List of best-selling singles

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File:Bing Crosby - White Christmas 1942 10 inch.jpg
1942 10-inch 78 rpm release of the single "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby
File:Elton John - Candle In The Wind 1997 7 inch.jpg
1997 7-inch 45 rpm release of "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight", double A-side single by Elton John

This is a compendium of the best-selling music singles. The criterion for inclusion is to sell at least ten million copies worldwide. The singles listed here were cited by reliable sources from various media, such as digital journalism, newspapers, magazines, and books.

According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.[1] The song, recognized as "the best-selling single of all time", was released before the pop/rock singles-chart era and "was listed as the world's best-selling single in the first-ever Guinness Book of Records (published in 1955) and—remarkably—still retains the title more than 50 years later". Guinness World Records also states that double A-side charity single "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) by Elton John (rewritten as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, rather than Marilyn Monroe in the original 1973 version), is "the biggest-selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s, having accumulated worldwide sales of 33 million copies". This makes it the second-best-selling physical single of all time.[1]

Two best-selling singles lists are displayed here relating first to physical singles (mainly CD and vinyl singles) and second to digital singles (digitally downloaded tracks which first became available to purchase in the early 2000s).

Best-selling physical singles

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Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
Bing Crosby "White Christmas" 1942 50 [1]
Elton John "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" 1997 33 [1]
Bing Crosby "Silent Night" 1935 30 [2]
Tino Rossi "Petit Papa Noël" 1946 30 [3]
Bill Haley & His Comets "Rock Around the Clock" 1954 25 [4][5]
Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" 1992 24 [6][7]
Elvis Presley "It's Now or Never" 1960 20 Template:Sfn[8]
USA for Africa "We Are the World" 1985 20 [9]
The Ink Spots "If I Didn't Care" 1939 19Script error: No such module "Unsubst". [10]
Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" 1997 18 [11]
Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You" 1994 16 [12]
Baccara "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" 1977 16 [13]
Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" 1991 15 [14]
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John "You're the One That I Want" 1978 15 [15]

10–14.9Script error: No such module "String".million copies

Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
Scorpions "Wind of Change" 1991 14 [16]
The Andrews Sisters "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" 1937 14 [17]
Prince Nico Mbarga "Sweet Mother" 1976 13 [18]
Kyu Sakamoto "Sukiyaki" 1963 13 [19]
Gene Autry "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" 1949 12.5 [20]
O-Zone "Dragostea din tei" 2003 12 [21][22]
The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" 1963 12 Template:Sfn
Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman "Time to Say Goodbye" 1996 12 [23]
Village People "Y.M.C.A." 1978 12 [24]
Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" 1984 11.7 [25]
Los del Río "Macarena" 1995 11 [26]
Cher "Believe" 1998 11 [27][28]
Carl Douglas "Kung Fu Fighting" 1974 11 [29][30]
George McCrae "Rock Your Baby" 1974 11 Template:Sfn
Mills Brothers "Paper Doll" 1943 11 Template:Sfn
Roger Whittaker "The Last Farewell" 1975 11 [31]
ABBA "Fernando" 1976 10 [32]
Roy Acuff "Wabash Cannonball" 1942 10 Template:Sfn
Paul Anka "Diana" 1957 10 [33]Template:Sfn
Toni Braxton "Un-Break My Heart" 1996 10 [34]
George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" 1970 10 [35]
Middle of the Road "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" 1971 10 Template:Sfn
The Monkees "I'm a Believer" 1966 10 Template:Sfn[36]
Patti Page "Tennessee Waltz" 1950 10 [37][38][39]
The Penguins "Earth Angel" 1954 10 [40]
Elvis Presley "Hound Dog" 1956 10 [41]
Procol Harum "A Whiter Shade of Pale" 1967 10 Template:Sfn
Boney M. "Rivers of Babylon" 1978 10 [42]
Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time" 1998 10 [43]
The Knack "My Sharona" 1979 10 [44][45]

Highest-certified singles

A list of the best selling singles released before 2000, based on worldwide certified unit sales (including both digital sales and equivalent track streams)

