The Number Of People You Can Fit In The World's Biggest Buildings Is Staggering (2024)

Real Life Lore asks a question that I’ve never actually considered before: what if everybody in the entire world lived in just one building? How big would the building have to be to be able to fit all 7.4 billion of us? Surprisingly, not that big. That red cube up above would do the trick and it only takes up a few blocks of Manhattan.

Sure, the giant cube would be 1346m tall, but the Burj Khalifa measures up at a little under 823m so it’s sort of in spitting distance. And yeah, everyone would only have a coffin’s amount of space — but the point is we could probably (eventually, maybe, possibly) build such a structure.

But that’s just a silly fun thought exercise. An even more silly and fun thought exercise is thinking about the number of people we can cram in the structures we’ve already built, or actually had plans to build.

Indoor stadiums top off at 114,000 people (the Rungrado Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea), but Nazi Germany had plans to build the Volkshalle after World War II, and that could do 180,000. Outdoor stadiums could squeeze 235,000 like at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but again Nazi Germany had plans to make the Deutsches Stadion in Nuremberg, Germany and that would hold 405,000 people.

If you just think of other structures and do some maths to figure out how many people can fit in them, that’s when things get crazy:

  • Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia – 4,000,000 people
  • Tesla Gigafactory – 2,650,000
  • Crystal Island in Moscow, Russia – 12,500,000 people
  • Boeing Everett Factory in Washington – 40,831,000

The Number Of People You Can Fit In The World's Biggest Buildings Is Staggering (2024)

FAQs

How many people can fit in the biggest building in the world? ›

Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia – 4,000,000 people. Tesla Gigafactory – 2,650,000. Crystal Island in Moscow, Russia – 12,500,000 people. Boeing Everett Factory in Washington – 40,831,000.

What is the most people in a single building? ›

It looks like that building is actually going to make it to completion, but one that never did is the Crystal Island in Moscow, Russia, which was designed to fit a mind-boggling 12,500,000 people inside - more than the entire population of Belgium.

What is the largest building in the world? ›

1. Burj Khalifa. At an incredible height of 2,717 feet, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, is without a doubt the tallest recorded building in the world. Amazingly, it is twice the height of the Empire State Building, once the tallest building in the world in 1930, less than 100 years ago.

What's the tallest possible building? ›

Structures
StructureHeightFloors
Tokyo Tower of Babel10 km (33,000 ft)1000+
X-Seed 40004 km (13,000 ft)800
Ultima Tower3.2187 km (10,560 ft)500
Dubai City Tower2.4 km (7,900 ft)400
47 more rows

Is one of the biggest structures ever made by humans? ›

The tallest artificial structure is Burj Khalifa, a skyscraper in Dubai that reached 829.8 m (2,722 ft) in height on January 17, 2009.

Who owns the biggest building in the world? ›

Burj Khalifa
CostUS$1.5 billion
OwnerEmaar Properties
Height
Architectural828 m (2,717 ft)
39 more rows

What is the largest single building in the world? ›

The Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the tallest building in the world and has a total floor area of about 3.0 million square feet.

Can a single man build a house? ›

Regardless of whether you're single or in a couple, your ability to build depends on your financial capacity. So that includes your sole income, as well as any debts or children you have. But you don't need two income streams to build.

What building has more than 100 floors? ›

Completed buildings
RankStructureFloors
1Burj Khalifa163
2=Shanghai Tower128
2=Goldin Finance 117128
4Lotte World Tower123
18 more rows

What is the world 3 biggest building? ›

Tallest buildings in the world
RankNameCity
1Burj KhalifaDubai
2Merdeka 118Kuala Lumpur
3Shanghai TowerShanghai
49 more rows

What is the largest building in human history? ›

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the ancient world wonders, and the only one that is still intact today. It weighs an estimated 6 million tonnes—and rising up at 481 feet (147 meters), it was unsurpassed as the tallest structure for thousands of years.

What is the largest building in America? ›

One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan is the tallest building in the United States and the Americas.

How tall can humans build? ›

Based on some quick math, if a building is only 15 percent as heavy as a solid object, it could be 6.6667 times taller and weigh the same as that solid object. A building could, hypothetically, climb to nearly 59,000 meters without outweighing Mount Everest or crushing the very earth below.

What is the tallest thing ever? ›

The tallest structure in the world is the Burj Khalifa skyscraper at 828 m (2,717 ft).

