List of best-selling singles

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1942 10-inch 78 rpm release of the single "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby

This is a compendium of the best-selling music singles, based on claimed sales by various sources, certified units by certifying authorities worldwide, as well as year-end singles charts by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

A precise list of best-selling singles is hard to determine, as no organization has consistently tracked global music sales throughout history. Although the IFPI has published year-end global singles charts since 2007, it has never provided comprehensive all-time worldwide sales figures for singles. It is also difficult to compare the commercial performance of singles from different eras, due to shifts of music consumption over time. From the late 19th century to the early 2000s, physical singles were the major metric to measure a song's success. Digital downloads became the most dominant format between the mid-2000s and the mid-2010s, before being overtaken by music streaming.

According to the IFPI, a digital track purchase roughly equal to 0.3 of a physical single. ^[a] During the physical era, it was uncommon for singles to achieve Multi-Platinum certification compared to the digital era. During the first 55 years of RIAA certification (1958–2013), Elton John's "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" was the only single to receive Diamond certification for physical release. ^[2] After the inclusion of streaming for RIAA certifications in 2013, three digital singles were immediately certified Diamond that year. ^[3] By October 2019, a total of 33 singles had been certified Diamond by the RIAA. ^[4]

According to Guinness World Records , Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (1942) is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies. ^[5] The song's success was before the existence of certification systems, hence the accuracy is often disputed. ^{[6] [7]} Guinness World Records also states that John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" is "the biggest-selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s, having accumulated worldwide sales of 33 million copies". ^[5] In 2023, Guinness World Records declared "Spotlight" by Chinese singer Xiao Zhan as the best-selling digital single of all time, with 54.3 million downloads. ^[8] According to official certifications worldwide, Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" is the highest-certified single ever.

By claimed sales

Xiao Zhan's "Spotlight" was reported as the best-selling digital single of all time.

The following is a list of singles that have sold at least 20 million copies (pure sales) according to various sources. Since no official organization provides global record sales, reported figures are often exaggerations. ^{[7] [9]} Therefore, this list is ordered by the release year of singles instead of their claimed sales figures.

Top singles with claimed pure sales of at least 20 million according to various sources

Year	Single	Artist	Claimed sales (in million)	Ref.
1935	"Silent Night"	Bing Crosby	30	[10]
1942	"White Christmas"	Bing Crosby	50	[5]
1946	"Petit Papa Noël"	Tino Rossi	30	[11]
1954	"Rock Around the Clock"	Bill Haley & His Comets	25	[12] [13]
1960	"It's Now or Never"	Elvis Presley	20	[14] [15]
1985	"We Are the World"	USA for Africa	20	[16]
1992	"I Will Always Love You"	Whitney Houston	24	[17]
1997	"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997"	Elton John	33	[5]
2011	"Rolling in the Deep"	Adele	20.6	[18]
2020	"Spotlight"	Xiao Zhan	54.3	[8]

By certified units

1970s and earlier

Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist of Queen, whose "Bohemian Rhapsody" is the highest-certified single released in the 1970s

