Top 10 Biggest Statues in the World

Top 10 Biggest Statues in the World

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Biggest Statues in the World.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the largest sculptural works of art located around the world.

Have you seen any of these statues in person? Let us know in the comments below!

#10: The Motherland Calls

This impressive statue in the style of socialism realism depicts a woman holding a sword aloft as she issues a rallying cry to troops behind her. Located in the Russian city of Volgograd, the statue was co-designed by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich and engineer Nikolai Nikitin. It’s a central piece in an ensemble of monuments called “Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad” and stands at a towering 279 feet. Construction lasted from 1959 to 1967, and at the time of completion, it was declared the tallest statue in the world. It retained its top spot for 22 years until it was finally supplanted in 1989.

#9: Dai Kannon of Kita no Miyako Park

The figure that dethroned The Motherland Calls was Japan’s Dai Kannon of Kita no Miyako Park. Also known as the Hakkaido Kannon, the statue depicts the Bodhisattva Guanyin and stands at a whopping 289 feet tall. It is found on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, specifically within the Kita no Miyako park, hence its name. The magnificent sculpture took nearly fifteen years to complete, with its planning and construction spanning from 1975 to 1989. While it dethroned The Motherland Calls as the tallest statue in the world, it only held the record for two years. However, it still functions as a tourist attraction in Hokkaido, serving as both a lookout and a place of worship.

#8: The Great Buddha of Thailand

This statue goes by many different names, including, quite affectionately, The Big Buddha. It is found in the Ang Thong Province of Thailand and depicts a giant gold Buddha with its left hand resting in its folded legs. The statue was built to commemorate King Bhumibol of Thailand, with construction being funded by Buddhists and lasting nearly 20 years between 1990 and 2008. While the sculpture was made from concrete, its gold exterior gives it an air of sophistication and tranquility. The towering figure reaches 302 feet into the air, making it the tallest statue in Thailand.

#7: Peter the Great Statue

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that this statue is … distinct. Standing 322 feet tall, this statue commemorating the founding of the Russian Navy by Peter the Great is found on the Moskva River in Moscow, Russia. Made of stainless steel, copper, and bronze, it features Peter the Great standing at the helm of a ship. The top depicts the vessel’s furled sails, with the ship itself resting on waves and other boats. It’s certainly a lot to look at and has generated plenty of controversy. Since it was erected in 1997, various publications have listed it as one of the ugliest statues in the world. It’s said that Moscow authorities have tried to relocate the statue - but that no one else wants to take it.

#6: The Guishan Guanyin of the Thousand Hands and Eyes

Completed in 2009, this visually striking statue is located within the Weishan Township of Ningxiang, China. It sits atop a massive staircase and depicts a gilded bronze Guanyin - the same figure found in the Hokkaido Kannon. What is most unique about this sculpture, however, are its many arms, which reach out from both sides and end with their palms extended outward. In addition, it features a number of other heads stacked on top of the statue’s main head. These multiple appendages represent the goddess’ ability to hear the cries of the less fortunate, and help as many as possible. At the time of writing, it is the sixth-tallest statue in the world, standing at 325 feet.

#5: Sendai Daikannon

Found in the city of Sendai, Japan is the Sendai Daikannon, which depicts a white-robed manifestation of the Buddhist goddess, Guanyin. It was this statue that dethroned Hokkaido Kannon in 1991 to become the tallest in the world, before it was itself surpassed in 1993. It stands at a staggering 330 feet, meaning that it shot past the previous record holder by a full 41 feet. Just like that statue, visitors can also enter Sendai Daikannon, which is filled with various relics and an elevator for sightseeing. While it offers magnificent views of the surrounding city, it’s also quite the magnificent view itself.

#4: Ushiku Daibutsu

Commemorating the birth of the Buddhist monk Shinran is the statue Ushiku Daibutsu, in the city Ushiku, Japan. It was completed back in 1993 and was named the tallest statue in the world, at 390 feet. This height includes its platform and base, which account for a combined 60-odd feet. It held the top position for fifteen years, but it was finally overtaken in 2008. Ushiku Daibutsu depicts the Amitābha Buddha with the right hand turned upward and the left hand downward. The structure consists of four floors, which are open to visitors. Found on these floors are cauldrons of burning incense, thousands of gold Buddha statues, and an observation deck looking down on the nearby flower garden.

#3: Laykyun Sekkya Buddha

Found in the village of Khatakan Taung in Myanmar, the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha took over a decade to construct, from 1996 to 2008. The statue overtook Ushiku Daibutsu to become the tallest in the world, although it only held the position for a few months. Including its base, the structure stands 424 feet tall and depicts the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama. Its massive hands are positioned at its sides, and the statue dons a flowing gold robe punctuated by small rectangles. Also found nearby is a reclining sculpture of the Buddha. The overall complex makes for a truly staggering sight.

#2: Spring Temple Buddha

When the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha lost its title of tallest statue in the world in September 2008, it was to the Spring Temple Buddha. Located in Lushan County, in Henan Province, China, it depicts the Vairocana Buddha standing atop a lotus throne. Underneath this throne are two grand pedestals known as the Diamond seat and Sumeru seat. While the statue itself stands at 420 feet, the inclusion of the other structures sums its total height up to a colossal 682 feet. The project cost $55 million and took eleven years to complete, with construction spanning from 1997 to 2008. The results, we’d say, were well worth it.

#1: The Statue of Unity

One of the most impressive creations on the surface of the Earth, the Statue of Unity is found in the state of Gujarat in India. It depicts Indian statesman Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as the first deputy Prime Minister of the country from 1947 to 1950. Construction on the magnificent structure began in 2013 and cost a staggering $422 million to complete. Designed by sculptor Ram V. Sutar, the Statue of Unity was officially unveiled on October 31, 2018, standing at a mind-boggling 597 feet. It easily surpassed the Spring Temple Buddha to become the tallest statue in the world. It has since drawn over ten million visitors.