Are there buildings taller than 100 stories? ›

Today, there are 15 buildings worldwide that are 100 stories or taller. Scroll right to see view the entire lineup. View the entire list with heights. The first five are 20th-century skyscrapers — all office buildings, constructed of steel, and located in New York or Chicago.

How many stories is 2,000 feet? ›

In fact, it's only half as tall as the tallest structure in Texas, the Liberman Broadcast Tower in Era, which is 2,000 feet – one third of a mile high; 200 stories.

What is the largest structure created by non human? ›

Beaver dams are the largest structures built by non-human animals.

What is the largest natural structure in the universe? ›

The biggest single entity that scientists have identified in the universe is a supercluster of galaxies called the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall. It's so wide that light takes about 10 billion years to move across the entire structure.

Who is the most expensive building in the world? ›

List of most expensive buildings
BuildingCityCountry
One World Trade CenterNew York CityUnited States
Marina Bay Financial CentreSingaporeSingapore
Lotte World TowerSeoulSouth Korea
Emirates PalaceAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates
57 more rows

What is on the 163 floor of Burj Khalifa? ›

This prompted the Burj Khalifa to open a new deck called "At the Top Sky." At 555 meters, it is currently the highest observation deck in the world. The very top of the Burj Khalifa is the 163rd floor; however, this is not accessible to the public.

What is the world's longest tower? ›

The tallest tower is Burj Khalifa (828 metres) and the shortest is the Bratislava UFO (95 metres).

What is the largest unused building? ›

Then in 1992, after the collapse of ally and backer the Soviet Union, work stopped completely on Ryugyong Hotel. The 105-story, 1,083-foot structure protrudes above the rest of the North Korean capital's skyline. It remains the largest abandoned building in the world.

What is the longest building ever built? ›

Great Wall of China

What is the 2 biggest building in the world? ›

Shanghai Tower

Standing at 2,073 ft, the Shanghai Tower, located in China, is the second tallest building in the world. The construction of this phenomenal skyscraper started in 1997, but it was put on hold several times due to funding issues.

Should I buy a house if I live alone? ›

A home is essentially a forced savings account - you pay off the mortgage every month, but it's essentially like paying yourself. Homes also appreciate in value over time. So yes, it's definitely worth it to buy a house if you're single - you just need to find the right house, and the right financing plan.

What is the cheapest home to build? ›

Ranch Homes

Ranch homes are the most popular home style in the U.S. They're another rectangular-shaped house, though they come in “T” or “L” shapes, too. A home with a simple and concise layout is the cheapest type of house to build. Ranch homes are typically single-story structures with attached garages.

Can I build my own house in Florida? ›

Florida State law requires construction to be done by licensed contractors. You have applied for a permit under an exemption to that law. The exemption allows you, as the owner of your property, to act as your own contractor with certain restrictions even though you do not have a license.

What building has 72 floors? ›

Bank of America Plaza is the tallest building in Dallas and the third tallest building in Texas at 921 feet and 72 floors.

What building has 77 floors? ›

The Chrysler Building has 77 floors, soaring 1048 feet high in Midtown East. Containing 29961 tons of steel, 3,826,000 bricks, and nearly 5,000 windows, this art deco skyscraper may not be the tallest, but it is one of the most recognized due to its crescent-shaped spire.

What building has 32 floors? ›

Aramark Tower, formerly known as One Reading Center, is a high-rise building located in the Center City region of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The building stands at 412 feet (126 meters) with 32 floors, and is currently the 23rd-tallest building in Philadelphia.

How heavy is a skyscraper? ›

So: How much do buildings weigh? A typical house might weigh 70 tons and stand 25 feet high. The Empire State Building is 50 times higher so it should weigh 50 times as much -- around 3500 tons, right?

How heavy is the biggest building? ›

The behemoth of a building weighs in with roughly 700,000 tons of steel and bronze, 1 million cubic meters of marble, 3,500 tons of crystal glass, and 900,000 cubic meters of wood.

What is the 7th largest building in the world? ›

Guangzhou CTF Finance Center, located in Guangzhou is the third tallest in China and the seventh tallest structure in the world. The 111-story high mixed-use tower consists of residences, offices, hotels, and sky terraces.

What was the 1st skyscraper? ›

What Was The First Skyscraper? The Home Life Insurance Building has the distinction of being the first skyscraper. It was completed in 1885, and was the first building built whose entire weight was supported with an iron frame.

What was the tallest building for 40 years? ›

The Empire State Building is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and held the world's tallest building record record for nearly 40 years.