Top 10 highest-certified singles released in the 1970s and earlier

Single	Artist	Released	Certified units (in million)
"Bohemian Rhapsody"	Queen	1975	17.47 Australia: 560,000 [19] Brazil: 60,000 [20] Canada: 560,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] Germany: 750,000 [23] Italy: 500,000 [24] Japan: 100,000 [25] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] Portugal: 160,000 [27] Spain: 300,000 [28] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 11,000,000 [30]
"We Will Rock You"	Queen	1977	12.17 Brazil: 60,000 [20] Denmark: 90,000 [22] France: 500,000 [31] Germany: 500,000 [23] Italy: 100,000 [24] Japan: 600,000 [25] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 1,200,000 [29] US: 9,000,000 [30]
"September"	Earth, Wind & Fire	1978	11.88 Australia: 560,000 [19] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Germany: 900,000 [23] Italy: 200,000 [24] Japan: 100,000 [25] Mexico: 210,000 [32] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 7,000,000 [30]
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"	Brenda Lee	1958	11.63 Canada: 640,000 [21] Denmark: 90,000 [22] Germany: 600,000 [23] Italy: 100,000 [24] New Zealand: 90,000 [26] Portugal: 10,000 [33] Spain: 60,000 [28] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 7,000,000 [30]
"Highway to Hell"	AC/DC	1979	11.03 Brazil: 120,000 [20] Canada: 720,000 [21] Denmark: 90,000 [22] Germany: 900,000 [23] Italy: 300,000 [24] Mexico: 720,000 [32] New Zealand: 120,000 [26] Portugal: 80,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] UK: 1,800,000 [29] US: 6,000,000 [30]
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain"	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1971	10.02 Australia: 560,000 [19] Brazil: 30,000 [20] Denmark: 90,000 [22] Germany: 250,000 [23] Italy: 50,000 [24] New Zealand: 240,000 [26] Portugal: 20,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] UK: 600,000 [29] US: 8,000,000 [30]
"Fortunate Son"	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1969	9.91 Brazil: 30,000 [20] Denmark: 90,000 [22] Germany: 250,000 [34] Italy: 70,000 [24] New Zealand: 150,000 [26] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 1,200,000 [29] US: 8,000,000 [30]
"Piano Man"	Billy Joel	1973	9.81 Denmark: 90,000 [22] Germany: 250,000 [34] Mexico: 30,000 [35] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Spain: 60,000 [35] UK: 1,200,000 [29] US: 8,000,000 [30]
"Don't Stop Me Now"	Queen	1979	9.41 Australia: 350,000 [19] Brazil: 30,000 [20] Denmark: 270,000 [22] Germany: 900,000 [34] Italy: 400,000 [24] Japan: 100,000 [25] Portugal: 120,000 [27] Spain: 240,000 [28] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 4,000,000 [30]
"We Are the Champions"	Queen	1977	9.33 Brazil: 30,000 [20] Denmark: 90,000 [22] France: 750,000 [36] Germany: 500,000 [34] Italy: 200,000 [24] Spain: 60,000 [28] UK: 1,700,000 [29] US: 6,000,000 [30]

1980s

Steve Perry, the lead vocalist of Journey, whose "Don't Stop Believin'" is the highest-certified single released in the 1980s

