This is a list of the world's best-selling albums of recorded music in physical mediums, such as vinyl, audio cassettes or compact disks. To appear on the list, the figure must have been published by a reliable source and the album must have sold at least 20 million copies. This list can contain any types of album, including studio albums, extended plays, greatest hits, compilations, various artists, soundtracks and remixes. The figures given do not take into account the resale of used albums.
All albums included on this list have their available claimed figures supported by at least 30% in certified copies. The percentage amount of certified sales needed increases the newer the album is, so albums released before 1975 are only expected to have their claimed figures supported by at least 30% in certified copies. However, newer albums, such as 21 and Come Away with Me, are expected to have their claimed figures supported by at least 70% in certified copies, this is because more music markets instituted certification systems after the 1980s and 1990s. [a] Certified copies are sourced from available online databases of local music industry associations. The certified units percentage varies according to the first year that an artist appeared in the charts. [b] This is the reason why albums that would otherwise make the list, such as The Sound of Music, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Parallel Lines, Spirits Having Flown, Private Dancer, Janet, Believe, Bolo Ta Ra Ra.., Human Clay, Laundry Service, and Back to Black, have not been included.
As a result of the methodology that the American and Canadian certification-awarding bodies (the RIAA and Music Canada respectively) use, each disc in a multi-disc set is counted as one unit toward certification, leading to many double albums on the list—such as Pink Floyd's The Wall and the Beatles' The Beatles (White Album) —being certified with a number double the number of copies sold there. Such albums have the certifications for the number of copies (not discs) shipped indicated. Conversely, the American certification level for double albums that fit onto one compact disc, such as the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack reflect the actual number of copies sold. In 2016, RIAA included streaming in addition to track sales and album sales based on the concept of album-equivalent unit for certification purposes, and certification therefore no longer reflects shipment alone. [1] [2] For example, in the update of the certification for Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) by the Eagles in August 2018, the album was certified 38× Platinum (increasing from the previous 29× Platinum certification in 2006) based on the new criteria, making it then the album with the highest certification in the United States. [3]
Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold 70 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album ever. [4] [5] [6] Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, Celine Dion has four, while the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Madonna and Whitney Houston each have three.
Groupings are based on different sales benchmarks, the highest being for claims of at least 40 million copies, and the lowest being for claims of 20–29 million copies. Albums are listed in order of number of copies sold. If two or more artists have the same claimed sales, they are then ranked by certified units and thereafter by the artist's first name. Markets' order within the table is based on the number of compact discs sold in each market, largest market at the top and smallest at the bottom. [7]
Colors | |
---|---|
Studio albums | |
Greatest hits and compilations | |
Soundtracks | |
Live albums |
*All sales figures are shown in millions
Artist | Album | Released | Genre |
Total certified copies ( from available markets)* |
Claimed sales* | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Jackson | Thriller | 1982 | Pop, post-disco, funk, rock |
51.2
|
70 | [4] [5] |
AC/DC | Back in Black | 1980 | Hard rock | 50 | [36] | |
Whitney Houston / various artists | The Bodyguard | 1992 | R&B, soul, pop, soundtrack |
28.7
|
45 | [43] |
Pink Floyd | The Dark Side of the Moon | 1973 | Progressive rock | 45 | [45] | |
Eagles | Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) | 1976 | Country rock, soft rock, folk rock | 44 | [46] | |
Meat Loaf | Bat Out of Hell | 1977 | Hard rock, glam rock, progressive rock | 43 | [48] | |
Eagles | Hotel California | 1976 | Soft rock | 42 | [50] | |
Shania Twain | Come On Over | 1997 | Country, pop |
