The UK Albums Chart is a music chart compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) that calculates the best-selling artist albums of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Since 2005, the chart has been based on the sales of both physical and digital albums, on the condition that the album was available in both formats. In January 2007, the rules were changed so that legal downloads of all albums, irrespective of whether a physical copy was available, were eligible to chart.[2] Further changes occurred in February 2015 when audio streaming was included for the first time.[3]
On 11 December 2019, the OCC announced their list of the top 100 best-selling albums between January 2010 and December 2019. The best-selling album of the decade is Adele's 21, which sold 6 million following its release in January 2011. Adele is also one of two artists to achieve three million-selling albums since 2010 with 19 (released in 2008 but sold over a million copies since 2010), 21 and 25. The other is Ed Sheeran with +, x and ÷. Sheeran is also the only artist to feature in the top 10 three times.[4]
| Title | Artist | Peak position | Year of release | Sales (where available) | No. of times Platinum | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 1 | 21 | Adele | 1 | 2011 | 6,000,000[5] | 17× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2 | 25 | 1 | 2015 | 3,600,000 | 12× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 3 | x | Ed Sheeran | 1 | 2014 | 3,600,000[6] | 12× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 4 | ÷ | 1 | 2017 | 3,400,000 | 11× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 5 | Christmas | Michael Bublé | 1 | 2011 | 2,950,000 | 9× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 6 | In the Lonely Hour | Sam Smith | 1 | 2014 | 2,590,000 | 8× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 7 | + | Ed Sheeran | 1 | 2011 | 2,443,000 | 8× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 8 | Our Version of Events | Emeli Sandé | 1 | 2012 | 2,430,000 | 8× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 9 | Progress | Take That | 1 | 2010 | 2,390,000 | 8× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 10 | The Greatest Showman | Various Artists | 1 | 2017 | 2,130,000 | 7× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 11 | Loud | Rihanna | 1 | 2010 | 1,997,500 | 6× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 12 | Crazy Love | Michael Bublé | 1 | 2009 | 1,890,300 | 6× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 13 | 19 | Adele | 1 | 2008 | 2,450,000 | 8× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 14 | AM | Arctic Monkeys | 1 | 2013 | 1,800,000 | 6× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 15 | Doo-Wops & Hooligans | Bruno Mars | 1 | 2010 | 1,713,000[7] | 5× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 16 | The Fame / The Fame Monster | Lady Gaga | 1 | 2009 | 1,578,000 | 5× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 17 | Sigh No More | Mumford & Sons | 2 | 2009 | 1,561,800 | 5× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 18 | Mylo Xyloto | Coldplay | 1 | 2011 | 1,536,700 | 5× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 19 | Wanted on Voyage | George Ezra | 1 | 2014 | 1,420,200[8] | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 20 | Teenage Dream / | Katy Perry | 1 | 2010 | 1,304,325[9] | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 21 | The Defamation of Strickland Banks | Plan B | 1 | 2010 | 1,399,400[10] | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 22 | Right Place Right Time | Olly Murs | 1 | 2012 | 1,380,000[11] | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 23 | Who You Are | Jessie J | 2 | 2011 | 1,270,000[12] | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 24 | Purpose | Justin Bieber | 2 | 2015 | 1,200,000 | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 25 | Lungs | Florence and the Machine | 1 | 2009 | 1,813,557[13] | 6× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 26 | 1989 | Taylor Swift | 1 | 2014 | 1,500,000[14] | 5× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 27 | Halcyon / Halcyon Days | Ellie Goulding | 1 | 2012 | 1,200,000 | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 28 | A Head Full of Dreams | Coldplay | 1 | 2015 | 1,375,805[15] | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 29 | I Cry When I Laugh | Jess Glynne | 1 | 2015 | 1,200,000 | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 30 | Human | Rag'n'Bone Man | 1 | 2017 | 1,200,000 | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 31 | If I Can Dream | Elvis Presley | 1 | 2015 | 1,062,457 | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 32 | Babel | Mumford & Sons | 1 | 2012 | 1,064,338 | 4× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 33 | Greatest Hits | Bon Jovi | 2 | 2010 | 1,200,000 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 34 | Born to Die | Lana Del Rey | 1 | 2012 | 1,174,000[16] | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 35 | Up All Night | One Direction | 1 | 2011 | 1,086,434 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 36 | In Case You Didn't Know | Olly Murs | 1 | 2011 | 1,105,000 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 37 | Time Flies... 