List of best-selling albums by country

This is a list of the best selling albums by country based on the information and certifications provided by the respective national charts.

Argentina

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Argentina.
Year Artist Album Label Sales Certification[1]
1991 Luis Miguel Romance WEA Latina 960,000 16 × platinum[2]
1999 Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion II (DVD) Universal 720,000 12 × platinum
1997 Luis Miguel Romances WEA Latina 660,000 11 × platinum[3]
1999 Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion I (DVD) Universal 600,000 10 × platinum

Australia

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Australia.
Rank Year Album Artist Award Sales Source
1 1986 Whispering Jack John Farnham Australia 24 × Platinum 1,680,000 [4]
1977 Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf United States 24 × Platinum 1,680,000 [5]
3 1985 Brothers in Arms Dire Straits United Kingdom 17 × Platinum 1,190,000 [6]
1992 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA Sweden 17 × Platinum 1,190,000 [7]
5 1982 Thriller Michael Jackson United States 16 × Platinum 1,120,000 [5]

Austria

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Austria.

Brazil

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Brazil.
Rank Record Artist Year Sales
1 Músicas para Louvar ao Senhor Father Marcelo Rossi 1998 3,328,468[8][9]
2 Xou da Xuxa 3 Xuxa 1988 3,216,000[8][9]
3 Leandro & Leonardo (Pense em Mim) Leandro & Leonardo 1990 3,145,814[8][9]
4 Só pra Contrariar (Depois do Prazer) Só Pra Contrariar 1997 2,984,384[8][9]
5 Xou da Xuxa 4 Xuxa 1989 2,920,000[8][9]

Canada

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Canada.
Rank Year Title Artist Certification Units Sales[10]
1 1997 Come on Over Shania Twain 2x Diamond 1,930,000
2 1997 Let's Talk About Love Celine Dion Diamond 1,490,000
3 2011 21 Adele Diamond 1,330,000[11]
4 1997 The Bodyguard Soundtrack Whitney Houston Diamond 1,318,000
5 1997 Big Shiny Tunes 2 Various Artists Diamond 1,233,000

Chile

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Chile.
Since 2000
Rank Year Artist Album Sales
1 2003 La Oreja de Van Gogh Lo Que te Conté Mientras te Hacías la Dormida 88,000
2 2003 Marco Antonio Solís La Historia Continúa... 80,000
3 2008 Américo A Morir 63,000
4 2010 Los Vásquez Contigo pop y cebolla 60,000
5 2011 Adele 21 45,000

Czech Republic

1994 to 2006[12]
Rank Year Title Artist
1 1996 Šmoulí-super-disko-šou various
2 2001 Rebelové OST various
3 1998 Cik-Cak Lunetic
4 1993 Snídaně v trávě Michal Tučný
5 1996 Pasáček hvězd František a Jan Nedvědovi

Finland

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Finland.
Rank Year Artist Album Sales[13]
1 1995 Jari Sillanpää Jari Sillanpää 272,942
2 1996 Eppu Normaali Repullinen hittejä 244,031
3 1988 Kirka Surun pyyhit silmistäni 214,196
4 1985 Dingo Kerjäläisten valtakunta 190,894
5 1992 Joel Hallikainen Joel Hallikainen 178,654

France

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in France.
Rank Year Artist Album Certification[14] Sales[15]
1 1995 Celine Dion D'eux Diamond 4,412,100
2 1994 Francis Cabrel Samedi soir sur la terre Diamond 3,963,400
3 1979 Supertramp Breakfast in America Platinum 3,072,100
4 1989 Patrick Bruel Alors Regarde Diamond 2,736,200
5 1973 Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon Platinum 2,555,400

Germany

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Germany.
Rank Year Title Artist Certification[16][17] Shipments
12002 Mensch Herbert Grönemeyer 21 × Gold 3.15 million
21989 ...But Seriously Phil Collins 6 × Platinum 3 million
31984 4630 Bochum Herbert Grönemeyer 11 × Gold 2.75 million
41992 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA 10 × Golddouble-dagger 2.5 million
51991 We Can't Dance Genesis 5 × Platinum 2.5 million

India

The following is a list of best selling Bollywood albums in India which makes up the majority of the Indian music market.