30.4
|
40 | [53] |
Fleetwood Mac | Rumours | 1977 | Soft rock | 40 | [57] [58] | |
Bee Gees / Various artists | Saturday Night Fever | 1977 | Disco | 40 | [60] [61] |
*All sales figures are shown in millions
Artist | Album | Released | Genre |
Total certified copies ( from available markets)* |
Claimed sales* | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | Hard rock, heavy metal, folk rock | 37 | [64] | |
Michael Jackson | Bad | 1987 | Pop, rhythm and blues, funk and rock | 21.2
|
35 | [71] [72] [73] |
Alanis Morissette | Jagged Little Pill | 1995 | Alternative rock |
25.4
|
33 | [77] [78] |
Various artists | Dirty Dancing | 1987 | Pop, rock, R&B | 32 | [81] | |
Celine Dion | Falling into You | 1996 | Pop, soft rock |
21.1
|
32 | [84] |
Adele | 21 | 2011 | Pop, soul |
27.1
|
31 | [96] |
The Beatles | 1 | 2000 | Rock |
23.2
|
31 | [98] |
Metallica | Metallica | 1991 | Heavy metal |
22.7
|
31 | [100] |
Celine Dion | Let's Talk About Love | 1997 | Pop, soft rock |
20.5
|
31 | [104] |
Bob Marley & The Wailers | Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers | 1984 | Reggae |
22.9
|
30 | [106] |
Guns N' Roses | Appetite for Destruction | 1987 | Hard rock |
22.8
|
30 | [109] [110] |
Bruce Springsteen | Born in the U.S.A. | 1984 | Heartland rock | 30 | [114] | |
ABBA | Gold: Greatest Hits | 1992 | Pop, disco |
21.6
|
30 | [119] |
Dire Straits | Brothers in Arms | 1985 | Roots rock, blues rock, soft rock |
21.1
|
30 | [123] [124] |
Santana | Supernatural | 1999 | Latin rock |
20.8
|
30 | [125] |
Madonna | The Immaculate Collection | 1990 | Pop, dance |
19.8
|
30 | [128] |
Pink Floyd | The Wall | 1979 | Progressive rock | 30 | [131] | |
The Beatles | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | 1967 | Rock | 30 | [132] | |
Michael Jackson | Dangerous | 1991 | New jack swing, R&B and pop |
17.0
|
30 | [134] |
The Beatles | Abbey Road | 1969 | Rock | 30 | [136] |
*All sales figures are shown in millions
Artist | Album | Released | Genre |
Total certified copies ( from available markets)* |
Claimed sales* | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Norah Jones | Come Away with Me | 2002 | Jazz |
19.9
|
28 | [138] |
Mariah Carey | Music Box | 1993 | Pop, R&B |
17.8
|
28 | [140] |
Various artists | Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture | 1978 | Rock and roll | 28 | [142] | |
Eminem | The Eminem Show | 2002 | Hip hop |
19.1
|
27 | [145] [146] |
James Horner | Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture | 1997 | Film score |
18.1
|
27 | [149] |
Britney Spears | ...Baby One More Time | 1999 | Pop |
19.9
|
26 | [150] |
Nirvana | Nevermind | 1991 | Grunge, alternative rock |
17.8
|
26 | [153] |
Eric Clapton | Unplugged | 1992 | Acoustic rock, acoustic blues |
17
|
26 | [155] |
Queen | Greatest Hits | 1981 | Rock |
20.6
|
25 | [157] |
Phil Collins | No Jacket Required | 1985 | Pop rock | 25 | [159] | |
Eminem | The Marshall Mathers LP | 2000 | Hip hop |
17.5
|
25 | [161] |
Linkin Park | Hybrid Theory | 2000 | Nu metal, rap metal, alternative metal |
17.2
|
25 | [163] |
U2 | The Joshua Tree | 1987 | Rock | 25 | [164] | |
Whitney Houston | Whitney Houston | 1985 | Pop, R&B | 25 | [168] [169] | |
Prince and The Revolution | Purple Rain | 1984 | Pop rock, new wave, R&B | 25 | [171] | |
Bon Jovi | Slippery When Wet | 1986 | Hard rock, glam metal | 25 | [173] | |
Carole King | Tapestry | 1971 | Pop | 25 | [174] | |
Madonna | True Blue | 1986 | Pop, dance |
14.5
|
25 | [175] |
Simon & Garfunkel | Bridge over Troubled Water | 1970 | Folk rock | 25 | [176] | |
George Michael | Faith | 1987 | Pop, R&B, funk, soul | 25 | [178] | |
Elton John | Greatest Hits | 1974 | Pop | 24 | [179] | |
Backstreet Boys | Millennium | 1999 | Pop |
18.4
|
24 | [180] |
Adele | 25 | 2015 | Soul, pop, R&B |
19
|
23 | [182] |
Spice Girls | Spice | 1996 | Pop |
16.4
|
23 | [184] [185] |
Ace of Base | Happy Nation/ The Sign | 1993 | Pop | 23 | [186] | |
Michael Jackson | HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I | 1995 | R&B, pop and hip hop |
15.2
|
22 | [189] |
Celine Dion | All the Way... A Decade of Song | 1999 | Pop |
14.4
|
22 | [190] |
Madonna | Like a Virgin | 1984 | Pop, dance | 21 | [191] | |
Bon Jovi | Cross Road | 1994 | Hard rock, glam metal |
11.6
|
21 | [192] |
Elvis Presley | Elvis' Christmas Album | 1957 | Christmas, pop, gospel, rock and roll | 20 | [194] [195] [196] | |
Boston | Boston | 1976 | Arena rock, hard rock | 20 | [197] | |
Mariah Carey | Daydream | 1995 | Pop, R&B | 20 | [198] | |
Green Day | Dookie | 1994 | Pop punk, punk rock, alternative rock |
14.6
|
20 | [201] |
