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List of best-selling albums facts for kids

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Thriller platinum record, Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood
Platinum record for Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982), the best-selling album of all time

This is a list of the world's best-selling albums of recorded music in physical mediums, such as vinyl, audio cassettes or compact discs. 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 and certified at least 10 million units (the equivalent of a diamond certification by the RIAA). 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. Certified copies are sourced either from available online databases of local music industry associations or a country with an established certifying authority (see List of music recording certifications).

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. 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.

Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold between 70-100 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album ever. 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 last 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.

Legend

Colors
Studio albums
Greatest hits and compilations
Soundtracks
Live albums

40 million copies or more

*All sales figures are shown in millions

Artist Album Released Genre Total certified copies
(from available markets)*
Reported sales* Ref(s)
Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson Thriller 1982 Pop, post-disco, funk, rock &10000000000000051200000
70-100
AC/DC Back in Black 1980 Hard rock &10000000000000030100000
50
Houston, WhitneyWhitney Houston / various artists The Bodyguard 1992 R&B, soul, pop, soundtrack &10000000000000028699999
50
Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon 1973 Progressive rock &10000000000000024800000
45
Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson Bad 1987 Pop, R&B, funk, rock &10000000000000021199999
45
Eagles Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) 1976 Country rock, soft rock, folk rock &10000000000000041200000
44
Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell 1977 Hard rock, glam rock, progressive rock &10000000000000022000000
43
Eagles Hotel California 1976 Soft rock &10000000000000031800000
42
Twain, ShaniaShania Twain Come On Over 1997 Country, pop &10000000000000030399999
40
Fleetwood Mac Rumours 1977 Soft rock &10000000000000030300000
40
Bee Gees / Various artists Saturday Night Fever 1977 Disco &10000000000000022100000
40

30–39 million copies

*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 &10000000000000030399999
37
Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson Dangerous 1991 New jack swing, R&B, pop &10000000000000017000000
35
Morissette, AlanisAlanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 Alternative rock &10000000000000025399999
33
Various artists Dirty Dancing 1987 Pop, rock, R&B &10000000000000024100000
32


Dion, CelineCeline Dion Falling into You 1996 Pop, soft rock &10000000000000021100000
32
Adele 21 2011 Pop, soul &10000000000000027100000
31
Beatles, TheThe Beatles 1 2000 Rock &10000000000000023199999
31
Metallica Metallica 1991 Heavy metal &10000000000000022699999
31
Dion, CelineCeline Dion Let's Talk About Love 1997 Pop, soft rock &10000000000000020500000
31
Marley, BobBob Marley and the Wailers Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers 1984 Reggae &10000000000000022899999
30
Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction 1987 Hard rock &10000000000000022800000
30
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 1984 Heartland rock &10000000000000022000000
30
ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits 1992 Pop, disco &10000000000000021600000
30
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 1985 Roots rock, blues rock, soft rock &10000000000000021100000
30
Madonna The Immaculate Collection 1990 Pop, dance &10000000000000020800000
30
Santana Supernatural 1999 Latin rock &10000000000000020800000
30
Pink Floyd The Wall 1979 Progressive rock &10000000000000018980000
30
Beatles, TheThe Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1967 Rock &10000000000000018170000
30
Beatles, TheThe Beatles Abbey Road 1969 Rock &10000000000000016899999
30

