Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers, with 569 completed buildings at least 150 meters tall, according to the Skyscraper Center. Shenzhen follows with 472, ahead of New York City's 324.
Here, a skyscraper means a completed building at least 150 m tall, or about 490 ft. Counting buildings gives a different picture from comparing each city's single tallest landmark.
How we ranked this
We checked the Skyscraper Center's completed-building rankings in October 2026, using its city boundaries and 150 m threshold. The Council on Vertical Urbanism (formerly CTBUH) runs it; observation towers such as Canton Tower and Tokyo Skytree do not count. Totals reflect its verified database, so other lists may differ; using one source keeps this comparison consistent.
| No. | City | Country | 150 m+ | 200 m+ | 300 m+ | Tallest building (height in m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong | China | 569 | 102 | 6 | International Commerce Centre — 484 |
| 2 | Shenzhen | China | 472 | 200 | 22 | Ping An Finance Center — 599.1 |
| 3 | New York City | United States | 324 | 102 | 18 | One World Trade Center — 541.3 |
| 4 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 289 | 134 | 34 | Burj Khalifa — 828 |
| 5 | Guangzhou | China | 212 | 69 | 14 | Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre — 530 |
| 6 | Wuhan | China | 209 | 76 | 8 | Wuhan Greenland Center — 475.6 |
| 7 | Shanghai | China | 206 | 76 | 9 | Shanghai Tower — 632 |
| 8 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 201 | 74 | 7 | Merdeka 118 — 678.9 |
| 9 | Tokyo | Japan | 180 | 41 | 1 | Mori JP Tower — 327.2 |
| 10 | Chongqing | China | 156 | 64 | 6 | Raffles City T3N / T4N — 354.5 |
A tall skyline is only one way to compare places. For other perspectives, explore the most beautiful cities and the most liveable cities in the world.
10. Chongqing — 156 skyscrapers
Chongqing completes the top ten with 156 skyscrapers, including six at least 300 m tall. Chicago sits just outside the list in 11th place with 137, a gap of 19 buildings.
Raffles City Chongqing T3N and T4N share the city's completed-building height record at 354.5 m (1,163 ft). Both were completed in 2019; T3N contains residential and retail space, while T4N combines a hotel, offices and retail.
9. Tokyo — 180 skyscrapers
Tokyo ranks ninth with 180 skyscrapers, including 41 buildings reaching 200 m. Only one completed building reaches 300 m in this database snapshot.
That building is Mori JP Tower, standing 327.2 m (1,073 ft) in Azabudai Hills. Alongside its offices and residences, it provides 6,000 square meters of emergency shelter space for the surrounding community.
8. Kuala Lumpur — 201 skyscrapers
Kuala Lumpur ranks eighth with 201 skyscrapers, 21 more than Tokyo. Seven completed buildings reach 300 m, while 74 reach the 200 m threshold.
Merdeka 118, listed as Menara Merdeka Maybank, is its tallest completed building at 678.9 m (2,227 ft). Completed in 2023, it ranks second in the world, above Shanghai Tower and below Burj Khalifa.
7. Shanghai — 206 skyscrapers
Shanghai ranks seventh with 206 skyscrapers, including nine at least 300 m tall. Its total is five above Kuala Lumpur's, although Kuala Lumpur has the taller individual building.
Shanghai Tower reaches 632 m (2,073 ft) and ranks third among the world's completed buildings. Wind-tunnel tests found its twisting shape reduced structural wind loading by 24% compared with a rectangular building of equal height. Explore more unusual forms in our strangest buildings list.
6. Wuhan — 209 skyscrapers
Wuhan takes sixth place with 209 skyscrapers, putting it three ahead of Shanghai. Both cities have 76 buildings of at least 200 m, while Shanghai has one more at 300 m (nine against Wuhan's eight).
The Wuhan Greenland Center is the city's tallest completed building at 475.6 m (1,560 ft). Completed in 2023, its 101 above-ground floors accommodate offices, serviced apartments and a hotel.
5. Guangzhou — 212 skyscrapers
Guangzhou places fifth with 212 skyscrapers, just three more than Wuhan. Fourteen reach at least 300 m, compared with eight in Wuhan.
The city's tallest completed building is the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, rising 530 m (1,739 ft). Its four major setbacks mark changes between offices, residences, hotel space and the crown, creating space for terraces and skylights.
4. Dubai — 289 skyscrapers
Dubai ranks fourth with 289 skyscrapers, but leads the 300 m category with 34 completed buildings. That is 12 more than Shenzhen, despite Dubai's smaller total at the 150 m threshold.
The Burj Khalifa remains the world's tallest completed building at 828 m (2,717 ft). Its stepped, Y-shaped design was refined through wind-tunnel testing to reduce wind forces. For another perspective on major construction projects, explore the most expensive buildings in the world.
3. New York City — 324 skyscrapers
New York City ranks third with 324 skyscrapers, including 18 buildings of at least 300 m. Its 102 buildings reaching 200 m match Hong Kong's total in that category.
One World Trade Center is the city's tallest completed building at 541.3 m (1,776 ft), measured to its architectural top. Its eight triangular faces create an octagonal cross-section halfway up, changing the reflections as the light moves.
2. Shenzhen — 472 skyscrapers
Shenzhen takes second place with 472 skyscrapers. It leads the database's 200 m category with 200 completed buildings, almost twice Hong Kong's 102.
The Ping An Finance Center reaches 599.1 m (1,965 ft) in the Futian district. Its stainless-steel facade was chosen to resist corrosion in Shenzhen's salty coastal air.
1. Hong Kong — 569 skyscrapers
Hong Kong ranks first with 569 skyscrapers, 97 more than Shenzhen. Its lead comes from the overall number of completed buildings, while only six reach the 300 m threshold.
The International Commerce Centre in Kowloon is the city's tallest completed building at 484 m (1,588 ft). Completed in 2010, it combines offices and a hotel across 108 above-ground floors.
