Tall building development is no longer about uniform acceleration,” said Javier Quintana de Uña, CEO of CVU. “What the data shows instead is a period of recalibration, wherein ambition persists, but delivery is shaped by economic realities, market demand, and long-term urban priorities.”

Global Inventory and Geographic Trends

At the end of 2025:

• The global inventory of buildings 200 meters and taller surpassed 2,580, spread across 222 cities in 52 countries, continuing a long-term upward trend in vertical urbanization.
• China remained the dominant contributor to this inventory, accounting for a majority of completions, with Shenzhen becoming the first city worldwide to exceed 200 completed buildings over 200 meters.
• New York City and Hong Kong exceeded 100 completed buildings of 200 meters or taller, doubling the number of cities worldwide to reach this milestone, from two to four. (Dubai and Shenzhen were the first cities to cross this threshold.)
• The composition of the world’s 100 tallest buildings continued to diversify geographically: While Asia maintained a clear majority of entries, representation from the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Africa reflected a broader global distribution of supertall (300 meters or more) development than in previous decades.

Height, Materials, and Building Typologies 

Additionally, the report finds that:    

• Average heights of annual completions continued to rise: The world’s 100 tallest buildings were, on average, taller than ever, indicating the sustained relevance of supertall construction even as overall project volumes fluctuate.
• Structural and material trends also evolved: Composite and all-steel systems gained share among the tallest buildings, while all-concrete structures declined at the extreme upper end, reflecting changing engineering strategies, performance requirements, and construction economics.
• Functional distribution within the world’s 100 tallest buildings also continued to shift, as office, residential, hotel, and mixed-use towers respond to changing market conditions and occupier demand.

2026 Forecast 

In the coming year, CVU forecasts:

• Approximately 140 buildings of 200 meters or taller will be completed, including around 18 supertall buildings.
• The global pipeline remains substantial, with nearly 400 tall buildings currently under construction or topped out, including dozens of supertalls.
• A record number of stalled or on-hold projects, particularly in markets facing prolonged financing constraints and post-pandemic economic adjustment, will contribute to extended construction timelines and fewer near-term completions.
• Continued long-term confidence at the highest end of height, evidenced by the resumption of construction on megatall projects such as Jeddah Tower (1,000 meters) and Burj Azizi (725 meters), alongside ongoing advances in delivery technologies.

The CVU 2026 Trends & Forecasts report features interactive data visualizations and detailed breakdowns by region, height, function, material, and construction status, offering a wide range of practitioners a clear view of both current conditions and emerging global patterns.

To view the complete report, visit https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/trends-and-forecasts/2026.