Asian Countries Lead Skyscraper Construction in 2013: Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Report

The year 2013 saw a great influx of skyscrapers of 200 meters or higher and Asian countries led the list of all tall structures built in the year, according to an annual review of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

The review states that about 74 percent of the skyscrapers built in 2013 were in Asia, dominantly in China. The country accounts for about 37 skyscrapers spread across 22 different cities. South Korea also contributed largely to the statistics with nine new tall buildings in the region.

Following far behind was the Middle East. Skyscrapers in the region accounted for about 16 percent of the total tall buildings built in 2013. Europe, Central America and North America followed with about 5 percent, three percent and one percent respectively.

"From 2000 to 2013, the total number of 200-metre-plus buildings in existence increased from 261 to 830 - an astounding 318 percent. From this point of view, we can more confidently estimate that the slight slowdown of 2012 - which recorded 69 completions after 2011's record 81 - was a 'blip', and that 2013 was more representative of the general upward trend," the review reads.

Other Milestones of the Review:

-          A total of about 73 buildings were completed in 2013. Of the total, 12 debuted in the 'Top 100 Tallest Buildings of the World' list.

-          2013 stands second in line for the highest number of buildings completed in a year only after 2011, which saw completion of 81 buildings then.

-          The total of all skyscrapers above 200 meters sums up to 17,662 meters, which is the second highest in history after 2011.

-          2013 was the fourth consecutive year which saw the completion of nine super skyscrapers.

Building Trivia:

-          The tallest building to be completed in 2013 was the JW Marquis Marriott Hotel tower 2 in Dubai, UAE, standing tall at 355 meters.

-          Three of the five tallest buildings completed in 2013 are located in the UAE.

-          Two of the 10 tallest buildings completed in a year for the first time since 1995 are in Europe.

-          The Korean city of Goyang saw the completion of 8 skyscrapers in 2013.

-          While Panama of Central America added two buildings, the U.S. added only one.

Read the complete review, here. Also see the top 20 tallest buildings of 2013, here.