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 2012-2014 updates in progress.

World's 25 Tallest Cities

World's 25 Tallest Cities

World's 25 Tallest Cities

 

Rank for each past year is as of December 31.

 

 Rank 2014

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2013

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2012

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2011

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2010

CAHTT1

Tier

1

Dubai

1239.2

1A

1

Dubai

1239.2

1A

1

Dubai

1236.2

1A

1

Dubai

1176.1

1A

1

Dubai4

1133.9

1A

2

Hong Kong

1080.9

1B

2

Hong Kong

1080.9

1B

2

Hong Kong

1080.9

1A

2

Hong Kong

1080.9

1A

2

Hong Kong

1080.9

1A

 

New York City2

1060.5

 

 

New York City2

1045.9

 

 

New York City2

1045.9

 

 

New York City2

1045.9

 

 

New York City2

1043.7

 

3

Guangzhou

1050.5

1B

3

Chicago

1036.5

1B

3

Chicago

1036.5

1A

3

Chicago

1036.5

1A

3

Chicago

1036.5

1A

4

Chicago

1036.5

1B

4

Guangzhou

1032.7

1B

4

Guangzhou

1032.7

1B

4

Shanghai

1010.3

1B

4

Shanghai

1005.6

1B

5

New York City5

1022.1

1B

5

Shanghai

1014.5

1B

5

Shanghai

1014.5

1B

5

Guangzhou

945.7

1B

5

New York City

934.3

1B

6

Shanghai

1014.5

1B

6

Shenzhen

963.8

1C

6

New York City

940.8

1C

6

New York City

940.8

1B

6

Guangzhou

906.2

1B

7

Shenzhen

986.0

1C

7

New York City

956.0

1C

7

Shenzhen

932.6

1C

7

Shenzhen

907.1

2

7

Kuala Lumpur

897.5

1B

8

Abu Dhabi

937.9

1C

8

Kuala Lumpur

925.8

1C

8

Kuala Lumpur

924.1

1C

8

Kuala Lumpur

897.7

2

8

Shenzhen

838.2

2

9

Kuala Lumpur

925.8

1C

9

Abu Dhabi

893.1

1C

9

Singapore

837.2

2

9

Singapore

835.8

2

9

Singapore

829.9

2

10

Busan

863.7

2

10

Moscow

838.6

2

10

Toronto

835.6

2

10

Busan

834.5

2

10

Houston

809.8

2

11

Update pending

0.0

?

11

Singapore

837.2

2

11

Busan

834.5

2

11

Abu Dhabi

833.3

2

11

Toronto

798.0

2

12

Update pending

0.0

?

12

Toronto

835.6

2

12

Abu Dhabi

833.3

2

12

Houston

809.5

2

12

Tokyo

774.3

2

13

Update pending

0.0

?

13

Update pending

0.0

?

13

Tokyo

828.5

2

13

Toronto

806.8

2

13

Los Angeles

767.1

2

14

Update pending

0.0

?

14

Update pending

0.0

?

14

Houston

809.8

2

14

Moscow

778.5

2

14

Seoul

752.0

2

15

Update pending

0.0

?

15

Update pending

0.0

?

15

Update pending

0.0

?

15

Tokyo

774.3

2

15

Moscow

747.8

2

16

Update pending

0.0

?

16

Update pending

0.0

?

16

Update pending

0.0

?

16

Panama City

770.5

2

16

Atlanta

747.2

2

17

Update pending

0.0

?

17

Update pending

0.0

?

17

Update pending

0.0

?

17

Los Angeles

767.1

2

17

Bangkok

744.1

2

18

Update pending

0.0

?

18

Update pending

0.0

?

18

Update pending

0.0

?

18

Seoul

752.0

2

18

Chongqing

742.4

2

19

Update pending

0.0

?

19

Update pending

0.0

?

19

Update pending

0.0

?

19

Kuwait City

750.5

2

19

Melbourne

734.1

2

20

Update pending

0.0

?

20

Update pending

0.0

?

20

Update pending

0.0

?

20

Chongqing

748.2

2

20

Beijing

718.6

3

21

Update pending

0.0

?

21

Update pending

0.0

?

21

Update pending

0.0

?

21

Atlanta

747.2

2

21

Dallas

717.3

3

22

Update pending

0.0

?

22

Update pending

0.0

?

22

Update pending

0.0

?

22

Doha

744.6

2

22

Sydney

711.9

3

23

Update pending

0.0

?

23

Update pending

0.0

?

23

Update pending

0.0

?

23

Bangkok

744.1

2

23

Philadelphia

703.6

3

24

Update pending

0.0

?

24

Update pending

0.0

?

24

Update pending

0.0

?

24

Melbourne

734.1

2

24

Wuhan

685.1

3

25

Update pending

0.0

?

