With a record height of over 100m, these colossal statues have become symbols of cities and major tourist attractions.
List of the 12 Tallest and Largest Statues in the World
- 12. Lingshan Grand Buddha, China – 88m
- 11. Golden Buddha, Thailand – 92m
- 10. Peter the Great, Russia – 96m
- 9. Sendai Daikannon, Japan – 100m
- 8. Motherland Calls, Ukraine – 106m
- 7. The Statues of Emperor Yan and Huangdi, China – 106m
- 6. Nanshan Guanyin, China – 108m
- 5. Cristo-Rei, Portugal – 110m
- 4. Ushiku Daibutsu, Japan – 110m
- 3. Laykyun Setkyar, Myanmar – 116m
- 2. Spring Temple Buddha, China – 153m
- 1. Statue of Unity, India – 182m
12. Lingshan Grand Buddha, China – 88m
Photo: Shutterstock.
This bronze statue of Gautama Buddha is one of the largest Buddha statues in China. Completed in late 1996, it stands 88 meters tall and weighs 700 tons. In 2008, the Five-Dragon Palace and Brahma Palace were built southeast of the Grand Buddha to promote tourism at the site.
11. Golden Buddha, Thailand – 92m
Photo: Grant Cameron.
The Golden Buddha, or Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin, is a famous statue at Wat Muang temple. It is the tallest statue in Thailand, constructed from 1990 and completed in 2008. The entire statue is made of concrete and covered in gold paint. It depicts the Buddha in the seated position known as Maravijaya, standing 92 meters tall.
10. Peter the Great, Russia – 96m
Photo: Arrivalguides.
This statue was erected in honor of Russian Emperor Peter I, who ruled the country for 43 years. The statue of Peter the Great stands 98 meters tall, facing the Moskva River in Moscow. Designed by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, it utilizes 600 tons of stainless steel and bronze. The statue weighs 100 tons and was inaugurated in 1997.
9. Sendai Daikannon, Japan – 100m
(Photo: M_dada_i, Taka_kurizaki).
The Sendai Daikannon is a 100-meter tall statue located atop a hill in Sendai, Japan. It represents the Bodhisattva in Japanese Buddhist culture. Sendai Daikannon holds a gem in her right hand to grant wishes and a water vase in her left hand to pour wisdom. Visitors can take an elevator to the top of the statue for a panoramic view of Sendai city.
8. Motherland Calls, Ukraine – 106m
Located in Kyiv, Ukraine, the Motherland Calls statue was constructed as a symbol during World War II. Completed in 1981, this titanium statue stands 62m tall on top of a museum. The total height of the entire structure reaches 102m and weighs over 560 tons.
7. The Statues of Emperor Yan and Huangdi, China – 106m
The sculpture of the two first emperors of China, Emperor Yan and Huangdi, took 20 years to complete, finishing in 2007. This monument stands 106m tall, carved into a mountain in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
6. Nanshan Guanyin, China – 108m
Photo: OrangeSmile.
The statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva in Sanya, Hainan Province, China, measures 108 meters in height, making it the fourth tallest statue in the world. The statue features three different faces, symbolizing blessings to the entire world. One face faces the land, while the other two face the sea. It took nearly six years to complete this colossal statue.
5. Cristo-Rei, Portugal – 110m
Inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Cristo-Rei shrine in Portugal stands 110m tall and was inaugurated in 1959 after 10 years of construction. The Cristo-Rei statue is the same size as its famous counterpart in Rio, which is 28m tall and located atop another structure reaching a height of 82m. Right beneath the statue is an observation deck that offers a panoramic view of Lisbon, Portugal.
4. Ushiku Daibutsu, Japan – 110m
The Ushiku Daibutsu is located in Ushiku, Japan. Completed in 1995, this statue is the third tallest in the world, reaching a total height of 120m, including a 10m base and lotus pedestal. Visitors to the Ushiku Daibutsu can take an elevator up to the lotus pedestal and enjoy the view from the observation deck.
3. Laykyun Setkyar, Myanmar – 116m
The Laykyun Setkyar statue stands at a total height of 130m, built on the top of Po Kaung Hill near Monywa, Myanmar. At the foot of this majestic statue lies the largest reclining Buddha statue in the world. The Laykyun Setkyar was completed in 2008, while the reclining Buddha statue was finished in 1991.
2. Spring Temple Buddha, China – 153m
The Spring Temple Buddha in Henan Province, China, is currently the largest statue in the world, standing at 153m, including a 20m lotus pedestal and a 25m building beneath the pedestal. The construction of the Spring Temple Buddha began shortly after the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan were destroyed by Taliban forces. This magnificent monument depicts Buddha Vairocana and was completed in 2008.
1. Statue of Unity, India – 182m
Photo: Amit Dave.
The tallest statue in the world is the Statue of Unity in India, standing at 182m. This statue of the late Indian leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is built on the Sardar Sarovar Dam near the city of Vadodara, his hometown.