Rank Year Album Sales (in units)[18]
11990 Aashiqui 15,000,000
21994 Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! 13,500,000
32003 Tere Naam13,000,000
41994 Dil To Pagal Hai12,500,000
51995 Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge 9,000,000

The best-selling non-soundtrack album in India is Daler Mehndi's Bolo Ta Ra Ra (1995), which sold 20 million copies overall.[19]

Ireland

Irish Recorded Music Association's best selling albums[20]
Rank Year Album Artist
1 1998 White Ladder David Gray
2 1992 Gold: The Greatest Hits ABBA
3 1992 A Woman's Heart Various
4 1998 The Best of 1980–1990 U2
5 1994 Live at the Point Christy Moore
Irish Recorded Music Association certifications
Rank Year Album Artist Sales Certification[21]
12011 21 Adele 270,000 18 × Platinum
22009 Crazy Love Michael Bublé 225,00015 × Platinum
32008 The Fame Lady Gaga 135,000 9 × Platinum
32009 The Fame Monster Lady Gaga 135,000 9 × Platinum
42005 X&Y Coldplay 120,000 8 × Platinum
42005 Face to Face Westlife 120,000 8 × Platinum
42008 The Circus Take That 120,000 8 × Platinum
42009 I Dreamed a Dream Susan Boyle 120,000 8 × Platinum

Italy

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Italy.
Rank Year Artist Album Sales Sources
1 1985 Claudio Baglioni La vita è adesso 2,400,000 –
2 1999 Adriano Celentano Io non-so parlar d'amore 2,000,000 [22]
3 1998 Mina, Adriano Celentano Mina Celentano 2,000,000 [23][24]
4 1989 Zucchero Fornaciari Oro incenso e birra 1,840,000 [25][26]
5 2000 Adriano Celentano Esco di rado e parlo ancora meno 1,800,000 –

Japan

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Japan.

Sales figure derived from data that the Oricon provided in 2007.[27]

Rank Year Title Artist Sales
1 1999 First Love Hikaru Utada 7,650,215
2 1998 B'z The Best "Pleasure" B'z 5,135,922
3 1997 Review Glay 4,875,980
4 2001 Distance Hikaru Utada 4,469,135
5 1998 B'z The Best "Treasure" B'z 4,438,742

Mexico

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Mexico.

Nine of the ten best-selling albums of all time in Mexico are from national artists.[28]

Rank Year Title Artist Sales
1 1984 Recuerdos, Vol. II Juan Gabriel 8,000,000
2 1983 Secretos José José 7,500,000
3 1991 Romance Luis Miguel 7,250,000
4 1986 Hoy platiqué con mi gallo Vicente Fernandez 7,000,000
5 1987 Timbiriche 7 Timbiriche 6,000,000

New Zealand

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in New Zealand.
Rank Album Artist Released Number of times
certified platinum
1 Best of ABBA, TheThe Best of ABBA ABBA 1975 24[29]
Brothers in Arms Dire Straits 1985 24[29]
3 Come on Over Twain, ShaniaShania Twain 1997 21[30]
4 Legend Bob Marley and the Wailers 1984 18[29]
5 Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf 1977 17[29]

Philippines

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in the Philippines.

The Philippine Association of the Record Industry or PARI is the organization responsible for awarding record certifications in the Philippines since 1999. Here are the top 5 of the 40 best-selling albums in the country.

Legend
pink Released before PARI began awarding certifications
purple Released after PARI began awarding certifications
No. Album Artist Year of release Number of copies sold Number of times
certified platinum		 Ref
1 Nandito Ako Thalía 1997 1,000,000 2 × (Diamond) [31][32]
2 Christmas in Our Hearts Jose Mari Chan 1990 800,000 2 × (Diamond) [33][34]
3 Constant Change Jose Mari Chan 1989 800,000 Diamond [35]
4 Westlife Westlife 2000 500,000 25 × [36]
5 Cutterpillow Eraserheads 1995 400,000 11 × [37]

South Korea

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in South Korea.
Rank Year Title Artist Sales
1 1999 Mis-Encounter Kim Gun-mo 3,300,000
2 1999 For Your Soul Jo Sungmo 2,100,000
3 2000 Let Me Love Jo Sungmo 2,042,096+[38]
4 2000 Chapter 3:Lies g.o.d 1,824,278+[39]
5 2001 Chapter 4:Road g.o.d 1,713,056+[40]
6 2000 Classic Jo Sungmo 1,600,000
7 1996 We Hate All Kinds of Violence H.O.T. 1,500,000
7 1997 Wolf & Sheep H.O.T. 1,500,000
7 1999 Now Or Never Steve Seungjun Yoo 1,500,000
8 1999 I Yah! H.O.T. 1,400,000
9 2001 Another Days, Kim Gun-mo 1,397,388+[41]
10 2013 XOXO EXO 1,202,024[42]

