List of best - selling albums - wikipedia List of best - selling albums This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries. This is a list of the world 's best - selling albums of recorded music. The criteria are that the figure must have been published by a reliable source and the album must have sold at least 20 million copies worldwide. This list can contain any types of albums, including studio albums, 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. Certified copies are sourced from available online databases of local music industry associations. This is the reason why albums that would otherwise make the list, such as The Sound of Music, Parallel Lines, In - A-Gadda - Da - Vida, Spirits Having Flown, Janet, Believe, Private Dancer, 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 -- 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. Michael Jackson 's Thriller, estimated to have sold 66 million copies worldwide, is the best - selling album. Although sales estimates for Thriller have been as high as 120 million copies, these sales figures are unreliable. Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, while The Beatles and Madonna 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 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. Contents 1 Legend 2 40 million copies or more 3 30 -- 39 million copies 4 20 -- 29 million copies 5 Timeline of the highest selling albums 6 Best - selling album by year worldwide 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 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 ) * Claimed sales * Ref ( s ) Michael Jackson Thriller 1982 Pop, Rock, R&B 7001463190000000000 ♠ 47.3 US : 33 million JPN : 100,000 UK : 4.2 million GER : 1.5 million FRA : 1 million CAN : 2 million AUS : 1.12 million MEX : 1.6 million NLD : 800,000 ITA : 100,000 SWE : 400,000 ARG : 500,000 SWI : 300,000 AUT : 400,000 FIN : 119,061 NZ : 180,000 HKG : 15,000 66 AC / DC Back in Black 1980 Hard rock 7001259000000000000 ♠ 26.1 US : 22 million UK : 300,000 GER : 1 million FRA : 600,000 CAN : 1 million AUS : 840,000 ITA : 50,000 ARG : 160,000 SWI : 100,000 AUT : 50,000 50 Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon 1973 Progressive rock 7001242100000000000 ♠ 24.2 US : 15 million UK : 4.2 million GER : 1 million FRA : 400,000 CAN : 2 million AUS : 980,000 ITA : 100,000 ARG : 120,000 POL : 70,000 AUT : 100,000 NZ : 240,000 45 Whitney Houston / Various artists The Bodyguard 1992 R&B, Soul, Pop, Soundtrack 7001273460000000000 ♠ 27.4 US : 17 million JPN : 2 million UK : 2.1 million GER : 1.5 million FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 350,000 BRA : 750,000 NLD : 100,000 SWE 100,000 SPA : 500,000 ARG : 240,000 SWI : 250,000 AUT : 200,000 NOR : 200,000 FIN : 92,500 44 Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell 1977 Hard rock, Progressive rock 7001215050000000000 ♠ 21.5 US : 14 million UK : 3 million GER : 500,000 CAN : 2 million AUS : 1.68 million NZ : 255,000 43 Eagles Their Greatest Hits ( 1971 -- 1975 ) 1976 Rock, Soft rock, Folk rock 7001321800000000000 ♠ 32.2 US : 29 million UK : 600,000 CAN : 2 million AUS : 560,000 IFPI HKG : 15,000 42 Bee Gees / Various artists Saturday Night Fever 1977 Disco 7001205700000000000 ♠ 20.6 US : 15 million UK : 2.1 million GER : 1.5 million FRA : 200,000 CAN : 1 million AUS : 770,000 HKG : 15,000 40 Fleetwood Mac Rumours 1977 Soft rock 7001279300000000000 ♠ 27.9 US : 20 million UK : 3.3 million GER : 1.25 million FRA : 300,000 CAN : 2 million AUS : 910,000 NZ : 150,000 HKG : 15,000 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 ) Shania Twain Come On Over 1997 Country, Pop 7001295790000000000 ♠ 29.6 US : 20 million JPN : 100,000 UK : 3.3 million GER : 750,000 FRA : 300,000 CAN : 2 million AUS : 1.05 million BRA : 100,000 MEX : 100,000 NLD : 400,000 ITA : 50,000 SWE 180,000 SPA : 100,000 BEL : 100,000 ARG : 120,000 SWI : 150,000 AUT : 25,000 NOR : 300,000 DEN : 100,000 FIN : 38,958 NZ : 315,000 39 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV 1971 Hard rock, Heavy metal, Folk 7001290200000000000 ♠ 29.0 US : 23 million UK : 1.8 million GER : 750,000 FRA : 600,000 CAN : 2 million AUS : 630,000 BRA : 100,000 NLD : 100,000 ARG : 60,000 SWI : 50,000 37 Michael Jackson Bad Pop, Funk, Rock 7001183560000000000 ♠ 23.6 US : 10 million JPN : 1,000,000 UK : 4 million GER : 2 million FRA : 1 million ITA : 1 million CAN : 700,000 AUS : 420,000 MEX : 350,000 SWE 200,000 SPA : 300,000 AUT : 200,000 FIN : 51,287 NZ : 135,000 IFPI HKG : 15,000 35 Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 Alternative rock 7001247559000000000 ♠ 24.4 US : 16 million UK : 3 million GER : 1 million FRA : 300,000 CAN : 2 million AUS : 980,000 NLD : 400,000 SWE 200,000 BRA : 100,000 ARG : 60,000 POL : 50,000 SWI : 50,000 NOR : 50,000 AUT : 100,000 FIN : 65,860 33 Celine Dion Falling into You Pop, Soft rock 7001201770000000000 ♠ 20.2 US : 11 million JPN : 800,000 UK : 2.1 million GER : 1.25 million FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 910,000 BRA : 100,000 NLD : 600,000 SWE : 200,000 SPA : 200,000 BEL : 200,000 ARG : 60,000 POL : 100,000 SWI : 150,000 NOR : 150,000 AUT : 100,000 FIN : 51,952 NZ : 180,000 HUN : 25,000 32 The Beatles Sgt. Pepper 's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1967 Rock 7001130700000000000 ♠ 13.1 US : 11 million GER : 500,000 CAN : 800,000 AUS : 280,000 BRA : 100,000 ARG : 300,000 NZ : 90,000 32 Michael Jackson Dangerous 1991 Rock, Funk, Pop 7001163020000000000 ♠ 19.4 US : 7 million JPN : 400,000 UK : 2 million GER : 2 million FRA : 2 million CAN : 600,000 AUS : 700,000 BRA : 350,000 MEX : 600,000 NLD : 300,000 SWE 300,000 SPA : 600,000 SWI : 250,000 AUT : 200,000 FIN : 61,896 NZ : 90,000 CHI : 125,000 MAL : 175,000 32 Eagles Hotel California 1976 Rock, Soft rock, Folk rock 7001214810000000000 ♠ 21.5 US : 16 million UK : 1.8 million GER : 500,000 FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 560,000 SPA : 400,000 SWI : 100,000 AUT : 25,000 FIN : 30,933 NZ : 135,000 HKG : 15,000 32 Various artists Dirty Dancing Pop, Rock, R&B 7001178775000000000 ♠ 17.9 US : 11 million UK : 1.5 million GER : 2 million FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 770,000 BRA : 100,000 NLD : 100,000 SWE 100,000 POL : 50,000 SWI : 250,000 HKG : 7,500 32 Adele 21 2011 Pop, Soul 7001252610000000000 ♠ 25.3 US : 14 million JPN : 100,000 UK : 4.8 million GER : 1.6 million CAN : 800,000 AUS : 980,000 MEX : 300,000 NLD : 450,000 ITA : 480,000 SWE : 120,000 SPA : 300,000 ARG : 80,000 BEL : 180,000 POL : 200,000 SWI : 40,000 NOR : 30,000 AUT : 20,000 RUS : 10,000 DEN : 150,000 POR : 40,000 FIN : 83,234 IRE : 270,000 GRE : 6,000 HUN : 12,000 NZ : 180,000 CHI : 20,000 VEN : 10,000 31 Celine Dion Let 's Talk About Love 1997 Pop, Soft rock 7001192560000000000 ♠ 19.3 US : 10 million JPN : 1 million UK : 1.8 million GER : 1.5 million FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 420,000 NLD : 500,000 SWE : 240,000 SPA : 400,000 BEL : 200,000 ARG : 120,000 POL : 200,000 SWI : 300,000 NOR : 200,000 AUT : 100,000 FIN : 97,744 NZ : 135,000 HKG : 40,000 URY : 3,000 31 The Beatles 2000 Rock 7001226020000000000 ♠ 22.6 US : 12 million