25

Update pending

0.0

?

25

Update pending

0.0

?

25

Beijing

718.6

3

25

Manila

678.2

3

The UltrapolisProject.com, © 2004-2015, All Rights Reserved.

World's 25 Tallest Cities

World's 25 Tallest Cities

World's 25 Tallest Cities

 

Rank for each past year is as of December 31.

 

 Rank 2009

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2008

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2007

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2006

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2005

CAHTT1

Tier

 

New York City2

1043.7

 

 

New York City2

1023.3

 

 

New York City2

1023.3

 

 

New York City2

1015.5

 

 

New York City2

1015.5

 

1

Chicago

1036.5

1A

1

Hong Kong3

1006.2

1A

1

Chicago

995.1

1A

1

Chicago

995.1

1A

1

Chicago

995.1

1A

2

Hong Kong

1006.2

1A

2

Chicago

995.1

1A

2

Hong Kong

985.7

1A

2

Hong Kong

955.5

1A

2

Hong Kong

955.5

1A

3

Shanghai

988.8

1A

3

Shanghai

984.5

1B

3

New York City

912.1

1B

3

New York City

904.3

1B

3

New York City

904.3

1B

4

Dubai

935.0

1B

4

New York City

912.1

1B

4

Shanghai

898.3

1B

4

Shanghai

898.3

1B

4

Kuala Lumpur

896.0

1B

5

New York City

934.3

1B

5

Dubai

907.0

1B

5

Kuala Lumpur

896.0

1B

5

Kuala Lumpur

896.0

1B

5

Shanghai

894.0

1B

6

Kuala Lumpur

897.5

1B

6

Kuala Lumpur

897.5

1B

6

Dubai

871.7

1B

6

Dubai

822.1

2

6

Houston

809.8

2

7

Singapore

812.9

2

7

Houston

809.8

2

7

Houston

809.8

2

7

Houston

809.8

2

7

Shenzhen

798.9

2

8

Houston

809.8

2

8

Shenzhen

806.0

2

8

Shenzhen

803.7

2

8

Shenzhen

803.7

2

8

Toronto

781.1

2

9

Shenzhen

806.0

2

9

Singapore

790.3

2

9

Singapore

790.3

2

9

Singapore

790.3

2

9

Singapore

772.3

2

10

Toronto

797.0

2

10

Toronto

781.1

2

10

Toronto

781.1

2

10

Toronto

781.1

2

10

Dubai

772.1

2

11

Tokyo

774.3

2

11

Tokyo

774.3

2

11

Tokyo

774.3

2

11

Los Angeles

767.1

2

11

Los Angeles

767.1

2

12

Los Angeles

767.1

2

12

Los Angeles

767.1

2

12

Los Angeles

767.1

2

12

Tokyo

764.8

2

12

Tokyo

764.8

2

13

Guangzhou

762.2

2

13

Guangzhou

760.1

2

13

Guangzhou

760.1

2

13

Seoul

752.0

2

13

Seoul

752.0

2

14

Seoul

752.0

2

14

Seoul

752.0

2

14

Seoul

752.0

2

14

Atlanta

741.4

2

14

Atlanta

732.0

2

15

Atlanta

747.2

2

15

Atlanta

747.2

2

15

Atlanta

741.4

2

15

Melbourne

734.1

2

15

Dallas

717.3

2

16

Bangkok

742.9

2

16

Melbourne

734.1

2

16

Melbourne

734.1

2

16

Dallas

717.3

2

16

Sydney

711.9

2

17

Melbourne

734.1

2

17

Bangkok

731.2

2

17

Dallas

717.3

2

17

Bangkok

714.1

2

17

Bangkok

710.3

2

18

Beijing

718.6

3

18

Dallas

717.3

3

18

Bangkok

716.5

2

18

Sydney

711.9

2

18

Melbourne

697.3

3

19

Dallas

717.3

3

19

Sydney

711.9

3

19

Sydney

711.9

2

19

Guangzhou

701.4

2

19

Guangzhou

688.3

3

20

Sydney

711.9

3

20

Philadelphia

701.8

3

20

Chongqing

689.4

3

20

Chongqing

671.7

3

20

Seattle

663.5

3

21

Chongqing

709.9

3

21

Chongqing

692.6

3

21

Wuhan

685.1

3

21

Seattle

670.4

3

21

Chongqing

663.3

3

22

Philadelphia

703.6

3

22

Wuhan

685.1

3

22

Seattle

670.4

3

22

Manila

656.9

3

22

Manila

656.9

3

23

Wuhan

685.1

3

23

Seattle

670.4

3

23

Moscow

664.6

3

23

Philadelphia

654.1

3

23

Philadelphia

654.1

3

24

Manila

678.2

3

24

Moscow

666.0

3

24

Manila

656.9

3

24

Frankfurt

647.6

3

24

Frankfurt

647.6

3

25

Seattle

670.4

3

25

Miami

660.2

3

25

Philadelphia

654.1

3

25

San Francisco

636.6

3

25

San Francisco

636.6

3

The UltrapolisProject.com, © 2004-2015, All Rights Reserved.

