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).
| Artist | Single | Released | Sales (in millions) | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "White Christmas" | 1942 | 50 | |||
| "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" | 1997 | 33 | |||
| "Silent Night" | 1935 | 30 | [2] | ||
| "Petit Papa Noël" | 1946 | 30 | [3] | ||
| "Rock Around the Clock" | 1954 | 25 | [4] [5] | ||
| "I Will Always Love You" | 1992 | 20 | [6] | ||
| "It's Now or Never" | 1960 | 20 | [7] | ||
| "We Are the World" | 1985 | 20 | [8] | ||
| "If I Didn't Care" | 1939 | 19 | [9] | ||
| "My Heart Will Go On" | 1997 | 18 | [10] | ||
| "All I Want For Christmas Is You" | 1994 | 16 | [11] | ||
| "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" | 1977 | 16 | [12] | ||
| "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | 1991 | 15 | [13] | ||
| "You're the One That I Want" | 1978 | 15 | [14] |
| Artist | Single | Released | Sales (in millions) | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" | 1937 | 14 | [15] | ||
| "Wind of Change" | 1991 | 14 | [16] | ||
| "Sweet Mother" | 1976 | 13 | [17] | ||
| "Sukiyaki" | 1963 | 13 | [18] | ||
| "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" | 1949 | 12.5 | [19] | ||
| "Dragostea din tei" | 2003 | 12 | [20] | ||
| "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | 1963 | 12 | |||
| "Time to Say Goodbye" | 1996 | 12 | [21] | ||
| "Y.M.C.A." | 1978 | 12 | [22] | ||
| "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | 1984 | 11.7 | [23] | ||
| "Macarena" | 1995 | 11 | [24] | ||
| "Believe" | 1998 | 11 | [25] [26] | ||
| "Kung Fu Fighting" | 1974 | 11 | [27] [28] | ||
| "Rock Your Baby" | 1974 | 11 | |||
| "Paper Doll" | 1943 | 11 | |||
| "The Last Farewell" | 1975 | 11 | [29] | ||
| "Fernando" | 1976 | 10 | [30] | ||
| "Wabash Cannonball" | 1942 | 10 | |||
| "Diana" | 1957 | 10 | [31] | ||
| "Un-Break My Heart" | 1996 | 10 | [32] | ||
| "My Sweet Lord" | 1970 | 10 | [33] | ||
| "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" | 1971 | 10 | |||
| "I'm a Believer" | 1966 | 10 | [34] | ||
| "Tennessee Waltz" | 1950 | 10 | [35] [36] [37] | ||
| "Earth Angel" | 1954 | 10 | [38] | ||
| "Hound Dog" | 1956 | 10 | [39] | ||
| "A Whiter Shade of Pale" | 1967 | 10 | |||
| "Rivers of Babylon" | 1978 | 10 | [40] | ||
| "...Baby One More Time" | 1998 | 10 | [41] | ||
| The Knack | "My Sharona" | 1979 | 10 | [42] [43] |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elton John | "Candle in the Wind" | 1997 | ||
| Mariah Carey | "All I Want for Christmas is You" | 1994 | 26.9 Million | |
| Journey | "Don't Stop Believing" | 1981 | 25.1 Million | |
| Michael Jackson | "Thriller" | 1983 | 23.1 Million | |
| Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | 1975 | 17 Million | |
| Michael Jackson | "Billie Jean" | 1983 | 16.8 Million | |
| AC/DC | "Thunderstruck" | 1990 | 15.8 Million | |
| Bon Jovi | "Livin on a Prayer" | 1986 | 14.4 Million | |
| Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | 1992 | 13.9 Million | |
| Toto | "Africa" | 1982 | 12.4 Million | |
| Michael Jackson | "Beat It" | 1983 | 12.3 Million | |
| Goo Goo Dolls | "Iris" | 1998 | 11.7 Million | |
| AC/DC | "Back in Black" | 1980 | 11.6 Million | |
| George Michael | "Careless Whisper" | 1984 | 11.1 Million | |
| Whitney Houston | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | 1987 | 11.1 Million | |
| Wham! | "Last Christmas" | 1984 | 11 Million | |
| Earth, Wind and Fire | "September" | 1978 | 10.4 Million | |
| Celine Dion | "My Heart Will Go On" | 1997 | 10.3 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 | |
| "We Are the World" | 1985 | 9.8 Million | ||