Top 10 highest-certified singles released in the 1980s

Single	Artist	Released	Certified units (in million)
"Don't Stop Believin'"	Journey	1981	26.52 Australia: 910,000 [19] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Germany: 1,200,000 [34] Italy: 50,000 [24] Mexico: 30,000 [35] New Zealand: 300,000 [26] Portugal: 30,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 4,200,000 [29] US: 19,500,000 [30]
"Last Christmas"	Wham!	1984	19.74 Australia: 560,000 [19] Canada: 720,000 [21] Denmark: 630,000 [22] Germany: 2,100,000 [34] Greece: 10,000 [37] Italy: 300,000 [24] Japan: 1,200,000 [25] Netherlands: 100,000 [38] New Zealand: 120,000 [26] Portugal: 75,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 4,800,000 [29] US: 9,000,000 [30]
"Billie Jean"	Michael Jackson	1983	17.60 Australia: 630,000 [19] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] France: 1,000,000 [36] Germany: 900,000 [34] Italy: 140,000 [24] Japan: 100,000 [25] Mexico: 420,000 [35] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Portugal: 75,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] UK: 2,900,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Africa"	Toto	1982	15.58 Australia: 980,000 [19] Canada: 50,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] Germany: 750,000 [34] Italy: 140,000 [24] New Zealand: 270,000 [26] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Livin' on a Prayer"	Bon Jovi	1986	15.29 Australia: 770,000 [19] Brazil: 60,000 [20] Canada: 50,000 [21] Germany: 600,000 [34] Italy: 200,000 [24] Japan: 250,000 [25] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Spain: 180,000 [28] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Thriller"	Michael Jackson	1983	15.22 Australia: 420,000 [19] Canada: 480,000 [21] Denmark: 90,000 [22] France: 1,000,000 [36] Germany: 250,000 [34] Italy: 30,000 [24] Japan: 250,000 [25] Mexico: 270,000 [35] New Zealand: 60,000 [26] Portugal: 5,000 [27] Spain: 160,000 [28] UK: 1,700,000 [29] US: 10,500,000 [30]
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"	Whitney Houston	1987	13.52 Australia: 560,000 [19] Brazil: 30,000 [20] Canada: 50,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] France: 100,000 [36] Germany: 600,000 [34] Italy: 70,000 [24] Netherlands: 75,000 [38] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Spain: 60,000 [28] Sweden: 25,000 [39] UK: 3,500,000 [29] US: 8,000,000 [30]
"Beat It"	Michael Jackson	1983	13.43 Australia: 70,000 [19] Canada: 480,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] France: 1,000,000 [36] Germany: 500,000 [19] Italy: 100,000 [19] Japan: 250,000 [19] Mexico: 330,000 [19] Netherlands: 100,000 [19] New Zealand: 90,000 [19] Spain: 30,000 [19] UK: 1,800,000 [19] US: 8,500,000 [19]
"Careless Whisper"	George Michael	1984	11.50 Australia: 140,000 [19] Brazil: 180,000 [20] Canada: 400,000 [21] Denmark: 90,000 [22] France: 250,000 [36] Germany: 300,000 [34] Italy: 50,000 [24] Netherlands: 100,000 [38] New Zealand: 90,000 [26] Portugal: 40,000 [27] Spain: 60,000 [28] UK: 2,800,000 [29] US: 7,000,000 [30]
"Back in Black"	AC/DC	1980	11.48 Brazil: 120,000 [20] Canada: 720,000 [21] Denmark: 90,000 [22] Germany: 500,000 [34] Italy: 300,000 [24] Mexico: 750,000 [35] Portugal: 80,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 1,800,000 [29] US: 7,000,000 [30]

1990s

Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is the highest-certified single released in the 1990s

