The world's tallest human-made structure is the 828-metre-tall (2,717 ft) Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The building gained the official title of tallest building in the world and the tallest self-supported structure at its opening on January 9, 2010.

The title of the tallest man-made monument is often debated based on the definition of "monument" vs. "building." If a monument is defined as a structure built specifically for commemorative or symbolic purposes rather than habitation or office space, the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, India, is the tallest at 182 meters (597 feet). However, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, remains the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere at 192 meters (630 feet). If you consider "monumental columns," the San Jacinto Monument in Texas holds the record at 173 meters (567 feet). In 2026, people often confuse these with the world's tallest structure, which is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, standing at 828 meters (2,717 feet). While the Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper, it is frequently cited as a "monument to modern engineering." For a classic "monumental" experience, the Statue of Unity in India currently holds the Guinness World Record for height, nearly doubling the size of the Statue of Liberty (which is only 93 meters including the pedestal).