JPN : 2 million UK : 2.4 million GER : 1.65 million FRA : 600,000 CAN : 1 million AUS : 700,000 BRA : 250,000 ITA : 50,000 SWE 160,000 SPA : 500,000 ARG : 120,000 POL : 100,000 SWI : 150,000 NOR : 150,000 AUT : 150,000 DEN : 200,000 POR : 120,000 FIN : 77,466 NZ : 225,000 31 Madonna The Immaculate Collection Pop, Dance 7001203000000000000 ♠ 19.4 US : 10 million JPN : 800,000 UK : 3.6 million GER : 750,000 FRA : 1 million CAN : 700,000 AUS : 840,000 BRA : 500,000 NLD : 300,000 SWE 50,000 SPA : 300,000 ARG : 180,000 SWI : 50,000 AUT : 50,000 DEN : 50,000 FIN : 92,500 NZ : 105,000 30 The Beatles Abbey Road 1969 Rock 7001144350000000000 ♠ 14.4 US : 12 million GER : 500,000 FRA : 150,000 CAN : 1 million AUS : 210,000 ARG : 500,000 NZ : 75,000 30 Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 1984 Rock 7001195580000000000 ♠ 19.6 US : 15 million UK : 900,000 GER : 1 million FRA : 400,000 CAN : 1 million AUS : 910,000 FIN : 108,913 NZ : 240,000 30 Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 1985 Rock, Pop 7001176610000000000 ♠ 17.7 US : 9 million UK : 4.1 million GER : 500,000 FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 1.19 million ARG : 30,000 SWI : 350,000 FIN : 116,784 NZ : 360,000 HKG : 15,000 30 James Horner Titanic : Music from the Motion Picture 1997 Soundtrack 7001181385000000000 ♠ 18.1 US : 11 million JPN : 1 million UK : 900,000 GER : 1.25 million FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 350,000 NLD : 175,000 SWE 160,000 SPA : 400,000 BEL : 150,000 POL : 140,000 ARG : 60,000 SWI : 200,000 AUT : 100,000 NOR : 100,000 FIN : 73,509 NZ : 60,000 HKG : 20,000 30 Metallica Metallica 1991 Thrash metal, Heavy metal 7001204800000000000 ♠ 21.2 US : 16 million UK : 600,000 GER : 500,000 FRA : 300,000 CAN : 1 million AUS : 840,000 MEX : 600,000 NLD : 200,000 ITA : 100,000 SWE 100,000 ARG : 300,000 POL : 100,000 SWI : 100,000 NOR : 50,000 AUT : 100,000 FIN : 112,856 NZ : 150,000 30 Nirvana Nevermind 1991 Grunge, Alternative rock 7001167020000000000 ♠ 16.7 US : 10 million JPN : 600,000 UK : 1.2 million GER : 1 million FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 350,000 BRA : 250,000 MEX : 200,000 ITA : 100,000 SWE 200,000 ARG : 300,000 BEL : 150,000 POL : 100,000 SWI : 50,000 AUT : 50,000 FIN : 46,830 NZ : 105,000 30 Pink Floyd The Wall 1979 Progressive rock 7001175650000000000 ♠ 17.6 US : 11.5 million UK : 600,000 GER : 2 million FRA : 1 million CAN : 1 million AUS : 770,000 ITA : 100,000 ARG : 200,000 POL : 70,000 SWI : 100,000 NZ : 210,000 HKG : 15,000 30 Santana Supernatural 1999 Rock 7001205400000000000 ♠ 20.5 US : 15 million JPN : 200,000 UK : 600,000 GER : 1 million FRA : 600,000 CAN : 1 million AUS : 280,000 BRA : 250,000 MEX : 300,000 NLD : 200,000 SWE 80,000 SPA : 300,000 BEL : 100,000 ARG : 120,000 POL : 100,000 SWI : 200,000 AUT : 100,000 FIN : 50,291 NZ : 60,000 30 Guns N ' Roses Appetite for Destruction Hard rock 7001215550000000000 ♠ 21.6 US : 18 million JPN : 200,000 UK : 900,000 GER : 500,000 FRA : 200,000 CAN : 1 million BRA : 250,000 MEX : 100,000 ITA : 50,000 SWE 50,000 ARG : 180,000 SWI : 50,000 AUT : 50,000 FIN : 25,000 30 20 -- 29 million copies * All sales figures are shown in millions Artist Album Released Genre Claimed sales * Ref ( s ) ABBA Gold : Greatest Hits 1992 Pop 29 Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 1986 Hard rock, Glam metal 28 Various artists Grease : The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture 1978 Soundtrack 28 Mariah Carey Music Box 1993 Pop, R&B, Rock 28 Linkin Park Hybrid Theory 2000 Nu metal, Rap metal, Alternative metal 