Worldwide tall building completions decreased by a total of 16 in 2012, DesignBuild Source reported. The figures come from A Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2012, an annual report from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
According to the report, 66 tall buildings were completed in 2012 — 16 less than the 82 completed in 2011. Buildings taller than 656 feet (200 metres) tall are considered tall buildings.
Despite the decline in tall building production last year, 2013 is expected to bring about more tall building completions than in 2011.
Among the regions with the most tall building completions in 2012 were the Middle East (16) and Asia (25), while North America completed only six and Australia completed three.
In 2012, 41 of the tallest 100 projects completed included a residential component. The four tallest residential buildings in the world are located in Dubai, which completed the two tallest buildings in the world in 2012: Princess Tower (1,355 feet) and Marina (1,289 feet).
While urbanization accounts for much of the demand for high-rise homes in countries such as China — which completed 22 of Asia’s 25 tall buildings in 2012 — and Australia, less available urban land is also causing more contractors to build upward.
Currently, 437 tall buildings are under construction worldwide.