List of tallest structures in the world

In 1974, when the Warsaw radio tower was erected, it was the tallest structure ever built at 646.38 m (2,121 ft). It collapsed in 1991.

This is a list of tallest structures in the world, past and present of any type. The tallest is Burj Dubai, currently topped-out at 818 m (2,684 ft). Most of the following structures are television broadcasting masts, followed by a mix of the taller tower-type structures (like the CN Tower) and the taller high rise buildings (like Willis Tower). Scattered among these are other structures including oil platforms, electrical towers, bridge towers, etc. List is organized by absolute height since it includes many different classes of structures. For other lists, see List of tallest buildings and structures in the world, List of tallest freestanding structures in the world and List of tallest buildings in the world.

This list includes quite a few masts. A mast is a man-made support structure, commonly used on sailing ships as support for sails, or on land as radio masts and towers used to support telecommunication equipment such as radio antennas ("aerials" in the UK).

For lower heights, see:

• List of tallest structures in the world - 400 to 500 metres
• List of tallest structures in the world - 300 to 400 metres

Terminology

Outside of the electronics industry there is often ambiguity between the terms tower and mast. A tower is a self-supporting or cantilevered structure, while a mast is held up by stays or guys.^[1] Both towers and masts occupy limited floor space and are non-building structures, as opposed to regular buildings which have greater floor space for occupancy. The terminology is further confused through misuse. Skyscrapers are often referred to as towers^[2] and some towers use the term mast. Ironically, skyscraper has some etymology from references to high sailboat masts.

List by height

Note: A minimum height limit of 500 metres (1,640 ft) for notable structures is used for practical purposes to keep the list to a reasonable length. List of tallest structures in the world - 300 to 400 metres and List of tallest structures in the world - 400 to 500 metres contain lower structures.

• Likely structures still missing from this list include masts used for the Russian navigation system RSDN-20.
• Structures no longer standing are in italics.
• For all structures the pinnacle height is given, so the height of skyscrapers may differ from the values at List of skyscrapers.
• Most of the taller masts are located in the United States (indicated by colour), where a prevalence of masts of around 2,000 feet (610 m) in height is the result of special rules in that country limiting structures and objects taller than 2,000 feet (629 m).
• Structures under construction are included in main list if its current height is over 500 metres (1,640 ft).

Structures (past or present) taller than 600 m (1,969 ft)

Structures (past or present) between 550 and 600 m (1,804 ft and 1,969 ft)

Structures (past or present) between 500 and 550 m (1,640 and 1,804 ft)

Structures taller than 500 metres (1,640 ft) under construction

This is an incomplete list of structures under construction that are projected to be taller than 500 metres (1,640 ft). It does not include on-hold or topped-out structures.

List by continent

Current

The following table is a list of the current tallest structures by each continent (listed by geographic size):

All time

The following table is a list of the all time tallest structures by each continent (listed by geographic size):

References

See also

• List of supertall structures
• Radio masts and towers
• List of famous transmission sites
• List of European medium wave transmitters
• Timeline of three tallest structures in the world
• List of tallest freestanding structures in the world
• List of world's tallest bridges
• List of world's tallest dams

External links

• World Federation of Great Towers
• Skyscrapers diagrams and forum
• Skyscrapers database
• Search for Radio Masts and Towers in the U.S.