Top 10 highest-certified singles released in the 1990s

Single	Artist	Released	Certified units (in million)
"All I Want for Christmas Is You"	Mariah Carey	1994	33.41 Australia: 910,000 [19] Belgium: 10,000 [40] Brazil: 60,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 540,000 [22] Germany: 1,800,000 [23] Italy: 500,000 [24] Japan: 2,100,000 [25] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Norway: 240,000 [41] Portugal: 30,000 [27] Spain: 240,000 [28] UK: 6,000,000 [29] US: 20,000,000 [30]
"Candle in the Wind 1997"	Elton John	1997	25.38 Australia: 980,000 [19] Austria: 300,000 [42] Belgium: 450,000 [40] Brazil: 60,000 [20] Canada: 1,900,000 [21] Czech Republic: 28,000 [43] Finland: 54,225 [44] France: 750,000 [36] Germany: 4,500,000 [34] Japan: 200,000 [25] Netherlands: 450,000 [38] Norway: 160,000 [41] Poland: 20,000 [45] Spain: 200,000 [28] Sweden: 210,000 [39] Switzerland: 450,000 [46] UK: 5,400,000 [29] US: 11,000,000 [30]
"Smells Like Teen Spirit"	Nirvana	1991	16.91 Australia: 840,000 [19] Brazil: 120,000 [20] Canada: 640,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] Germany: 1,200,000 [34] Italy: 300,000 [24] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] Portugal: 120,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] Sweden: 25,000 [39] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Iris"	Goo Goo Dolls	1998	15.94 Australia: 140,000 [19] Belgium: 25,000 [40] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 90,000 [22] Italy: 300,000 [24] New Zealand: 270,000 [26] Portugal: 50,000 [27] Spain: 60,000 [28] UK: 4,200,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Thunderstruck"	AC/DC	1990	15.80 Australia: 700,000 [19] Brazil: 60,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Germany: 900,000 [34] Italy: 300,000 [24] Mexico: 630,000 [35] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] Portugal: 40,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] UK: 1,800,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"I Will Always Love You"	Whitney Houston	1992	14.48 Australia: 280,000 [19] Austria: 25,000 [42] Denmark: 90,000 [22] France: 250,000 [36] Germany: 500,000 [34] Italy: 50,000 [24] Japan: 750,000 [25] Mexico: 30,000 [35] Netherlands: 75,000 [38] New Zealand: 60,000 [26] Norway: 60,000 [41] Spain: 60,000 [28] Sweden: 50,000 [39] UK: 1,200,000 [29] US: 11,000,000 [30]
"My Heart Will Go On"	Celine Dion	1997	10.92 Australia: 140,000 [19] Austria: 25,000 [42] Belgium: 150,000 [40] Canada: 320,000 [21] Denmark: 90,000 [22] France: 750,000 [36] Germany: 2,000,000 [34] Italy: 25,000 [24] Japan: 250,000 [25] Mexico: 30,000 [35] Netherlands: 150,000 [38] New Zealand: 60,000 [26] Spain: 30,000 [28] Switzerland: 100,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 4,000,000 [30]
"...Baby One More Time"	Britney Spears	1998	9.63 Australia: 210,000 [19] Austria: 50,000 [42] Belgium: 150,000 [40] Denmark: 90,000 [22] France: 500,000 [36] Germany: 750,000 [34] Italy: 100,000 [24] Netherlands: 75,000 [38] New Zealand: 60,000 [26] Norway: 60,000 [41] Portugal: 40,000 [27] Spain: 60,000 [28] Sweden: 30,000 [39] Switzerland: 50,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 5,000,000 [30]
"Under the Bridge"	Red Hot Chili Peppers	1992	9.26 Australia: 70,000 [19] Denmark: 90,000 [22] Germany: 250,000 [34] Italy: 200,000 [24] Netherlands: 75,000 [38] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] Spain: 60,000 [28] UK: 1,800,000 [29] US: 6,500,000 [30]
"I'll Be Missing You"	Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112	1997	9.10 Australia: 140,000 [19] Austria: 100,000 [42] Belgium: 200,000 [40] Canada: 100,000 [21] Denmark: 45,000 [22] France: 250,000 [36] Germany: 2,250,000 [34] Italy: 100,000 [24] Netherlands: 150,000 [38] New Zealand: 120,000 [26] Norway: 20,000 [41] Spain: 30,000 [28] Sweden: 90,000 [39] Switzerland: 100,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 3,000,000 [30]

