This is the history of the world's tallest structures.
Overall Below is a list of the tallest structures supported by land. For most of the period from around 2667 BC to 1221 AD, the Egyptian pyramids (culminating in the Great Pyramid of Giza) were the tallest structures in the world. From 1221 to 1884 the records were held by European churches, and from 1954 to 2008 they were held by guyed radio or TV masts.
Since 2008, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai has been the tallest structure supported by land, at 829.8metres . There are oil platforms supported by the sea which have been of greater length since about 1980, with some examples up to 2,934metres . In addition, some countries monitor their borders with tethered aerostats which can rise to 6,096metres . Taller than all past structures (including destroyed structures)
Record fromRecord held (years)Name and locationConstructedHeight (metres)Height (feet) Coordinates Notesc. 9500 BC1,500 Göbekli Tepe, Turkeyc. 9500 BC5–618 Possibly one of the earliest known temples.c. 8000 BC4,000 Tower of Jericho, West Bank, Palestinec. 8000 BC8.527.9 One of the earliest ever stone monuments.c. 4000 BC1,333 Anu ziggurat, Uruk, Iraqc. 4000 BC1340c. 2667 BC57 Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara, Egyptc. 2667 BC62.5205 First Egyptian pyramid, formed of six stacked mastabas.c. 2610 BC10 Meidum Pyramid, Egyptc. 2610 BC91.65301 Shortly after completion Meidum Pyramid collapsed due to bad design/instability and is now .c. 2600 BC10 Bent Pyramid, Dashur, Egyptc. 2600 BC104.71343.5 Angle of slope decreased during construction to avoid collapse.c. 2590 BC20 Red Pyramid of Sneferu, Egyptc. 2590 BC105344.5 c. 2570 BC3,086 (first run) Great Pyramid of Giza in Egyptc. 2570 BC146.6481 See also 516–534 and 534–1221.51618 Yongning Pagoda in Luoyang, China516147482 It was destroyed by a lightning strike in 534. Its exact height is unknown, and estimates range from 137 m (in which case the Great Pyramid of Giza would have kept the record) to 240 m.5343,773 (prior 3,086 + new 687) Great Pyramid of Giza in Egyptc. 2570 BC146.6481 See also 2570 BC – 516 and 516 – 534. By 1647, the Great Pyramid's height had decreased to after its top was removed.122190 Old St Paul's Cathedral in London, England1087–1666149489 The spire was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1561. Its height is disputed, for example by Christopher Wren (1632–1723), who suggested a height of .1311237 Lincoln Cathedral in England1092–1311160525 The central spire was destroyed in a storm in 1548. While the reputed height of is accepted by most sources,Haughton, Brian (2007), Hidden History: Lost Civilizations, Secret Knowledge, and Ancient Mysteries, p. 167Michael Woods, Mary B. Woods (2009), Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, p. 41Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince (2010), Frommer's England 2010, p. 588Mary Jane Taber (1905), The cathedrals of England: an account of some of their distinguishing characteristics, p. 100 others consider it doubtful.154821 (first run) St. Mary's Church in Stralsund, Germany1384–1478151495 See also resumption 1573–1647.15694 Beauvais Cathedral in France1272–1569153502 Spire collapsed in 1573; today, the church stands at a height of 67.2 metres (220.5 ft).157395 (prior 21 + new 74) St. Mary's Church in Stralsund, Germany1384–1478151495 See also 1548–1569. The church tower's spire burnt down after a lightning strike in 1647. Today the tower has a dome and stands at a height of .1647227 Strasbourg Cathedral in France1439142466 By 1647, the Pyramid of Khafre's height had decreased from to after its top was removed.18742 St. Nikolai in Hamburg, Germany1846–1874147483 The nave was demolished by aerial bombing during World War II; only the spire remains.18764 Cathédrale Notre Dame in Rouen, France1202–1876151495 18804 Cologne Cathedral in Germany1248–1880157.3851618845 Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., United States1848–1888169.29555 The world's tallest all-stone structure, as well as the tallest obelisk-form structure.188941 Eiffel Tower in Paris, France1887–18893121,024 The addition of a new telecommunications tower in 2022 brought the overall height to 330 m (1,083 ft).19301 Chrysler Building in New York City, United States1928–19303191,046193123 Empire State Building in New York City, United States1930–19313811,250 First building with 100+ stories. The addition of a pinnacle and antennas later increased its overall height to . This was subsequently lowered to .19542 Griffin Television Tower Oklahoma (AKA KWTV Transmission Tower), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States1954480.51,576 19563 KOBR-TV Tower, Caprock, New Mexico, United States1956490.71,610 Collapsed in 1960; rebuilt19591 WGME TV Tower, Raymond, Maine, United States19594951,624 19602 KFVS TV Mast, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States1960511.11,677 19621 WTVM/WRBL-TV & WVRK-FM Tower, Cusseta, Georgia, United States19625331,749 19630 WIMZ-FM-Tower, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States1963534.011,752 196311 (first run) KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, United States1963628.82,063 See also resumption 1991–1998 and 1998–2008.197417 Warsaw Radio Mast, Gąbin, Poland1974646.42,121 Mast radiator insulated against ground, collapsed in 1991199118 (prior 11 + new 7 for second run) KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, United States1963628.82,063 See also 1963–1974 and 1998–2008.19980 KRDK-TV mast, Galesburg, North Dakota, United States19666292,064 Height includes the 1998 addition of a short flagpole, which was later removed.199828 (prior 18 + new 10) KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, United States1963628.82,063 See also 1963–1974 and 1991–1998. 75-foot analog antenna was removed from the top of the structure in 2018 in digital repack construction2008 Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates2004–2009829.82,722
The Kanishka Stupa near Peshawar, Pakistan was built c. 151 and rebuilt in the 4th century. Ancient travelers claimed it was up to 171 metres (560 feet) tall, which would have been a record at the time. Modern estimates suggest a height of 122 metres (400 feet), which would not have been a record. It was destroyed by lightning.