World's 25 Tallest Cities

Rank for each past year is as of December 31.

 Rank 2004

CAHTT1

Tier

 Rank 2000

CAHTT1

Tier

 

New York City2

1015.5

 

1

New York City

1010.4

1A

1

Chicago

995.1

1A

2

Chicago

995.1

1A

2

Hong Kong

955.5

1A

3

Kuala Lumpur

852.1

1B

3

New York City

903.8

1B

4

Hong Kong

839.6

1B

4

Kuala Lumpur

896.0

1B

5

Houston

809.8

1B

5

Shanghai

863.2

1B

6

Toronto

776.3

2

6

Houston

809.8

2

7

Singapore

772.3

2

7

Shenzhen

793.5

2

8

Los Angeles

767.1

2

8

Toronto

776.4

2

9

Tokyo

754.3

2

9

Singapore

772.3

2

10

Shanghai

747.1

2

10

Los Angeles

767.1

2

11

Atlanta

732.0

2

11

Tokyo

764.8

2

12

Dallas

717.3

2

12

Seoul

752.0

2

13

Shenzhen

715.6

2

13

Atlanta

732.0

2

14

Melbourne

685.5

3

14

Dubai

722.8

2

15

Sydney

674.3

3

15

Dallas

717.3

2

16

Bangkok

674.0

3

16

Sydney

706.3

2

17

Seattle

663.5

3

17

Bangkok

704.3

2

18

Philadelphia

653.5

3

18

Guangzhou

688.3

3

19

Frankfurt

645.1

3

19

Melbourne

685.5

3

20

San Francisco

636.6

3

20

Seattle

663.5

3

21

Guangzhou

627.9

3

21

Manila

656.9

3

22

Manila

627.5

3

22

Philadelphia

654.1

3

23

Minneapolis

616.5

3

23

Frankfurt

645.1

3

24

Boston

611.6

3

24

San Francisco

636.6

3

25

Seoul

610.5

3

25

Minneapolis

618.2

3

The UltrapolisProject.com, © 2004-2015, All Rights Reserved.

 

1The CAHTT is the “Calculated Average Height of the Ten Tallest” buildings and towers of each city.  For each past year, the numbers are as of December 31.  The formula gives less weight for thin, ornamental spires and observation towers, and ignores the number floors, which is a poor indicator of actual height. Antennas are not counted as part of a buildings height, following the guidelines of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).  Buildings are not included in end-of-year rankings if not determined completed by the standards set by the CTBUH.  For details of the formula please see the Methodology page.  See also Ten Tallest Cities, and The Rise and Fall of the American Skyscraper.

 

2The score for New York City 9/10 is what it would have been for New York, had the World Trade Center Towers not been destroyed.  This ranking of New York 9/10 was set to end when the first city exceeded its CAHTT score, or after ten years, whichever occurred later.  On January 4, 2010, Dubai exceeded New York 9/10’s score.  However, due to requests, we will keep track of this score until the actual meets or exceeds the 9/10 score.  The 9/10 will never include any new World Trade Center buildings, as they would not have been built in this scenario.

 

3Hong Kong was the first metropolis to exceed a CAHTT score of 1000 since New York (which attained a score of 1009.9 in 1977), and the second one to replace Chicago as the world’s tallest (New York City was the first in 1890).  However, its reign as the world’s tallest city was short-lived, with the completion of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in May 2009, when Chicago briefly regained its position as the world’s tallest city before it was surpassed a third time, this time by Dubai.

 

4Dubai experienced a meteoric rise in this annual ranking, with an ambitious construction boom not seen since the 1920’s and 1930’s in New York City.  Dubai purposefully sought to be number one several years ago, and finally achieved this with the completion of what is now by far the world’s tallest building.  The 162-story Dubai Tower, now called Khalifa Tower (Burj Khalifa), was officially opened on January 4, of 2010.  See our World’s Tallest City page for more on Dubai.

 

5The score for New York City (actual) does not include the antenna height at the top of the new WTC 1 building, despite the decision by the CTBUH to consider it a spire.  Arguments presented by the developers that the antenna should count as a spire (when they never do according to the CTBUH’s own rules), and therefore as part of the building height, because of their “intent” to make it a spire in their design, seems to us emotional and irrelevant.  The cladding that was also supposed to be placed around the antenna to make it into a true spire was the real intent, and it was never done.  For us, if it looks like a duck and acts like a duck, it’s a duck.

   

The UltrapolisProject.com, © 2004-2012. All Rights Reserved.

 

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