2000s

Eminem's "Lose Yourself" is the highest-certified single released in the 2000s

Top 10 highest-certified singles released in the 2000s

Single	Artist	Released	Certified units (in million)
"Lose Yourself"	Eminem	2002	22.62 Australia: 1,400,000 [19] Austria: 30,000 [42] Belgium: 50,000 [40] Brazil: 60,000 [20] Canada: 480,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] Finland: 6,304 [44] France: 250,000 [36] Germany: 1,800,000 [34] Greece: 10,000 [47] Italy: 150,000 [24] Japan: 950,000 [25] New Zealand: 240,000 [26] Norway: 10,000 [41] Portugal: 120,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] Sweden: 30,000 [39] Switzerland: 40,000 [46] UK: 3,600,000 [29] US: 13,000,000 [30]
"I Gotta Feeling"	Black Eyed Peas	2009	22.26 Australia: 910,000 [19] Belgium: 60000 [40] Brazil: 250,000 [20] Canada: 400,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] France: 333,333 [31] Germany: 1,200,000 [23] Italy: 210,000 [24] Japan: 250,000 [25] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] Spain: 180,000 [28] Sweden: 20,000 [39] Switzerland: 60,000 [46] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 15,000,000 [30]
"Party in the U.S.A."	Miley Cyrus	2009	19.85 Australia: 980,000 [19] Brazil: 120,000 [20] Canada: 160,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Germany: 300,000 [23] Italy: 100,000 [24] Japan: 100,000 [25] New Zealand: 270,000 [26] Norway: 180,000 [41] Spain: 60,000 [28] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 15,000,000 [30]
"I'm Yours"	Jason Mraz	2008	18.40 Australia: 210,000 [19] Austria: 15,000 [42] Belgium: 10,000 [40] Canada: 160,000 [21] Denmark: 360,000 [22] France: 150,000 [36] Germany: 150,000 [34] Italy: 150,000 [24] Japan: 100,000 [25] Mexico: 60,000 [35] New Zealand: 240,000 [26] Norway: 40,000 [41] Spain: 240,000 [28] Sweden: 10,000 [39] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 13,500,000 [30]
"Yeah!"	Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris	2004	18.14 Australia: 630,000 [19] Austria: 15,000 [42] Belgium: 50,000 [40] Canada: 810,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Germany: 600,000 [34] Italy: 70,000 [24] Japan: 100,000 [25] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Norway: 10,000 [41] Spain: 60,000 [28] Sweden: 10,000 [39] Switzerland: 20,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 13,000,000 [30]
"Hey, Soul Sister"	Train	2009	17.93 Australia: 1,050,000 [19] Belgium: 15,000 [40] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Germany: 600,000 [34] Italy: 100,000 [24] Mexico: 60,000 [35] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Spain: 120,000 [28] Sweden: 10,000 [39] Switzerland: 15,000 [46] UK: 1,800,000 [29] US: 13,000,000 [30]
"Halo"	Beyoncé	2008	17.47 Australia: 910,000 [19] Brazil: 250,000 [20] Canada: 720,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] Germany: 900,000 [34] Italy: 150,000 [24] Mexico: 30,000 [35] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Norway: 30,000 [41] Portugal: 20,000 [27] Spain: 80,000 [28] Switzerland: 30,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 11,500,000 [30]
"Poker Face"	Lady Gaga	2008	17.29 Australia: 1,050,000 [19] Austria: 90,000 [42] Belgium: 20,000 [40] Brazil: 250,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Finland: 14,227 [44] Germany: 1,200,000 [34] Italy: 60,000 [24] Japan: 750,000 [25] New Zealand: 150,000 [26] Norway: 240,000 [41] Spain: 140,000 [28] Sweden: 40,000 [39] Switzerland: 90,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Just Dance"	Lady Gaga	2008	16.94 Australia: 980,000 [19] Austria: 60,000 [42] Belgium: 10,000 [40] Brazil: 250,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 30,000 [22] Germany: 600,000 [34] Italy: 100,000 [24] Japan: 200,000 [25] New Zealand: 150,000 [26] Norway: 180,000 [41] Spain: 100,000 [28] Sweden: 20,000 [39] Switzerland: 60,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 11,000,000 [30]
"Tik Tok"	Kesha	2009	16.68 Australia: 630,000 [19] Austria: 30,000 [42] Belgium: 30,000 [40] Canada: 320,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Finland: 5,910 [44] France: 150,000 [36] Germany: 900,000 [34] Italy: 60,000 [24] Japan: 250,000 [25] Mexico: 60,000 [35] New Zealand: 150,000 [26] Spain: 40,000 [28] Sweden: 40,000 [39] Switzerland: 30,000 [46] UK: 1,800,000 [29] US: 12,000,000 [30]

2010s

Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" is the highest-certified single released in the 2010s