Artist Single Released Certified sales
Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas Is You" 1994 28.9 Million
Elton John "Candle in the Wind 1997" 1997 28.7 Million
Journey "[[Don't Stop Believin'|Don't Stop BelievinTemplate:'-]]" 1981 25.8 Million
Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" 1983 18 Million
Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" 1975 17 Million
Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" 1991 16.3 Million
AC/DC "Thunderstruck" 1990 16.1 Million
Toto "Africa" 1982 15.4 Million
Michael Jackson "Thriller" 1983 15.2 Million
Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" 1992 15 Million
Bon Jovi "Livin' on a Prayer" 1986 14.6 Million
Goo Goo Dolls "Iris" 1998 14.3 Million
AC/DC "Back in Black" 1980 13.3 Million
Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" 1987 12.6 Million
Michael Jackson "Beat It" 1983 12.3 Million
Queen "We Will Rock You" 1977 12.1 Million
Queen "Another One Bites the Dust" 1980 12.1 Million
George Michael "Careless Whisper" 1984 11.1 Million
Wham! "Last Christmas" 1984 11 Million
AC/DC "You Shook Me All Night Long" 1980 10.9 Million
Earth, Wind & Fire "September" 1978 10.4 Million
Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" 1997 10.3 Million
Brenda Lee "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" 1958 10.2 Million
AC/DC "Highway to Hell" 1978 10.2 Million
Marvin Gaye "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" 1967 10.2 Million
Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" 1982 10.1 Million
Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time" 1998 10 Million
Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" 1983 10 Million

Best-selling digital singles

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Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
Xiao Zhan "Spotlight" 2020 54.3 [46]
Ed Sheeran "Shape of You" 2017 41.5[a] [47][48]
Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee "Despacito" 2017 36.1[a] [47][48]
Rihanna featuring Drake "Work" 2016 32.5[a] [49]
The Chainsmokers and Coldplay "Something Just Like This" 2017 21.5[a] [47][48]
Ed Sheeran "Perfect" 2017 21.4[a] [47][48]
Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth "See You Again" 2015 20.9[a] [50]
The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey "Closer" 2016 20.7[a] [51][47]
Adele "Rolling in the Deep" 2011 20.6 [52][53][54]
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk" 2015 20[a] [50]
Billie Eilish "Bad Guy" 2019 19.5[a] [55]
Ed Sheeran "Thinking Out Loud" 2015 19.5[a] [50]
Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug "Havana" 2017 19.0[a] [47][48]
Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus "Old Town Road" 2018 18.4[a] [55]
Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" 2011 18.0 [56]
Taylor Swift "Love Story" 2008 18.0[a] [57]
Adele "Someone Like You" 2011 17.0 [58]
Rihanna "Needed Me" 2016 17.0[a] [49]
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello "Señorita" 2019 16.1[a] [55]
Imagine Dragons "Radioactive" 2012 16[a] [59]
"Believer" 2017 15.4[a] [60][61]
Drake "God's Plan" 2018 15.3[a] [48]
Shakira featuring Freshlyground "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" 2010 15 [62]

10–14.99Script error: No such module "String".million copies

Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell "Blurred Lines" 2013 14.8[a] [63]
Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger" 2011 14.4 [64]
Kesha "Tik Tok" 2009 14 [65]
Lady Gaga "Poker Face" 2008 14 [66]
Pharrell Williams "Happy" 2013 13.9[a] [67]
Maroon 5 "Sugar" 2015 13.5[a] [50]
Post Malone and Swae Lee "Sunflower" 2018 13.4[a] [55]
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz "Thrift Shop" 2012 13.4[a] [63]
Ariana Grande "7 Rings" 2019 13.3[a] [55]
Katy Perry featuring Juicy J "Dark Horse" 2013 13.2[a] [67]
Major Lazer & DJ Snake featuring MØ "Lean On" 2015 13.1[a] [50]
Gotye featuring Kimbra "Somebody That I Used to Know" 2011 13 [68]
Ellie Goulding "Love Me like You Do" 2015 12.6[a] [50]
Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla "One Dance" 2016 12.5[a] [51]
Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are" 2010 12.5 [69]
Adele "Hello" 2015 12.3[a] [50]
John Legend "All of Me" 2013 12.3[a] [67]
Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" 2008 12.2 [70][71][72][73]
Flo Rida featuring Kesha "Right Round" 2009 12 [74]
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain "Low" 2007 12 [75]
Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" 2009 12 [76]
Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B "Girls Like You" 2018 11.9[a] [48]
Justin Bieber "Love Yourself" 2015 11.7[a] [51]
Tones and I "Dance Monkey" 2019 11.4[a] [55]
Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc "Wake Me Up" 2013 11.1[a] [63]
Sia featuring Sean Paul "Cheap Thrills" 2016 11.1[a] [51]
Meghan Trainor "All About That Bass" 2014 11[a] [67]
Tia Ray "Be Apart" 2018 10.9[a] [48]
Idina Menzel "Let It Go" 2013 10.9[a] [67]
Justin Bieber "Sorry" 2015 10.8[a] [51]
Lukas Graham "7 Years" 2015 10.4[a] [51]
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber "I Don't Care" 2019 10.3[a] [55]
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper "Shallow" 2018 10.2[a] [55]
The Chainsmokers featuring Daya "Don't Let Me Down" 2016 10.2[a] [51]
Lorde "Royals" 2013 10 [77]
Bruno Mars "Grenade" 2010 10.2 [69]
Mike Posner "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" 2015 10[a] [51]
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie" 2006 10 [78]
Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis "Just Dance" 2008 10 [79]