1994–2009 | Oasis | 1 | 2010 | 1,200,000 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 38 | Greatest Hits... So Far!!! | Pink | 5 | 2010 | 1,050,000[17] | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 39 | Glory Days | Little Mix | 1 | 2016 | 1,014,800[18] | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 40 | Sunny Side Up | Paolo Nutini | 1 | 2009 | 1,033,000 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 41 | Take Me Home | One Direction | 1 | 2012 | 1,103,500 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 42 | Talk That Talk | Rihanna | 1 | 2011 | 1,000,000 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 43 | Recovery | Eminem | 1 | 2010 | 1,030,000[19] | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 44 | Unorthodox Jukebox | Bruno Mars | 1 | 2012 | 987,854 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 45 | Born This Way | Lady Gaga | 1 | 2011 | 1,020,800 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 46 | ABBA | 1 | 1992 | 18× | |||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 47 | Legend | Bob Marley and the Wailers | 1 | 1984 | 12× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 48 | 18 Months | Calvin Harris | 1 | 2012 | 923,861 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 49 | Staying at Tamara's | George Ezra | 1 | 2018 | 1,000,300[20] | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 50 | Rumours | Fleetwood Mac | 1 | 1977 | 13× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 51 | Eminem | 1 | 2005 | 7× | |||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 52 | The Ultimate Collection | Whitney Houston | 3 | 2007 | 5× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 53 | Greatest Hits | Foo Fighters | 4 | 2009 | 4× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 54 | Back to Black | Amy Winehouse | 1 | 2006 | 13× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 55 | Bad Blood | Bastille | 1 | 2013 | 1,000,640 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 56 | Midnight Memories | One Direction | 1 | 2013 | 3× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 57 | Come Around Sundown | Kings of Leon | 1 | 2010 | 915,300[21] | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 58 | Number Ones | Michael Jackson | 1 | 2003 | 9× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 59 | The Truth About Love | Pink | 1 | 2012 | 907,000 | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 60 | Nothing but the Beat | David Guetta | 1 | 2011 | 3× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 61 | The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac | Fleetwood Mac | 6 | 2002 | 6× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 62 | Disc-Overy | Tinie Tempah | 1 | 2010 | 3× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 63 | The Element of Freedom | Alicia Keys | 1 | 2009 | 3× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 64 | Amy Winehouse | 1 | 2011 | 2× | |||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 65 | Never Been Better | Olly Murs | 1 | 2014 | 863,000 | 2× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 66 | Electric Light Orchestra | 1 | 2005 | 3× | |||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 67 | Ceremonials | Florence and the Machine | 1 | 2011 | 2× | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 68 | Chaos and the Calm | James Bay | 1 | 2015 | 824,540[22] | 2× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 69 | Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds | Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds | 1 | 2011 | 864,600[23] | 2× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 70 | Get Weird | Little Mix | 2 | 2015 | 883,000[24] | 3× | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 71 | Lights | Ellie Goulding | 1 | 2010 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 72 | Olly Murs | Olly Murs | 2 | 2010 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 73 | My World / My World 2.0 | Justin Bieber | 3 | 2010 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 74 | To Be Loved | Michael Bublé | 1 | 2013 | 3x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 75 | Science & Faith | The Script | 1 | 2010 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 76 | Every Kingdom | Ben Howard | 4 | 2011 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 77 | Jake Bugg | Jake Bugg | 1 | 2012 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 78 | A Perfect Contradiction | Paloma Faith | 2 | 2014 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 79 | 4 | Beyoncé | 1 | 2011 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 80 | Unapologetic | Rihanna | 1 | 2012 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 81 | The Lady Killer | Cee Lo Green | 3 | 2010 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 82 | No More Idols | Chase & Status | 2 | 2011 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 83 | The Marshall Mathers LP 2 | Eminem | 1 | 2013 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 84 | Only By the Night | Kings of Leon | 1 | 2008 | 10x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 85 | Swings Both Ways | Robbie Williams | 1 | 2013 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 86 | Stereophonics | 2 | 2008 | 5x | |||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 87 | Robbie Williams | 1 | 2010 | 2x | |||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 88 | Fall to Grace | Paloma Faith | 2 | 2012 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 