Top 10 highest-certified singles released in the 2010s

Single	Artist	Released	Certified units (in million)
"Shape of You"	Ed Sheeran	2017	34.68 Australia: 1,190,000 [19] Austria: 180,000 [42] Belgium: 140,000 [40] Canada: 1,600,000 [21] Denmark: 810,000 [22] France: 233,333 [36] Germany: 2,400,000 [23] Italy: 500,000 [24] Japan: 250,000 [25] Netherlands: 80,000 [38] New Zealand: 390,000 [26] Poland: 1,250,000 [45] Portugal: 80,000 [27] South Korea: 5,000,000 [48] Spain: 440,000 [28] Sweden: 360,000 [39] Switzerland: 180,000 [46] UK: 6,600,000 [29] US: 13,000,000 [30]
"Sunflower"	Post Malone and Swae Lee	2018	28.46 Australia: 1,400,000 [19] Belgium: 20,000 [40] Brazil: 800,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] France: 433,333 [36] Germany: 600,000 [23] Italy: 200,000 [24] Mexico: 300,000 [35] New Zealand: 330,000 [26] Poland: 150,000 [45] Portugal: 40,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 20,000,000 [30]
"Thinking Out Loud"	Ed Sheeran	2014	27.13 Australia: 910,000 [19] Austria: 90,000 [42] Belgium: 40,000 [40] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 540,000 [22] France: 75,000 [36] Germany: 600,000 [34] Italy: 350,000 [24] Mexico: 90,000 [35] New Zealand: 330,000 [26] Portugal: 40,000 [27] Spain: 300,000 [28] Sweden: 40,000 [39] Switzerland: 120,000 [46] UK: 4,800,000 [29] US: 18,000,000 [30]
"Just the Way You Are"	Bruno Mars	2010	27.05 Australia: 490,000 [19] Austria: 30,000 [42] Belgium: 30,000 [40] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Germany: 750,000 [34] Ireland: 15,000 [49] Italy: 100,000 [24] Japan: 100,000 [25] Mexico: 60,000 [35] New Zealand: 240,000 [26] Portugal: 40,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] Switzerland: 30,000 [46] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 21,000,000 [30]
"Old Town Road"	Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus	2018	25.77 Australia: 1,050,000 [19] Austria: 120,000 [42] Belgium: 160,000 [40] Brazil: 520,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 1,000,000 [34] Italy: 100,000 [24] Mexico: 540,000 [35] Netherlands: 240,000 [38] New Zealand: 240,000 [26] Norway: 240,000 [41] Poland: 100,000 [45] Portugal: 40,000 [27] Spain: 20,000 [28] Switzerland: 100,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 17,500,000 [30]
"Take Me to Church"	Hozier	2013	25.57 Australia: 1,260,000 [19] Austria: 30,000 [42] Belgium: 60,000 [40] Brazil: 500,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 360,000 [22] France: 233,333 [36] Germany: 1,050,000 [34] Italy: 350,000 [24] Mexico: 30,000 [35] Netherlands: 90,000 [38] New Zealand: 270,000 [26] Norway: 70,000 [41] Portugal: 40,000 [27] Spain: 240,000 [28] Sweden: 360,000 [39] Switzerland: 30,000 [46] UK: 4,800,000 [29] US: 15,000,000 [30]
"Closer"	The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey	2016	25.18 Australia: 1,400,000 [19] Austria: 30,000 [42] Belgium: 60,000 [40] Brazil: 750,000 [20] Canada: 1,600,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] France: 233,333 [36] Germany: 800,000 [34] Italy: 300,000 [24] Mexico: 750,000 [35] Netherlands: 40,000 [38] New Zealand: 270,000 [26] Norway: 180,000 [41] Poland: 100,000 [45] Portugal: 20,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] Sweden: 200,000 [39] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 15,000,000 [30]
"Starboy"	The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk	2016	24.35 Australia: 1,050,000 [19] Belgium: 40,000 [40] Brazil: 1,000,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 360,000 [22] France: 233,333 [36] Germany: 1,200,000 [34] Italy: 400,000 [24] Mexico: 90,000 [35] New Zealand: 270,000 [26] Norway: 120,000 [41] Poland: 250,000 [45] Portugal: 200,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] Sweden: 160,000 [39] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 15,000,000 [30]
"Sweater Weather"	The Neighbourhood	2012	24.18 Australia: 700,000 [19] Brazil: 1,750,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] Germany: 900,000 [34] Hungary: 44,000 [50] Italy: 200,000 [24] Mexico: 870,000 [35] New Zealand: 150,000 [26] Portugal: 70,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 16,000,000 [30]
"Radioactive"	Imagine Dragons	2012	24.10 Australia: 700,000 [19] Austria: 60,000 [42] Belgium: 15,000 [40] Brazil: 1,000,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 15,000 [22] Germany: 1,200,000 [34] Italy: 200,000 [24] Mexico: 60,000 [35] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Norway: 20,000 [41] Spain: 180,000 [28] Sweden: 240,000 [39] Switzerland: 30,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 17,000,000 [30]