By stream equivalent units

Beginning in 2020, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry began reporting the best-selling singles of each year in terms of subscription streams equivalent units. The methodology used converts all digital formats, including digital download sales, paid subscription streaming, and free ad-supported streaming, into a single figure.[80]

Artist Single Released Units
(in billions)		 Source
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights" 2019 5.31 [80][81][82]
The Weeknd "Save Your Tears" 2020 4.66 [81][82][83]
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber "Stay" 2021 3.81 [81][82]
Harry Styles "As It Was" 2022 3.74 [82][83]
Dua Lipa "Levitating" 2020 2.99 [81][82]
Ed Sheeran "Bad Habits" 2021 2.77 [81][82]
Miley Cyrus "Flowers" 2023 2.70 [83]
Taylor Swift "Cruel Summer" 2019 2.56 [83][84]
Tones and I "Dance Monkey" 2019 2.34 [81]
Benson Boone "Beautiful Things" 2024 2.11 [84]
Rema and Selena Gomez "Calm Down" 2022 1.89 [83]
SZA "Kill Bill" 2022 1.84 [83]
Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso" 2024 1.79 [84]
The Weeknd and Ariana Grande "Die for You" 2023 1.78 [83]
BTS "Butter" 2021 1.76 [81]
Glass Animals "Heat Waves" 2020 1.75 [82]
Olivia Rodrigo "Drivers License" 2021 1.73 [81]
Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon "Peaches" 2021 1.72 [82]
Teddy Swims "Lose Control" 2023 1.70 [84]
Roddy Ricch "The Box" 2019 1.67 [81]
Saint Jhn "Roses" 2019 1.64 [81]
Dua Lipa "Don't Start Now" 2019 1.62 [81]
Olivia Rodrigo "Good 4 U" 2021 1.61 [81]
Lil Nas X "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" 2021 1.60 [81]
Future featuring Drake "Life Is Good" 2020 1.57 [81]
Billie Eilish "Birds of a Feather" 2024 1.52 [84]
Shaboozey "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" 2024 1.51 [84]

Best-selling singles by year worldwide

Claimed sales
Year Artist Single Source
1966 Barry Sadler "The Ballad of the Green Berets" [85]
1968 The Beatles "Hey Jude" [86]
1969 The Archies "Sugar, Sugar" [87]
1990 Madonna "Vogue" [88]
1996 Fugees "Killing Me Softly" [89]
1998 Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" [90]
IFPI Report (since 2007)
Year Artist Single Sales
(in millions)[b]		 Source
2007 Avril Lavigne "Girlfriend" 7.3 [91]
2008 Lil Wayne "Lollipop" 9.1 [92]
2009 Lady Gaga "Poker Face" 9.8 [71]
2010 Kesha "Tik Tok" 12.8 [93]
2011 Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are" 12.5 [69]
2012 Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" 12.5 [94]
2013 Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell "Blurred Lines" 14.8 [63]
2014 Pharrell Williams "Happy" 13.9 [67]
2015 Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth "See You Again" 20.9 [50]
2016 Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla "One Dance" 12.5 [51]
2017 Ed Sheeran "Shape of You" 26.6 [47]
2018 Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug "Havana" 19.0 [47][48]
2019 Billie Eilish "Bad Guy" 19.5 [55]
2020 The Weeknd "Blinding Lights" —Template:Efn [80]
2021 The Weeknd "Save Your Tears" —Template:Efn [81]
2022 Harry Styles "As It Was" —Template:Efn [82]
2023 Miley Cyrus "Flowers" —Template:Efn [83]
2024 Benson Boone "Beautiful Things" —Template:Efn [84]

See also

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Notes

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  • a.<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^ Sales figure includes 'equivalent track streams'.
  • b.<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^ Most of them includes 'equivalent track streams'.

References

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  5. ↑ This figure was also cited through the 1980s by Guinness World Records, albeit with the caveat that the figure was an "unaudited" claim. By the time of the book's 1999 edition, the estimated sales figure had increased to 43 million, again as an "unaudited" claim.
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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Bibliography

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Template:Lists of best-selling singles Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:IFPI Global Year-End

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