Spain

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Spain.
Rank Year Artist Album Certification Sales Sources
1 1997 Alejandro Sanz Más 22 × Platinum 2,200,000 [43]
2 1994 Laura Pausini Laura Pausini 11× Platinum 1,300,000 [44][45]
3 1988 Mecano Descanso Dominical 13 × Platinum 1,300,000 [46]
2000 Alejandro Sanz El Alma al Aire 13 × Platinum 1,300,000 [47]
2002 David Bisbal Corazón latino 13 × Platinum 1,300,000 [48]
6 2002 Luciano Pavarotti Tutto Pavarotti 12 × Platinum 1,200,000 [49]
2000 La Oreja de Van Gogh El viaje de Copperpot 11 × Platinum 1,200,000 [50][51]

Republic of China (Taiwan)

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in Taiwan.
1993 to 2004[52][53]
Rank Year Title Artist Shipment Certification
1 1996 Bad Boy A-mei 1,380,000[54] 6x Platinum
2 1993 The Goodbye Kiss (吻别) Jacky Cheung 1,360,000 6x Platinum
3 1995 True Love compilation (真愛新曲+精選) Jacky Cheung 1,220,000 6x Platinum
4 1996 Sisters (姊妹) A-mei 1,210,000[55] 6x Platinum
5 1992 The Words After Drunk (酒後的心聲) Jody Chiang 1,160,000 5x Platinum

United Kingdom

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom.
Key
dagger Released before UK music recording certifications were introduced in April 1973
Best-selling albums in the UK
Position Album Artist Record label[lower-alpha 1] Released[lower-alpha 1] Chart
peak[lower-alpha 1]		 Number of times
certified platinum[lower-alpha 2]
1 Greatest Hits Queen Parlophone November 1981 1 11 ×
2 Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA Polydor September 1992 1 14 ×
3 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Beatles, TheThe Beatles Parlophone June 1967 1 3dagger
4 21 Adele XL January 2011 1 16
5 (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Oasis Creation October 1995 1 14

United States

For a more comprehensive list, see List of best-selling albums in the United States.
Rank Artist Album Shipments (Sales) Certification[58][59] 1 The Marshall Mathers LP 50,000,000 50 × Platinum
2 Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson Thriller 29,000,000 29 × Platinum
3 Eagles Their Greatest Hits 29,000,000 29 × Platinum
4 Machine Head Machine Head 24,000,000 24 × Platinum
5 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV 23,000,000 23 × Platinum
6 AC/DC Back in Black 22,000,000 22 × Platinum
7 Fleetwood Mac Rumours 20,000,000 20 × Platinum

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The record labels, dates and chart peaks are those given by the OCC.[56]
  2. ↑ The certifications are those given by the BPI as of 26 May 2012.[57]