| AC/DC | "You Shook Me All Night Long" | 1980 | 9.4 Million | |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | Under the Bridge | 1991 | 9.2 Million | |
| Queen | "We Will Rock You" | 1977 | 9.1 Million | |
| AC/DC | "Highway to Hell" | 1978 | 9.1 Million | |
| Puff Daddy and Faith Evans | I'll Be Missing You | 1997 | 9.1 Million | |
| Nirvana | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | 1991 | 8.7 Million | |
| John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | "You're the One That I Want" | 1978 | 8.6 Million | |
| Queen | "Don't Stop Me Now" | 1979 | 8.6 Million | |
| Queen | "We are the Champions" | 1977 | 8.5 Million | |
| Band Aid | "Do They Know it's Christmas?" | 1984 | 8.3 Million | |
| Notorious B.I.G | Big Poppa | 1994 | 8.2 Million | |
| Elvis Presley | "It's Now or Never" | 1960 | 8 Million | |
| "Never Gonna Give You Up" | 1987 | 8 Million | ||
| Guns and Roses | Sweet Child O' Mine | 1988 | 7.9 Million | |
| The Beatles | "Hey Jude" | 1968 | 7.9 Million | |
| Queen | "Another One Bites the Dust" | 1980 | 7.9 Million | |
| Aqua | Barbie Girl | 1996 | 7.6 Million | |
| Mariah Carey | Fantasy | 1995 | 7.6 Million | |
| Coolio | 1995 | 7.5 Million | ||
| Michael Jackson | "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" | 1979 | 7.4 Million | |
| Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | 1991 | 7.4 Million | |
| Return of the Mack | 1996 | 7.4 Million | ||
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | Californication | 1999 | 7.3 Million | |
| Notorious B.I.G | Juicy | 1994 | 7.3 Million | |
| Village People | "Y.M.C.A" | 1978 | 7.3 Million | |
| Brenda Lee | Rockin Around the Christmas Tree | 1958 | 7.3 Million | |
| Metallica | Enter Sandman | 1991 | 7.2 Million | |
| Bon Jovi | "You Give Love a Bad Name" | 1986 | 7.1 Million | |
| The Beatles | "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | 1963 | 7 Million | |
| The Fugees | Killing Me Softly with His Song | 1996 | 7 Million | |
| The Eagles | "Hotel California" | 1977 | 7 Million | |
| Bees Gees | "Stayin Alive" | 1977 | 7 Million | |
| Cher | "Believe" | 1998 | 7 Million | |
| Los Del Rio | "Macarena" | 1993 | 7 Million | |
| Cyndi Lauper | "Time After Time" | 1983 | 7 Million | |
| Louis Armstrong | "What a Wonderful World" | 1967 | 6.9 Million | |
| Green Day | "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" | 1997 | 6.9 Million | |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | Scar Tissue | 1999 | 6.8 Million | |
| Rivers of Babylon | 1970 | 6.8 Million | ||
| Bon Jovi | Wanted Dead or Alive | 1986 | 6.8 Million | |
| Mariah Carey | Always be my Baby | 1995 | 6.7 Million | |
| Oasis | Wonderwall | 1995 | 6.6 Million | |
| Blue Öyster Cult | (Don't Fear) The Reaper | 1976 | 6.6 Million | |
| Piano Man | 1974 | 6.6 Million | ||
| Le Freak | 1978 | 6.5 Million | ||
| Crazy Train | 1980 | 6.4 Million | ||
| Queen | "Under Pressure" | 1981 | 6.3 Million |
| Artist | Single | Released | Sales (in millions) | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Shape of You" | 2017 | 41.5 | [44] | ||
| "Despacito" | 2017 | 36.1 | |||
| "Work" | 2016 | 32.5 | [45] | ||
| "Something Just Like This" | 2017 | 21.5 | |||
| "Perfect" | 2017 | 21.4 | |||
| "See You Again" | 2015 | 20.9 | [46] | ||
| "Closer" | 2016 | 20.7 | |||
| "Rolling in the Deep" | 2011 | 20.6 | [47] [48] [49] | ||
| "Uptown Funk" | 2015 | 20 | |||
| "Bad Guy" | 2019 | 19.5 | [50] | ||
| "Thinking Out Loud" | 2015 | 19.5 | |||
| "Havana" | 2017 | 19.0 | |||
| "Old Town Road" | 2018 | 18.4 | |||
| "Call Me Maybe" | 2011 | 18.0 | [51] | ||
| "Love Story" | 2008 | 18.0 | [52] | ||
| "Someone Like You" | 2011 | 17.0 | [53] | ||
| "Needed Me" | 2016 | 17.0 | |||
