Cities With the Most Skyscrapers in the World
What city has the most skyscrapers? Hong Kong, with more than 560 buildings taller than 150 meters, the standard height used to define a skyscraper by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
Join Skydeck Chicago as we explore the cities with the most skyscrapers worldwide, how the U.S. and Chicago stack up, and which of the world’s tallest skylines you can actually go up and see for yourself.
Jump to:
- Top 20 Cities With the Most Skyscrapers
- How Many Skyscrapers Does New York Have?
- Hong Kong, Dubai, and Tokyo
- What City in the US Has the Most Skyscrapers?
- Chicago vs. New York
- How Many Skyscrapers Are in Chicago?
- Which Skylines Can You Actually Go Up?
- FAQ
Top 20 Cities With the Most Skyscrapers
Here are the cities with the most skyscrapers taller than 150 meters (492 feet), based on current CTBUH-tracked building counts:
- Hong Kong (China): more than 560
- Shenzhen (China): 465
- New York City (United States): 323
- Mumbai (India): 278
- Dubai (United Arab Emirates): 270
- Guangzhou (China): about 205
- Shanghai (China): 203
- Tokyo (Japan): 200
- Wuhan (China): 196
- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia): about 195
- Chongqing (China): 149
- Chicago (United States): 137
- Chengdu (China): 127
- Seoul (South Korea): 126
- Toronto (Canada): 108
- Moscow (Russia): about 106
- Shenyang (China): 101
- Nanjing (China): 80
- Tianjin (China): 76
- Miami (United States): 69
With the exception of New York City, Chicago, Toronto, and Miami, every city in this list is in Asia. China alone claims 12 of the 20 spots, driven by rapid urbanization, limited land in dense urban centers, and some of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Chicago still ranks among a small group of cities worldwide with more than 100 skyscrapers, a distinction it has held since it helped invent the category in the first place.
How Many Skyscrapers Does New York Have?
New York City has 323 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters, the most of any city in North America and the third-most in the world. That count includes landmarks like One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, and the Chrysler Building, spanning more than a century of construction from the earliest Manhattan high-rises to the current wave of supertall residential towers.
New York held the title of the world’s tallest skyline for most of the 20th century before Hong Kong overtook it in the early 2000s. It remains the only non-Asian city in the current global top 10.
How Many Skyscrapers Do Hong Kong, Dubai, and Tokyo Have?
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has more than 560 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters, the most of any city in the world. Its dense, mountainous geography left builders little choice but to go up, and the result is one of the most recognizable skylines anywhere, anchored by the International Commerce Centre and Two International Finance Centre.
Dubai
Dubai has 270 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters, including the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 828 meters. Dubai also has more supertall buildings (300 meters or taller) than any other city on Earth.
Tokyo
Tokyo has 200 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters. Strict earthquake engineering standards mean Tokyo’s towers tend to be shorter than their counterparts in Hong Kong or Dubai, but the city still has the most skyscrapers of any city in East Asia outside of China.
What City in the US Has the Most Skyscrapers?
New York City has the most skyscrapers in the United States, followed by Chicago. Those are the only two U.S. cities with more than 100 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters.
| Rank | City | Skyscrapers (150m+) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City | 323 |
| 2 | Chicago | 137 |
| 3 | Miami | 69 |
The United States has more than 900 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters across 56 cities, the second-highest total of any country after China.
Does Chicago Have More Skyscrapers Than New York?
New York has more, 323 to Chicago’s 137. But Chicago holds a title New York doesn’t: it’s the birthplace of the skyscraper. The Home Insurance Building, completed in 1885, was the first structure to use a steel frame to support its full weight, a technique that made every tall building built since possible, in New York or anywhere else.
How Many Skyscrapers Are in Chicago?
Chicago has 137 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters, the second-most of any U.S. city after New York, and part of what makes Chicago one of the best things to do in Chicago for architecture fans. Some highlights from Chicago’s history:
- Home Insurance Building: The 10-story Home Insurance Building was the first building to use a steel frame to support its entire weight. After its completion in 1885, architects worldwide adopted its “Chicago skeleton” construction technique.
- John Hancock Center: Standing 100 stories tall, the John Hancock Center uses exterior X-bracing to resist wind loads without interior support columns. It was completed in 1970.
- Willis Tower: Whether you’re from the Midwest or not, you’ve heard of Willis Tower. At 110 stories, it’s the tallest building in Chicago, and it held the title of world’s tallest building for nearly 25 years, from 1973 to 1998, longer than any building on this list has held the record since, including the Burj Khalifa. An observation deck on the 103rd floor is open to the public, a must-see for locals and visitors alike.
Which of These Skylines Can You Actually Go Up?
Counting skyscrapers is one thing. Standing on top of one is another, and not every city on this list makes that easy. Here’s where several of the world’s biggest skylines let you go up and see the view for yourself:
- Hong Kong: Sky100, an indoor observation deck on the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre.
- New York City: several options, including the Empire State Building, Edge at Hudson Yards, and the observatory atop One World Trade Center.
- Dubai: At the Top, inside the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
- Shanghai: the observation deck near the top of the Shanghai Tower, the world’s second-tallest building.
- Tokyo: Tokyo Skytree, plus rooftop decks like Shibuya Sky.
- Kuala Lumpur: the Skybridge and observation deck at the Petronas Twin Towers.
- Seoul: Seoul Sky, near the top of the Lotte World Tower.
- Toronto: the CN Tower’s observation levels.
- Chicago: Skydeck, the highest observation deck in the United States, on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower.
Several of these decks share a feature that turns the view into something you feel rather than just look at: a glass floor or balcony you can stand on. Skydeck’s version, The Ledge, extends glass balconies 4.3 feet outside Willis Tower’s 103rd floor, 1,353 feet above the ground. But the bigger difference is what surrounds it. Skydeck pairs those views and The Ledge with a full-scale Chicago museum, all in one visit, a three-in-one attraction most cities on this list don’t offer in a single stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the most skyscrapers?
Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers of any city in the world, with more than 560 buildings taller than 150 meters.
How many skyscrapers does New York have?
New York City has 323 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters, the most in North America.
How many skyscrapers does Chicago have?
Chicago has 137 skyscrapers taller than 150 meters, the second-most of any U.S. city.
What US city has the most skyscrapers?
New York City has the most skyscrapers in the United States, followed by Chicago and Miami.
Does Chicago have more skyscrapers than New York?
New York has more, 323 to Chicago’s 137. Chicago is, however, the birthplace of the skyscraper, a title New York doesn’t hold.
Explore Skyscrapers Worldwide with Skydeck!
Now that you know which cities have the most skyscrapers, why not see what 110 stories really means? Plan your visit to Skydeck Chicago and experience the city from 1,353 feet up, with views spanning up to four states, The Ledge’s glass balconies, and a three-in-one Chicago attraction you won’t find anywhere else on this list. Contact us today to find out how you can save on a range of unique, family-friendly activities.