What is the oldest building built by man? ›

Göbekli Tepe

What is the biggest 1 story building in the United States? ›

NASA Vehicle Assembly Building[SEE MAP]

Built in 1966 to assemble the rockets for the Apollo and Saturn space missions – and later, the Space Shuttle – it's the largest single-story building on Earth, and the tallest building outside an urban city in the United States.

What is the 4th largest structure in the US? ›

What is this? Height: 1,428 feet. The fourth tallest building in the US is 111 West 57th Street, also called the Steinway Building. It is one of the most recent skyscraper additions to the NYC skyline and also the skinniest.

Where is the biggest building in Texas? ›

The good news is that after plans for an 80-story downtown Austin skyscraper were downsized this week, Houston's 75-story JPChase Morgan Tower on Travis Street in downtown is still the tallest building in Texas.

How tall can a human survive? ›

People usually survive falls from a height of 20-25 feet (6-8 meters), but above that, things get very deadly very fast. A study done in Paris in 2005 looked at 287 victims of falls, and found that falls from 8 stories (30 meters) or higher were 100% fatal.

What made humans tall? ›

The most likely cause is improved nutrition and health. While this subject of study is too complex for scientists to currently draw definite conclusions, the most reasonable explanation is that the overall increase in average height is a reflection of the overall improvement in health.

How much taller can you be? ›

However, once the growth plates in the bones close, a person will generally not grow any taller. Most females reach their full adult height aged 14–16 years. Most males reach their full height by the age of 16–18 years. It is very unusual for a person to grow after the age of 18 years.

What animal is taller than a human? ›

The giraffe is the tallest living terrestrial animal in the world, standing 16–20 feet tall and weighing up to 3,500 pounds. Giraffes are known for their long necks, which can grow up to 6 feet and make up almost half of the height, and their legs alone are taller than most adult humans.

What is the tallest animal in the universe? ›

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. Males can grow up to 18 feet tall, females can reach 14 feet tall. The giraffe's chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs. It is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Vulnerable to extinction.

What is the tallest animal in the world? ›

Towering above the grasslands of Africa, giraffes are the tallest land mammal in existence, sometimes exceeding 18 feet in height. Giraffes are social animals that roam the savannah peacefully in large herds.

Is there a building with 200 floors? ›

It is estimated that the Jeddah Tower will have just over 200 floors.

What building has 96 floors? ›

Ranking of skyscrapers in the U.S. as of 2019, by number of floors
Building (city)Number of floors
Empire State Building (New York City)102
875 North Michigan Avenue (Chicago)100
Trump International Hotel & Tower (Chicago)98
432 Park Avenue (New York City)96
7 more rows
Feb 8, 2023

What will the tallest building be in 2050? ›

By early 2050, Rabat Column is the tallest skyscraper in the world. It can be seen from Tangiers to Gibraltar.

How many people can fit in the Burj? ›

The Burj Khalifa is home to over 900 residential units and can hold up to 10,000 people at any given time.

Is there a 200 story building? ›

3,280 feet. 200 stories. Almost twice the size of New York's new Freedom Tower, if you're looking for a point of reference. That's how high the world's tallest building, named the Kingdom Tower, will be when it's completed in Saudi Arabia in 2019.

What building took 20 years to build? ›

The Great Pyramid of Giza

It took around 20 years to finish and became the tallest structure in the world until the building of the Eiffel Tower. The surrounding pyramids create an astonishingly accurate alignment with the stars, making this construction truly unique.

What building has taken 100 years to build? ›

Land was first purchased for the church over one hundred years ago.

What building is 2000 feet tall? ›

Structures (past or present) 600 m (1,969 ft) and taller
NamePinnacle heightCountry
Hearst-Argyle Tower609.6 m (2,000 ft)United States
WTTO Tower609.6 m (2,000 ft)United States
WCSC-Tower609.6 m (2,000 ft)United States
WCTV Tower609.6 m (2,000 ft)United States
45 more rows

Can a common man enter Burj Khalifa? ›

The very top of the Burj Khalifa is the 163rd floor, however it is not accessible to the public. To get to the top of the Burj Khalifa, you need to purchase a ticket.

How tall is a giant human? ›

To be formally diagnosed with gigantism, a person generally must be over 7 feet tall. The tallest person ever officially recorded was Robert Wadlow (1918-1940), a man from Illinois who reached 8 feet and 11.1 inches in height.

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