Across the globe, artists create sculptures of icons. Monuments are made to commemorate memorable historical figures, leaders and moments. As we’ve previously noted, many of them are downright amazing. After many years of work and millions of dollars spent, here are 20 of the most enormous monuments and statues on earth.

20. “Forever Marilyn”

Also listed on this website as one of the “most amazing giant sculptures,” it took Chinese artists two years to complete this work. This 25-foot tall sculpture was inspired by the 1955 movie “The Seven Year Itch.” It’s been displayed both the USA and Australia.

19.  The statue of Ganesha

This eye-catching bright pink giant statue of Ganesha is a genuine tourist attraction. This statue of the much-loved and famous Hindu god can be found in Thailand in the province of Chachoengsao. It stands 52 feet high and is 78 feet wide.

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18. The statue of Mevlana Rumi

Mevlana Rumi was a man of many talents. He was a well-known 13th-century Muslim poet, Islamic scholar, jurist, Sufi mystic, and theologian. This statue of him is 66 feet high (including the foundation). It was created by a sculptor named Eray Okkan.

17. The Mansu Hill Grand Monument

The main part of this monument consists of a pair of tall statues of former North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. In 2012 a new statue of Kim Jong-il after the late leader’s death. It is 73 feet high.

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16. The Christ the Redeemer

The famous Christ the Redeemer statue of Jesus Christ can be found in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This spiritually-inspiring statue is over 2,000 feet above the popular city. It’s 100 feet tall and is one of the world’s seven new wonders.

15. The Youth Mao Zedong Statue

Located in Hunan Province of China, this statue is over 105 feet tall. The work is actually an artistic depiction of Chairman Mao Zedong when he was only 32 years old. The price tag to create this piece was roughly $35 million.

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14. The Merlion of Sentosa

Standing on Singapore’s popular Sentosa Island, the giant Merlion of Sentosa towers 121 feet into the air. The Merlion is a lesser-known mythical creature with the body of a fish and the head of a lion. It’s also the official “national personification” of Singapore.

13. The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue

Erected in 2008, the impressive Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue s towers 130 feet into the sky. It depicts the infamous historical figure on horseback. It is situated atop the aptly named Genghis Khan Statue Complex and cost about $5 million to build.

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12. The rock sculpture of Decebalus

Travel to the Iron Gates not far from the city of Orsova located in Romania. There you’ll see the famous face of Decebalus, Dacia’s last king. Carved out of a rocky outcrop found on the Danube River, it’s over 130 feet tall.

11.  The Lord Murugan statue

The statue of Lord Murugan is ensconced outside of the popular Batu Caves in Selangor, Malaysia. At a height of 140 feet, it’s the tallest statue in the country and required 300 liters of gold paint and 250 tons of steel to build.

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10. The African Renaissance Monument

The well-known African Renaissance Monument is 160 feet tall. Ensconced in Dakar, in Senegal, it overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Specifically, it’s a statue of a man, woman, and child. The statue was built over a period of four years and cost about $27 million.

9. The Christ the King monument

Found in Swiebodzin, Poland, The famous Christ the King monument towers 172 feet high. (Just the crown alone is over 10 feet tall.) The locals reportedly donated all the money required to create the stunning monument.

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8.  The Motherland Monument

The impressive Motherland Monument is located in Kiev in Ukraine. It stands over 200 feet tall and notes the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany. It is so tall that it can actually be seen from several different places in Kiev.

7. The Chaukhtatgyi Buddha

This huge reclining buddha is located in a popular temple in Yangon in Myanmar. It’s one of the largest statues in Burma as it is over 217 feet in length. It includes a crown encrusted in diamonds and was officially consecrated in 1973.

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6. The Leshan Giant Buddha

This huge, detailed statue is 233 feet tall. It was carved on the Xiguo Peak back during the Tang Dynasty. Found in the beautiful Mount Emei Scenic Area, it’s also part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest stone Buddha on Earth.

5. Rodina-Mat zovyot

Also known as “The Motherland Calls,” this 279-foot tall statue was dedicated in 1967. It’s considered a feat of complex engineering because of the position of the sword, left hand and the overall extended posture of the figure. It weighs in at 7,900+ tons.

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4. The Statue of Liberty

A gift from France, the iconic Statue of Liberty stands tall on New York Harbor’s world-famous Liberty Island. From ground level to the torch flame tip it is 305 feet high. The robed figure is a representation of the Roman goddess Libertas.

3. Emperors Yan & Huang

At a height of over 347 feet, this is the fifth tallest statue on the planet. These impressive emperors are situated in the Henan province of China. The work is meant to celebrate both the economy and politics.

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2. The Guan Yin statue

The famous statue of Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya stands 354 feet high. This exceptionally-designed work is the world’s fourth-tallest statue. This statute has three different perspectives. One third faces inland and the other two-thirds look out over the South China Sea.

Finally . . .

1. The Laykyun Sekkya Buddha

Myanmar’s Laykyun Sekkya Buddha is over 380 feet tall. Located atop the Po Kaung Hills, a statue of the now-famous Gautama Buddha. It took almost 12 years to build. At the foot of this statue is the popular the world’s largest reclining Buddha, the Monywa Buddha.

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