Shania Twain | The Woman in Me | 1995 | Country, pop | 20 | [202] | |
Britney Spears | Oops!... I Did It Again | 2000 | Pop |
14.4
|
20 | [203] |
Whitney Houston | Whitney | 1987 | Pop, R&B | 20 | [205] | |
Def Leppard | Hysteria | 1987 | Hard rock, glam metal | 20 | [207] | |
Lauryn Hill | The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill | 1998 | Neo Soul, R&B and Hip Hop | 20 | [208] [209] [210] | |
Tracy Chapman | Tracy Chapman | 1988 | Folk rock |
13.3
|
20 | [213] |
Lionel Richie | Can't Slow Down | 1983 | Pop, R&B, soul | 20 | [214] | |
Michael Jackson | Off the Wall | 1979 | Disco, pop, funk and R&B | 20 | [216] | |
Fugees | The Score | 1996 | Alternative hip hop |
11.6
|
20[ disputed ] | [219] |
Oasis | (What's the Story) Morning Glory? | 1995 | Britpop, rock |
11.6
|
22 | [221] [222] |
Celine Dion | The Colour of My Love | 1993 | Pop | 20 | [223] | |
Elton John | Goodbye Yellow Brick Road | 1973 | rock, pop rock, glam rock | 20 | [226] | |
Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here | 1975 | Progressive rock, art rock, experimental rock | 20 | [227] | |
Various artists | Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture | 1983 | Electro, synthpop | 20[ disputed ] | [228] |
Year record set | Artist | Album | Record-setting sales (millions) | Total sales (millions) | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1945 | Various Artists | Oklahoma! (78 rpm album) | 0.5 | 1.0 | [229] [230] |
After 1946 | Al Jolson | The Jolson Story | 1 | [231] | |
1956 | Various Artists | Oklahoma! (LP album) | 1.75 | 2.5 | [232] |
1956/1957 | Various Artists | My Fair Lady | 2 | 5 | [233] [234] [235] |
1960 | Various Artists | South Pacific | 2.25 | 3 | [236] |
1963 | Vaughn Meader | The First Family | 4 | 7.5 | [237] [238] |
1968 | Various Artists | The Sound of Music | 8 WW | [239] | |
1973 | Carole King | Tapestry | 10+ | [240] | |
1975/1976 | Various Artists | The Sound of Music | 10–15 SM-T | [241] [242] | |
1976 | Carole King | Tapestry | 13.5 SM-T | 25 | [243] |
1979 | Bee Gees/Various Artists | Saturday Night Fever | 25–27 | 40 | [244] [245] |
1984 | Michael Jackson | Thriller | 35 | 70 | [6] [246] |
The charts of the best-selling albums by year in the world are compiled by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry annually since 2001. These charts are published in their two annual reports, the Digital Music Report and the Recording Industry in Numbers. Both the Digital Music Report and the Recording Industry in Numbers were replaced in 2016 by the Global Music Report. [247]
In 2022, for sales of albums in 2021, IFPI reported three formats of sales chart, the Global all-format chart which includes all physical sales, digital downloads and streaming numbers, newly created Global vinyl album chart counting vinyl physical sales, combination of physical sales and digital downloads as Global album sales chart.
Year | Album | Artist(s) | Sales (millions) |
Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Hybrid Theory | Linkin Park | 9.0 | [248] |
2002 | The Eminem Show | Eminem | 13.9 | [249] |
2003 | Come Away with Me | Norah Jones | 11.0 | [250] |
2004 | Confessions | Usher | 12.0 | [251] |
2005 | X&Y | Coldplay | 8.3 | [252] |
2006 | High School Musical | Various Artists | 7.0 | [253] |
2007 | High School Musical 2 | 6.0 | [254] | |
2008 | Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends | Coldplay | 6.8 | [255] |
2009 | I Dreamed a Dream | Susan Boyle | 8.3 | [256] |
2010 | Recovery | Eminem | 5.7 | [257] |
2011 | 21 | Adele | 18.1 | [249] |
2012 | 8.3 | [258] | ||
2013 | Midnight Memories | One Direction | 4.0 | [259] |
2014 | Frozen | Various Artists | 10.0 | [260] |
2015 | 25 | Adele | 17.4 | [261] |
2016 | Lemonade | Beyoncé | 2.5 | [262] |
2017 | ÷ | Ed Sheeran | 6.1 | [263] |
2018 | The Greatest Showman | Hugh Jackman & Various Artists | 3.5 | [264] |
2019 | 5x20 All the Best!! 1999–2019 | Arashi | 3.3 | [265] |
2020 | Map of the Soul: 7 | BTS | 4.8 | [266] |
2021 | 30 | Adele | 4.68 | [267] |
2022 | Greatest Works of Art | Jay Chou | 7.2 | [268] |
Her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill is a pop-rock classic that sold more than 33 million copies worldwide.
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The next two BSB albums ("Backstreet's Back" and "Millennium") enjoyed worldwide sales of 24 million copies each.
first time that a complete score of a Broadway musical was put on wax, by 1945 sales were at half a million
1 million copies were sold by 1958, 2.25 million by 1960, almost 3 million by 1963
...25 million copies sold worldwide by May 1, 1979