and knowledge ranging from basic building statistics to their technical intricacies. Members of CTBUH are granted exclusive access to pull custom lists of buildings sorted by their location, function, material, region, height, age, and more. In an effort to encourage utilization of this asset, CTBUH created a guide to its database in the 2023 Data Handbook, which can be previewed below.

You can explore the CTBUH Database and learn more by  clicking here .