Guyed structures Many large guyed masts were destroyed at the end of World War II, so the dates for the years between 1945 and 1950 may be incorrect. If Wusung Radio Tower in China survived World War II, it would have been the tallest guyed structure shortly after World War II.
Record from Record held (years) Name and location Constructed Height Coordinates Notes m ft19137 Central mast of Eilvese transmitter, Eilvese, Germany1913250820 Mast was divided in 145 m by an insulator, demolished in 193119203 Central masts of Nauen Transmitter Station, Nauen, Germany1920260853 2 masts, demolished in 1946192310 Masts of Ruiselede transmitter, Ruiselede, Belgium1923287942 ?8 masts, destroyed in 194019336Lakihegy Tower, Lakihegy, Hungary19333141,031 Blaw-Knox Tower, insulated against ground, destroyed in 1945; rebuilt19397Deutschlandsender Herzberg/Elster, Herzberg (Elster), Germany19393351,099 Insulated against ground, dismantled 1946/194719462Lakihegy Tower, Lakihegy, Hungary19463141,031 Blaw-Knox Tower, Insulated against ground, rebuilt after destruction in 194519481WIVB-TV Tower, Colden, New York, United States1948321.91,056 19491Longwave transmitter Raszyn, Raszyn, Poland19493351,099 Insulated against ground19504Forestport Tower, Forestport, New York, United States1950371.251,218 Insulated against ground, demolished1954 From 1954–2008 guyed masts held the record for tallest structure overall, as seen in the table above.196311 (first run) KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, United States1963628.82,063 See also resumption 1991–1998 and 1998–2008.197417 Warsaw Radio Mast, Gąbin, Poland1974646.42,121 Mast radiator insulated against ground, collapsed in 1991199118 (prior 11 + new 7 for second run) KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, United States1963628.82,063 See also 1963–1974 and 1998–2008.19980 (first run) KRDK-TV mast, Galesburg, North Dakota, United States19666292,064 See also 2018–present. Height includes the 1998 addition of a short flagpole, which was later removed.199838 (prior 18 + new 20) KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, United States.1963628.82,063 See also 1963–1974 and 1991–1998. 75-foot analog antenna was removed from the top of the structure in 2018 in digital repack construction2018 KRDK-TV mast, Galesburg, North Dakota, United States1966627.82,060 See also 1998.
Freestanding structures Freestanding structures must not be supported by guy wires (like guyed masts or partially guyed towers), or built underground or on the seabed and supported by the sea (such as the Petronius Platform). They include towers, chimneys, and skyscrapers (listed based on their pinnacle height). Until 1954, freestanding structures held the record for tallest structures overall, as seen in the Overall table above. Here are the records for freestanding structures after that point:
Record fromRecord held (years)Name and locationConstructedHeight (metres)Height (feet) Coordinates Notes193136 Empire State Building in New York City, United States1930–19313811,250 First building with 100+ stories. The addition of a pinnacle and antennas later increased its overall height to . This was subsequently lowered to .19678 Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Soviet Union1963–19675401,762 Remains the tallest in Europe. Fire in 2000 led to extensive renovation.197532 CN Tower in Toronto, Canada1973–1976553.331,815.39 The tallest in the Western Hemisphere.2007 Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates2004–2009829.82,722 Holder of world's tallest freestanding structure. Topped out at in 2009.
Notable mentions include the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, built in the third century BC and estimated between . It was the world's tallest non-pyramidal structure for many centuries. Another notable mention includes the Jetavanaramaya stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which was built in the third century, and was similarly tall at . These were both the world's tallest or second-tallest non-pyramidal structure for over a thousand years.
The tallest secular building between the collapse of the Pharos and the erection of the Washington Monument may have been the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy, which is tall, and was constructed in the first half of the fourteenth century; and the Torre degli Asinelli in Bologna, Italy, built between 1109 and 1119.
Freestanding towers
Towers include observation towers, monuments and other structures not generally considered to be "habitable buildings", they are meant for "regular access by humans, but not for living in or office work", meaning it excludes from this list of continuously habitable buildings and skyscrapers. Radio and TV masts with guy-wires for support are also excluded, since they aren't freestanding.
Bridge towers or pylons, chimneys, transmission towers, and most large statues allow human access for maintenance, but not as part of their normal operation, and are therefore not considered to be towers.
The following is a list of structures that have historically held the title as the tallest towers in the world. Record from Tower Location Pinnacle height 280 BC Pharos Lighthouse Alexandria, Egypt 122 m 1180 Malmesbury Abbey Tower Malmesbury, UK 131.3 m 1221 From 1221–1930 towers held the record for tallest structure overall, as seen in the Overall table above. 1889 Eiffel Tower Paris, France 312.3 m 1956 KCTV Broadcast Tower Kansas City, Missouri, United States 317.6 m 1957 Eiffel Tower (with addition) Paris, France 320.75 m 1958 Tokyo Tower Tokyo, Japan 332.6 m 1967 Ostankino Tower Moscow, Russia 540.1 m 1975 CN Tower Toronto, Canada 553.33 m 2009 Canton Tower Guangzhou, China 600 m 2011 Tokyo Skytree Tokyo, Japan 634 m
Buildings