Half of the World's Top 50 Super Tall Buildings Are in China
South Korea Has 2, with Lotte World Tower Ranking 6th
The leadership of global skyscrapers is shifting from North America to China and the Middle East. Among the top 50 tallest buildings in the world announced this year, China has dominated nearly half, while South Korea has only two buildings on the list, and Japan has none.
According to the survey results by the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), composed of architectural experts, reported by the Japanese media outlet Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 25 of the world's 50 tallest buildings as of this year are located in China.
Back in 2000, China had only 9 buildings among the top 50 tallest buildings. This means the number has more than doubled in just over 20 years. In contrast, the United States, which held 26 of the top 50 skyscrapers in 2000, has dropped to 8 buildings.
The rise of the Middle East is also notable. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks third with a total of 4 buildings among the top 50 tallest in the world. Malaysia also has 4 buildings, tying the two countries for third place. The UAE is also home to the tallest skyscraper, Dubai's Burj Khalifa (828m).
South Korea and Saudi Arabia each have 2 buildings, following behind. In South Korea's case, the Lotte World Tower (554m) and Haeundae LCT Landmark Tower (411m) made the list.
The Lotte World Tower ranks as the 6th tallest skyscraper in the world, while the Haeundae LCT Landmark Tower is ranked 37th.
On the other hand, Japan, which had one building in the top 50 in 2000, now has no buildings within the top 50. As of this year, the tallest building in Japan is the recently completed Tokyo Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, standing at 325m and ranked 131st overall.
However, due to Japan's frequent earthquakes, the cost of seismic design for buildings is high, resulting in relatively less investment in skyscrapers compared to other Asian countries.
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