| "Señorita" | 2019 | 16.1 | |||
| Imagine Dragons | "Radioactive" | 2012 | 16 | [54] | |
| "Believer" | 2017 | 15.4 | [55] [56] | ||
| "God's Plan" | 2018 | 15.3 |
| Artist | Single | Released | Sales (in millions) | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Blurred Lines" | 2013 | 14.8 | |||
| "Moves Like Jagger" | 2011 | 14.4 | [57] | ||
| "Tik Tok" | 2009 | 14 | [58] | ||
| "Poker Face" | 2008 | 14 | [59] | ||
| "Happy" | 2013 | 13.9 | |||
| "Sugar" | 2015 | 13.5 | |||
| "Sunflower" | 2018 | 13.4 | |||
| "Thrift Shop" | 2012 | 13.4 | |||
| "7 Rings" | 2019 | 13.3 | |||
| "Dark Horse" | 2013 | 13.2 | |||
| "Lean On" | 2015 | 13.1 | |||
| "Somebody That I Used to Know" | 2011 | 13 | [60] | ||
| "Love Me like You Do" | 2015 | 12.6 | |||
| "One Dance" | 2016 | 12.5 | |||
| "Just the Way You Are" | 2010 | 12.5 | |||
| "Hello" | 2015 | 12.3 | |||
| "All of Me" | 2013 | 12.3 | |||
| "I'm Yours" | 2008 | 12.2 | [61] [62] [63] | ||
| "Right Round" | 2009 | 12 | [64] | ||
| "Low" | 2007 | 12 | [65] | ||
| "Bad Romance" | 2009 | 12 | [66] | ||
| "Girls Like You" | 2018 | 11.9 | |||
| "Love Yourself" | 2015 | 11.7 | |||
| "Dance Monkey" | 2019 | 11.4 | |||
| "Wake Me Up" | 2013 | 11.1 | |||
| "Cheap Thrills" | 2016 | 11.1 | |||
| "All About That Bass" | 2014 | 11 | |||
| "Be Apart" | 2018 | 10.9 | |||
| "Let It Go" | 2013 | 10.9 | |||
| "Sorry" | 2015 | 10.8 | |||
| "7 Years" | 2015 | 10.4 | |||
| "I Don't Care" | 2019 | 10.3 | |||
| "Shallow" | 2018 | 10.2 | |||
| "Don't Let Me Down" | 2016 | 10.2 | |||
| "Royals" | 2013 | 10 | [67] | ||
| "Grenade" | 2010 | 10.2 | |||
| "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" | 2015 | 10 | |||
| "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" | 2010 | 10 | [68] | ||
| "Hips Don't Lie" | 2006 | 10 | [69] | ||
| "Just Dance" | 2008 | 10 | [70] |
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.
| Artist | Single | Released | Units (in billions) | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Blinding Lights" | 2019 | 5.31 | |||
| "Save Your Tears" | 2020 | 4.66 | |||
| "Stay" | 2021 | 3.81 | |||
| "As It Was" | 2022 | 3.74 | |||
| "Levitating" | 2020 | 2.99 | |||
| "Bad Habits" | 2021 | 2.77 | |||
| "Flowers" | 2023 | 2.70 | |||
| "Dance Monkey" | 2019 | 2.34 | |||
| "Calm Down" | 2022 | 1.89 | |||
| "Kill Bill" | 2022 | 1.84 | |||
| "Die for You" | 2023 | 1.78 | |||
| "Butter" | 2021 | 1.76 | |||
| "Heat Waves" | 2020 | 1.75 | |||
| "Drivers License" | 2021 | 1.73 | |||
| "Peaches" | 2021 | 1.72 | |||
| "The Box" | 2019 | 1.67 | |||
| "Roses" | 2019 | 1.64 | |||
| "Don't Start Now" | 2019 | 1.62 | |||
| "Good 4 U" | 2021 | 1.61 | |||
| "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" | 2021 | 1.60 | |||
| "Life Is Good" | 2020 | 1.57 |
| 1966 | "The Ballad of the Green Berets" | [71] | ||
| 1968 | "Hey Jude" | [72] | ||
| 1969 | "Sugar, Sugar" | [73] | ||
| 1990 | "Vogue" | [74] | ||
| 1992 | "I Will Always Love You" | [75] | ||
| 1998 | "My Heart Will Go On" | [76] |
| 2007 | "Girlfriend" | 7.3 | [77] | ||
| 2008 | "Lollipop" | 9.1 | [78] | ||
| 2009 | "Poker Face" | 9.8 | |||
| 2010 | "Tik Tok" | 12.8 | [79] | ||
| 2011 | "Just the Way You Are" | 12.5 | |||
| 2012 | "Call Me Maybe" | 12.5 | |||
| 2013 | "Blurred Lines" | 14.8 | |||
| 2014 | "Happy" | 13.9 | |||
| 2015 | "See You Again" | 20.9 | |||
| 2016 | "One Dance" | 12.5 | |||
| 2017 | "Shape of You" | 26.6 | |||
| 2018 | "Havana" | 19.0 | |||
| 2019 | "Bad Guy" | 19.5 | |||
| 2020 | "Blinding Lights" | [80] | |||
| 2021 | "Save Your Tears" | [81] | |||
| 2022 | "As It Was" | [82] | |||
| 2023 | "Flowers" | [83] |
This lists the top 100 certified music artists (albums), and the top 50 certified music artists (digital singles).