References

  1. ↑ "Representando a la Industria Argentina de la Música". CAPIF. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  2. ↑ Lannert, John (26 July 1997). "Argentina Notas". Billboard (Nielsen Company) 109 (30): 35. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
  3. ↑ Fino, Dolores (17 July 1998). "Ritmo Latino". La Prensa San Diego. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  4. ↑ "2006 Albums Accreditations". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "2011 Albums Accreditations". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  6. ↑ "2009 Albums Accreditations". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  7. ↑ "1999 Albums Accreditations". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 List of the best selling albums in Brasil (Portuguese)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "Histórias e Rankings: Discos mais vendidos no Brasil e no mundo". Historiaserankings.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  10. ↑ "BILLBOARD'S TOP TITLES & ARTISTS OF THE NIELSEN SOUNDSCAN ERA". Businesswire.com. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  11. ↑ Canoe inc. (6 June 2012). "CANOE – JAM! Music: John Mayer holds on to No. 1". Jam.canoe.ca. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  12. ↑ (Czech) Filter: Nejprodávanější české album? Šmoulové
  13. ↑ The first is the list of the best-selling domestic albums of all time in Finland, the second is that of the foreign albums:
  14. ↑ "Disque en france" (in French). SNEP. accessdate=2010-10-11.
  15. ↑ "Les Meilleures Ventes de CD/Albums depuis 1968 :". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  16. ↑ "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". musikindustrie.de.
  17. ↑ "Highest Gold Platinum certifications as of 2008" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  18. ↑ "Top 10 Bollywood Songs Album of All Time by Units Sold". 27 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Daler Mehndi Profile – Photos, Wallpapers, Videos, News, Movies, Daler Mehndi Songs, Pics". In.com. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  20. ↑ "Top 20: The best-selling albums in Irish history · The Daily Edge". Dailyedge.ie. 4 June 2012. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  21. ↑ "The Irish Charts Certifications".
  22. ↑ AGI 5 Gennaio 2008
  23. ↑ Mina Anna Mazzini | LarderiaWeb
  24. ↑ Bonetto, Cristian (2010). "Discovery Italy". ISBN 9781741799958.
  25. ↑ Un po’ di “Zucchero” su Radio Babboleo Suono – Leggi l'articolo su Babboleo
  26. ↑ Blues – Zucchero
  27. ↑ "動画:oricon TOP40-無料動画-ORICON STYLE". oricon.co.jp.
  28. ↑ "10 discos más vendidos de la historia de México". Msnlatino.telemundo.com. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Wellington: Dean Scapolo and Maurienne House. p. 12. ISBN 978-1877443-00-8.
  30. ↑ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". RadioScope. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.
  31. ↑ A video from Rommel R. Llanes courtesy of Peparazzo (21 November 2012). "Ogie Alcasid: "'Nandito Ako,' sold more than a million records..."". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  32. ↑ Camille Banzon (19 August 2013). "Happy 50th Birthday, Cassette Tape: 50 Trivia to Celebrate Your Invention!". FHM Philippines. Summit Media. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  33. ↑ Ricky Lo (12 February 2011). "The story behind Joe Mari's double-diamond Christmas song". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  34. ↑ Peachy Vibal-Guioguio (12 December 2005). "ASAP launches 1st Platinum Circle Awards". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  35. ↑ Ricardo F. Lo (10 December 2009). "20 years with Constant Change". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  36. ↑ Ruben Cruz, Jr. (15 May 2001). "Westlife Brings 'Coast To Coast' Tour in Manila". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  37. ↑ Don Jaucian (25 August 2012). "The life and death of OPM". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  38. ↑ ":: Korean Record Industry Association :: --2001. 02 kpop albums sales counting". Archived from the original on 16 October 2004.
  39. ↑ ":: Korean Record Industry Association :: --2001. 04 kpop albums sales counting". Archived from the original on 16 October 2004.
  40. ↑ ":: Korean Record Industry Association :: --2002. 03 kpop albums sales counting". Archived from the original on 16 October 2004.
  41. ↑ ":: Korean Record Industry Association :: --2002. 02 kpop albums sales counting". Archived from the original on 16 October 2004.
  42. ↑ Cumulative sales for "XOXO":
  43. ↑ "Top 100 álbumes" (PDF). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  44. ↑ "Discos de platino y oro 1999". El Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 March 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  45. ↑ "Laura Pausini cuarto disco en español en septiembre". zm.nu. 16 August 2000. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  46. ↑ "Lps más vendidos en España/Spain biggest sellers" (PDF).
  47. ↑ "Top 100 álbumes" (PDF). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  48. ↑ "Top 100 álbumes 2004" (PDF). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  49. ↑ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
  50. ↑ "Top 100 álbumes" (PDF). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  51. ↑ Cobo, Leila (13 March 2004). "U.S. Open Hears to La Oreja de Van Gogh". Billboard (magazine) (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  52. ↑ (Chinese) "台湾唱片史上最高销售量" Sina.com. 28 July 2004. Retrieved 2011-03-16
  53. ↑ KKBOX音樂誌NO.3(2011), Pg31. Retrieved 2011-06-14
  54. ↑ 袁世佩 (1 August 2007). 張惠妹15億身價大解密. Taipei: 財富人生: Vol. 16, United Daily News Co., Ltd.
  55. ↑ 黃慧敏 (19 September 2011). "百人祝福 阿妹明年小巨蛋開唱". Taipei: Central News Agency. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  56. ↑ "Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  57. ↑ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  58. ↑
  59. ↑ "RIAA Diamond Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 October 2009.