The comparison
The world's second-tallest building by architectural top (Merdeka 118, 678.9m) versus the world's second-tallest building by honest height (Shanghai Tower, 583.5m). These are two different rankings of the same set of buildings - and Merdeka 118 and Shanghai Tower swap positions between them. Merdeka 118 ranks #2 globally by architectural top. Shanghai Tower ranks #2 globally by honest height.
Architectural top vs Honest Height
Merdeka 118 - 25.9% vanity
Shanghai Tower - 7.7% vanity
Occupied height. Vanity (non-occupiable structure).Vanity Ratio explained →
The honest take
Merdeka 118's 25.9% Vanity Ratio represents 176.1m of spire above the highest occupied floor. That spire is an architectural statement for Malaysia - a deliberate landmark. Shanghai Tower's 7.7% ratio represents 48.5m above the highest occupied floor. By every honest metric, Shanghai Tower is the more genuine achievement. The spire battle between these two buildings is what the current global supertall ranking is largely about: who padded their height the most.
See also: methodology · vanity height · Honest 100