27 Norah Jones Come Away with Me 2002 Jazz 27 Eric Clapton Unplugged 1992 Acoustic rock, Acoustic blues 26 Madonna True Blue 1986 Pop 25 Bob Marley & The Wailers Legend : The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers 1984 Reggae 25 Carole King Tapestry 1971 Pop 25 Phil Collins No Jacket Required 1985 Pop, Rock 25 Queen Greatest Hits 1981 Rock 25 Simon & Garfunkel Bridge over Troubled Water 1970 Folk rock 25 U2 The Joshua Tree Rock 25 Britney Spears... Baby One More Time 1999 Pop 25 Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 1985 Pop, R&B 25 Backstreet Boys Backstreet 's Back / Backstreet Boys 1997 Pop 24 Backstreet Boys Millennium 1999 Pop 24 Spice Girls Spice Pop 23 Ace of Base Happy Nation / The Sign 1993 Pop 23 Oasis ( What 's the Story ) Morning Glory ? 1995 Britpop, Rock 22 Madonna Like a Virgin 1984 Pop, Dance 21 Eminem Encore Rap, Hip Hop 21 Bon Jovi Cross Road 1994 Hard rock, Glam metal 21 Adele 25 2015 Soul, Pop, R&B 20 Boston Boston 1976 Hard rock 20 Britney Spears Oops !... I Did It Again 2000 Pop 20 Def Leppard Hysteria Pop, Hard rock 20 George Michael Faith Pop, R&B, Funk, Soul 20 Green Day Dookie 1994 Pop punk, Punk rock, Alternative rock 20 Lionel Richie Ca n't Slow Down Pop, R&B, Soul 20 Mariah Carey Daydream 1995 Pop, R&B 20 Michael Jackson HIStory : Past, Present and Future, Book I 1995 Pop, Rock, R&B 20 Michael Jackson Off the Wall 1979 Soul, Disco, R&B 20 Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain 1984 Pop, Rock, R&B, Soundtrack 20 Shania Twain The Woman in Me 1995 Country, Pop 20 Supertramp Breakfast in America 1979 Progressive rock, Art rock 20 Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman Folk rock 20 Various artists Flashdance : Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture Soundtrack 20 Whitney Houston Whitney Pop, R&B 20 Timeline of the highest selling albums The inclusion or exclusion of items from this list, or length of this list, is disputed. Please discuss this issue on the talk page. ( July 2013 ) Timeline of the highest - selling album record Year record set Artist Album Record setting sales ( millions ) Total sales ( millions ) References 1945 Various Artists Oklahoma ! ( 78 rpm album ) 0.5 1.0 1956 Various Artists Oklahoma ! ( LP album ) 1.75 2.5 1956 / 1957 Various Artists My Fair Lady 5 1960 Various Artists South Pacific 2.25 1963 Vaughn Meader The First Family 7.5 1968 Various Artists The Sound of Music 8 1973 Carole King Tapestry 10 + 1975 / 1976 Various Artists The Sound of Music 10 -- 15 1976 Carole King Tapestry 13.5 25 1979 Bee Gees / Various Artists Saturday Night Fever 25 -- 27 40 1984 Michael Jackson Thriller 35 51 -- 65 Notes It is unclear whether this sales figure refers to worldwide sales or US sales. The exact year in which Tapestry regained the title of `` best - selling album of all - time '', if it ever regained it at all, is unclear. The album 's 1976 sales claim is therefore only listed to be inclusive, as it is plausible that Tapestry had overtaken The Sound of Music in sales during this time period. 