# List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2012

The highest-selling albums and EPs in the United States are ranked in the Billboard 200, which is published by Billboard magazine. The data are compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales. In 2012, a total of 32 albums claimed the top position of the chart. One of which, Canadian singer Michael Bublé's album Christmas started its peak in late 2011.
Adele's album 21 was the longest-running number-one album of the year for the second time, staying atop the chart for eleven non-consecutive weeks. Red by Taylor Swift had the second-most weeks at number one with five. Other albums with extended chart runs include Babel by Mumford & Sons, Tuskegee by Lionel Richie, Blown Away by Carrie Underwood, Born and Raised by John Mayer and Uncaged by Zac Brown Band; each spent two weeks on the top position. Throughout 2012, only one act achieved multiple number-one albums on the chart: One Direction with Up All Night and Take Me Home. Swift's album Red sold 1.21 million copies in its first week, making it the album with the highest weekly sales in 2012. 21 was the biggest-selling album of 2012, with 4,410,000 copies sold.

## Chart history

Key :
| † | Indicates best performing album of 2012 |
| Issue date | Album | Artist(s) | Sales |
| January 7 | Christmas | Michael Bublé | 467,000 |
| January 14 | 21 † | Adele | 144,000 |
| January 21 | 21 † | Adele | 124,000 |
| January 28 | 21 † | Adele | 104,000 |
| February 4 | 21 † | Adele | 95,000 |
| February 11 | 21 † | Adele | 116,000 |
| February 18 | 21 † | Adele | 122,000 |
| February 25 | 21 † | Adele | 237,000 |
| March 3 | 21 † | Adele | 730,000 |
| March 10 | 21 † | Adele | 297,000 |
| March 17 | 21 † | Adele | 247,000 |
| March 24 | Wrecking Ball | Bruce Springsteen | 196,000 |
| March 31 | Up All Night | One Direction | 176,000 |
| April 7 | The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond | Soundtrack | 175,000 |
| April 14 | MDNA | Madonna | 359,000 |
| April 21 | Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded | Nicki Minaj | 253,000 |
| April 28 | Tuskegee | Lionel Richie | 129,000 |
| May 5 | Tuskegee | Lionel Richie | 114,000 |
| May 12 | Blunderbuss | Jack White | 138,000 |
| May 19 | Blown Away | Carrie Underwood | 267,000 |
| May 26 | Blown Away | Carrie Underwood | 120,000 |
| June 2 | Trespassing | Adam Lambert | 77,000 |
| June 9 | Born and Raised | John Mayer | 219,000 |
| June 16 | Born and Raised | John Mayer | 65,000 |
| June 23 | 21 † | Adele | 75,000 |
| June 30 | Looking 4 Myself | Usher | 128,000 |
| July 7 | Believe | Justin Bieber | 374,000 |
| July 14 | Living Things | Linkin Park | 223,000 |
| July 21 | Fortune | Chris Brown | 134,000 |
| July 28 | Uncaged | Zac Brown Band | 234,000 |
| August 4 | Life Is Good | Nas | 149,000 |
| August 11 | Uncaged | Zac Brown Band | 48,000 |
| August 18 | God Forgives, I Don't | Rick Ross | 218,000 |
| August 25 | Now 43 | Various artists | 111,000 |
| September 1 | Based on a T.R.U. Story | 2 Chainz | 75,000 |
| September 8 | Chapter V | Trey Songz | 135,000 |
| September 15 | Eye on It | TobyMac | 69,000 |
| September 22 | North | Matchbox Twenty | 95,000 |
| September 29 | Away from the World | Dave Matthews Band | 266,000 |
| October 6 | The Truth About Love | Pink | 280,000 |
| October 13 | Babel | Mumford & Sons | 600,000 |
| October 20 | Babel | Mumford & Sons | 169,000 |
| October 27 | Babel | Mumford & Sons | 96,000 |
| November 3 | Night Train | Jason Aldean | 409,000 |
| November 10 | Red | Taylor Swift | 1,208,000 |
| November 17 | Red | Taylor Swift | 344,000 |
| November 24 | Red | Taylor Swift | 196,000 |
| December 1 | Take Me Home | One Direction | 540,000 |
| December 8 | Unapologetic | Rihanna | 238,000 |
| December 15 | Girl on Fire | Alicia Keys | 159,000 |
| December 22 | Red | Taylor Swift | 167,000 |
| December 29 | Red | Taylor Swift | 208,000 |