89 | Greatest Hits | Queen | 1 | 1981 | 22x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 90 | Caustic Love | Paolo Nutini | 1 | 2014 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 91 | If You Wait | London Grammar | 2 | 2013 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 92 | Since I Saw You Last | Gary Barlow | 2 | 2013 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 93 | The Thrill of It All | Sam Smith | 1 | 2017 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 94 | Ghost Stories | Coldplay | 1 | 2014 | 733,000[25] | 2x | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 95 | Greatest Hits | Guns N' Roses | 1 | 2004 | 7x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 96 | Red | Taylor Swift | 1 | 2012 | 695,000 | 2x | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 97 | Greatest Hits | Westlife | 4 | 2011 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 98 | Outta This World | JLS | 2 | 2010 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 99 | Direct Hits | The Killers | 5 | 2013 | 2x | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 100 | Four | One Direction | 1 | 2014 | 600,000 | 2x |
| Debut album | Artist | Peak position | Year of release | Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 1 | In the Lonely Hour | Sam Smith | 1 | 2014 | 2,590,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2 | 19 | Adele | 1 | 2008 | 2,450,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 3 | + | Ed Sheeran | 1 | 2011 | 2,443,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 4 | Our Version of Events | Emeli Sandé | 1 | 2012 | 2,430,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 5 | Doo-Wops & Hooligans | Bruno Mars | 1 | 2010 | 1,870,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 6 | Wanted on Voyage | George Ezra | 1 | 2014 | 1,420,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 7 | Who You Are | Jessie J | 2 | 2011 | 1,330,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 8 | I Cry When I Laugh | Jess Glynne | 1 | 2015 | 1,230,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 9 | Human | Rag'n'Bone Man | 1 | 2017 | 1,220,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 10 | Born to Die | Lana Del Rey | 1 | 2012 | 1,190,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 11 | Up All Night | One Direction | 2 | 2011 | 1,160,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 12 | Bad Blood | Bastille | 1 | 2013 | 975,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 13 | Disc-Overy | Tinie Tempah | 1 | 2010 | 905,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 14 | Chaos and the Calm | James Bay | 1 | 2015 | 867,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 15 | Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds | Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds | 1 | 2011 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 16 | Lights | Ellie Goulding | 1 | 2010 | 841,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 17 | Olly Murs | Olly Murs | 2 | 2010 | 839,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 18 | My World / My World 2.0 | Justin Bieber | 3 | 2010 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 19 | Every Kingdom | Ben Howard | 4 | 2011 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 20 | Jake Bugg | Jake Bugg | 1 | 2012 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 21 | The Lady Killer | CeeLo Green | 3 | 2010 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 22 | If You Wait | London Grammar | 2 | 2013 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 23 | Heaven | Rebecca Ferguson | 3 | 2011 | 669,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 24 | Night Visions | Imagine Dragons | 2 | 2013 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 25 | Home | Rudimental | 1 | 2013 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 26 | The 1975 | The 1975 | 1 | 2013 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 27 | Seasons of My Soul | Rumer | 3 | 2010 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 28 | Royal Blood | Royal Blood | 1 | 2014 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 29 | Hozier | Hozier | 3 | 2014 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 30 | Dua Lipa | Dua Lipa | 3 | 2017 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 31 | All the Little Lights | Passenger | 3 | 2013 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 32 | Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent | Lewis Capaldi | 1 | 2019 | 547,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 33 | Communion | Years & Years | 1 | 2015 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 34 | The Wanted | The Wanted | 4 | 2010 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 35 | Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor | Caro Emerald | 4 | 2011 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 36 | The Lumineers | The Lumineers | 8 | 2012 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 37 | Settle | Disclosure | 1 | 2013 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 38 | Chapter One | Ella Henderson | 1 | 2014 | 476,000 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 39 | Good Ol' Fashioned Love | The Overtones | 4 | 2010 | ||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 40 | The Balcony | Catfish and the Bottlemen | 10 | 2014 |