A　dam　is　a　barrier　constructed　across　the　river　to　impound　water　for　different　purposes　such　as　irrigation,　flood　control,　hydropower,　water　supply,　aquaculture　and　navigation.　A　state　of　art　about　different　types　of　dam　and　their　status　in　geotechnical　engineering　can　provides　valuable　information　for　geotechnical　engineers,　designers　and　concerned　parties　to　build　a　safe　structure.　This　paper　briefly　introduces　different　types　of　dams　from　available　primary　and　secondary　sources　over　height　100m　in　the　world.　446　numbers　of　dams　from　different　country　over　height　100m　have　been　complied　in　the　database　from　available　sources.　Data　have　been　classified　according　to　the　type　of　materials　used　at　construction,　numbers　of　dams　respect　to　height　and　types　of　dams　in　specific　country.　Further,　highlight　on　construction　methods,　key　technical　issues　and　challenges　during　construction,　promising　causes　of　different　types　of　dam　failure　with　some　case　studies　of　dam　failed　in　the　world　are　presented.　The　aim　of　this　paper　is　to　provide　a　valuable　comprehensive　reference　for　geotechnical　engineer,　dam　engineer,　designer　and　owner　to　better　understand　the　behavior　of　constructed　dams　and　their　application　in　construction　of　large　dams　in　coming　future.