20–29 million copies

*All sales figures are shown in millions

Artist Album Released Genre Total certified copies
(from available markets)*
Claimed sales* Ref(s)
Jones, NorahNorah Jones Come Away with Me 2002 Jazz &10000000000000019899999
28
Carey, MariahMariah Carey Music Box 1993 Pop, R&B &10000000000000017800000
28
Various artists Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture 1978 Rock and roll &10000000000000015029999
28
Eminem The Eminem Show 2002 Hip hop &10000000000000019100000
27
Horner, JamesJames Horner Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture 1997 Film score &10000000000000018138500
27
Nirvana Nevermind 1991 Grunge, alternative rock &10000000000000017800000
26
Clapton, EricEric Clapton Unplugged 1992 Acoustic rock, acoustic blues &10000000000000017000000
26
Queen Greatest Hits 1981 Rock &10000000000000020600000
25
Spears, BritneyBritney Spears ...Baby One More Time 1999 Pop &10000000000000020160000
25
Journey Greatest Hits 1988 Rock, hard rock, pop rock &10000000000000018300000
25
Collins, PhilPhil Collins No Jacket Required 1985 Pop rock &10000000000000017699999
25
Houston, WhitneyWhitney Houston Whitney Houston 1985 Pop, R&B &10000000000000016600000
25
Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2000 Hip hop &10000000000000017500000
25
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory 2000 Nu metal, rap metal, alternative metal &10000000000000017199999
25
U2 The Joshua Tree 1987 Rock &10000000000000016699999
25
Prince and The Revolution Purple Rain 1984 Pop rock, new wave, R&B &10000000000000015699999
25
Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 1986 Hard rock, glam metal &10000000000000015300000
25
King, CaroleCarole King Tapestry 1971 Pop &10000000000000015099999
25
Madonna True Blue 1986 Pop, dance &10000000000000014500000
25
Simon & Garfunkel Bridge over Troubled Water 1970 Folk rock &10000000000000012500000
25
Michael, GeorgeGeorge Michael Faith 1987 Pop, R&B, funk, soul &10000000000000013900000
25
John, EltonElton John Greatest Hits 1974 Pop &10000000000000019100000
24
Backstreet Boys Millennium 1999 Pop &10000000000000018399999
24
Adele 25 2015 Soul, pop, R&B &10000000000000019000000
23
Spice Girls Spice 1996 Pop &10000000000000016399999
23
Ace of Base Happy Nation/The Sign 1993 Pop &10000000000000014400000
23
Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I 1995 R&B, pop, hip hop &10000000000000015099999
22
Dion, CelineCeline Dion All the Way... A Decade of Song 1999 Pop &10000000000000014400000
22
Madonna Like a Virgin 1984 Pop, dance &10000000000000016199999
21
Bon Jovi Cross Road 1994 Hard rock, glam metal &10000000000000011599999
21
Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View 1994 Roots rock, heartland rock &10000000000000022199999
20
Presley, ElvisElvis Presley Elvis' Christmas Album 1957 Christmas, pop, gospel, rock and roll &10000000000000020800000
20
Boston Boston 1976 Arena rock, hard rock &10000000000000018100000
20
Carey, MariahMariah Carey Daydream 1995 Pop, R&B &10000000000000015199999
20
Green Day Dookie 1994 Pop punk, punk rock, alternative rock &10000000000000014599999
20
Houston, WhitneyWhitney Houston Whitney 1987 Pop, R&B &10000000000000014400000
20
Twain, ShaniaShania Twain The Woman in Me 1995 Country, pop &10000000000000014500000
20
Spears, BritneyBritney Spears Oops!... I Did It Again 2000 Pop &10000000000000014400000
20
Def Leppard Hysteria 1987 Hard rock, glam metal &10000000000000013900000
20
Hill, LaurynLauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1998 Neo Soul, R&B, Hip Hop &10000000000000013400000
20
Chapman, TracyTracy Chapman Tracy Chapman 1988 Folk rock &10000000000000013300000
20
Richie, LionelLionel Richie Can't Slow Down 1983 Pop, R&B, soul &10000000000000012300000
20
Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson Off the Wall 1979 Disco, pop, funk, R&B &10000000000000011699999
20
Fugees The Score 1996 Alternative hip hop &10000000000000011599999
20
Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995 Britpop, rock &10000000000000011500000
22
Dion, CelineCeline Dion The Colour of My Love 1993 Pop &10000000000000011099999
20

Timeline of the best-selling albums

Timeline of the highest-selling album record
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
After 1946 Jolson, AlAl Jolson The Jolson Story 1
1956 Various Artists Oklahoma! (LP album) 1.75 2.5
1956/1957 Various Artists My Fair Lady 2 5
1960 Various Artists South Pacific 2.25 3
1963 Meader, VaughnVaughn Meader The First Family 4 7.5
1968 Various Artists The Sound of Music 8
1973 King, CaroleCarole King Tapestry 10+
1975/1976 Various Artists The Sound of Music 10–15
1976 King, CaroleCarole King Tapestry 13.5 25
1979 Bee Gees/Various Artists Saturday Night Fever 25–27 40
1984 Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson Thriller 35 70

Best-selling album by year worldwide

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.

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
2002 The Eminem Show Eminem 13.9
2003 Come Away with Me Jones, NorahNorah Jones 11.0
2004 Confessions Usher 12.0
2005 X&Y Coldplay 8.3
2006 High School Musical Various Artists 7.0
2007 High School Musical 2 6.0
2008 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay 6.8
2009 I Dreamed a Dream Boyle, SusanSusan Boyle 8.3
2010 Recovery Eminem 5.7
2011 21 Adele 18.1
2012 8.3
2013 Midnight Memories One Direction 4.0
2014 Frozen Various Artists 10.0
2015 25 Adele 17.4
2016 Lemonade Beyoncé 2.5
2017 ÷ Sheeran, EdEd Sheeran 6.1
2018 The Greatest Showman Jackman, HughHugh Jackman & Various Artists 3.5
2019 5x20 All the Best!! 1999–2019 Arashi 3.3
2020 Map of the Soul: 7 BTS 4.8
2021 30 Adele 4.68
2022 Greatest Works of Art Jay Chou 7.2
2023 FML Seventeen 6.2

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Álbumes musicales más vendidos para niños

  • Album era
  • List of best-selling albums by women
  • List of best-selling albums by country
  • List of best-selling Latin albums
  • List of Fastest selling albums
  • List of best-selling music artists
  • List of best-selling remix albums
  • List of best-selling singles
  • List of best-selling singles by country
  • Lists of albums
  • List of best-selling albums of the 21st century
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