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. Units sold include physical copies and digital downloads. Year Album Artist ( s ) Sales ( millions ) Ref ( s ) Hybrid Theory Linkin Park 8.5 2002 The Eminem Show Eminem 13.9 2003 Come Away with Me Norah Jones 18.0 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 Coldplay 6.8 2009 I Dreamed a Dream Susan Boyle 8.3 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 See also List of best - selling albums by country List of best - selling music artists List of best - selling remix albums List of best - selling singles Lists of albums List of best - selling albums of the 21st century Notes Jump up ^ To be on this list, albums released : before 1975 are required to have their claimed sales figures supported by 30 % in certified units. between 1975 and 1990 are required to have their claimed figures supported by 30 -- 50 % in certified units. ( That is 1.33 % for each additional year after 1975. ) between 1990 and 2000 are required to have their claimed figures supported by 50 -- 60 % in certified units. ( That is 1 % for each additional year after 1990. ) in 2000 and onwards are required to have their claimed figures supported by 60 -- 80 % in certified units. ( That is 1.33 % for each additional year after 2000. ) References ^ Jump up to : `` Best - selling album ''. Guinness World Records. Retrieved June 29, 2017. Jump up ^ Wyman, Bill ( January 4, 2013 ). `` Did Michael Jackson 's Thriller Really Sell a Hundred Million Copies ? ''. The New Yorker. Retrieved May 26, 2013. Jump up ^ `` 31. Global Sales of Recorded Music by Country in 2010 ( page 24 ) '' ( PDF ). RIAJ. 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` RIAA : Searchable Database ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 13, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Publications > The Record ''. Recording Industry Association of Japan ( in Japanese ). Retrieved July 16, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Certified Awards Search ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 4, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ( ' Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ' ) '' ( in German ). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 6, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` InfoDisc : Les Certifications depuis 1973 '' ( InfoDisc : Certifications from 1973 ). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique ( in French ). InfoDisc.fr. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Music Canada : Gold & Platinum search ''. Music Canada. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` ARIA Charts -- Accreditations ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 15, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` AMPROFON : Certificaciones ''. AMPROFON. Retrieved November 22, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Dutch Certifications '' ( in Dutch ). NVPI. 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Retrieved December 3, 2012. Jump up ^ BigKev ( December 14, 2012 ). `` Top 200 Highest Selling Albums in Australia ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2013. Jump up ^ Byrne, Katie ( May 20, 2012 ). `` Bee Gees ' Robin Gibb Dead At 62 ''. MTV. Retrieved March 5, 2013. Jump up ^ The Associated, Press ( January 12, 2013 ). `` Maurice Gibb, 53, of disco 's Bee Gees : ' Saturday Night Fever ' album defined era ''. The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 5, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Les disques d'or ''. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique ( in French ). Disque en France. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013. Jump up ^ `` New Zealand album certifications -- Fleetwood Mac -- Rumours ''. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 24, 2013. Jump up ^ McLaughlin, Katie ( June 27, 2012 ). `` Fleetwood Mac 's ' Rumours ' at 35 : Still the ' perfect album ' ''. CNN. Retrieved December 13, 2012. 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Question: who has sold the highest number of albums
Answer: Michael Jackson