2020s

Glass Animals's "Heat Waves" is the highest-certified single released in the 2020s

Top 10 highest-certified singles released in the 2020s

Single	Artist	Released	Certified units (in million)
"Heat Waves"	Glass Animals	2020	24.95 Australia: 1,610,000 [19] Austria: 150,000 [42] Brazil: 480,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 1,000,000 [34] India: 6,120,000 [51] Italy: 400,000 [24] New Zealand: 240,000 [26] Poland: 250,000 [45] Portugal: 60,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] Switzerland: 120,000 [46] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Save Your Tears"	The Weeknd	2020	19.24 Australia: 1,120,000 [19] Austria: 90,000 [42] Belgium: 40,000 [40] Brazil: 960,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 360,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 800,000 [34] Italy: 500,000 [24] New Zealand: 360,000 [26] Norway: 240,000 [41] Poland: 250,000 [45] Portugal: 90,000 [27] Spain: 300,000 [28] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Stay"	The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber	2021	17.79 Australia: 1,190,000 [19] Austria: 60,000 [42] Belgium: 80,000 [40] Brazil: 480,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 360,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 200,000 [34] Italy: 400,000 [24] Mexico: 210,000 [35] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] Norway: 120,000 [41] Poland: 200,000 [45] Portugal: 50,000 [27] Spain: 240,000 [28] Switzerland: 60,000 [46] UK: 1,800,000 [29] US: 11,000,000 [30]
"Flowers"	Miley Cyrus	2023	17.03 Australia: 700,000 [19] Austria: 150,000 [42] Belgium: 120,000 [40] Brazil: 800,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 900,000 [34] Hungary: 44,000 [50] Italy: 400,000 [24] Mexico: 2,100,000 [35] New Zealand: 180,000 [26] Poland: 250,000 [45] Portugal: 60,000 [27] Spain: 420,000 [28] Switzerland: 100,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 7,000,000 [30]
"As It Was"	Harry Styles	2022	16.18 Australia: 840,000 [19] Austria: 60,000 [42] Brazil: 1,600,000 [20] Canada: 640,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 600,000 [34] Hungary: 32,000 [50] Italy: 500,000 [24] Mexico: 1,470,000 [35] New Zealand: 150,000 [26] Poland: 250,000 [45] Portugal: 80,000 [27] Spain: 360,000 [28] Switzerland: 80,000 [46] UK: 3,000,000 [29] US: 6,000,000 [30]
"Levitating"	Dua Lipa	2020	16.12 Australia: 560,000 [19] Austria: 90,000 [42] Belgium: 20,000 [40] Brazil: 160,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 270,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 400,000 [34] Italy: 300,000 [24] New Zealand: 270,000 [26] Norway: 120,000 [41] Poland: 250,000 [45] Portugal: 30,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Lose Control"	Teddy Swims	2023	15.78 Australia: 490,000 [19] Austria: 60,000 [42] Belgium: 40,000 [40] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 300,000 [34] Italy: 100,000 [24] Netherlands: 232,500 [38] New Zealand: 270,000 [26] Poland: 225,000 [45] Portugal: 70,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] Switzerland: 100,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 10,000,000 [30]
"Beautiful Things"	Benson Boone	2024	14.84 Australia: 840,000 [19] Austria: 90,000 [42] Belgium: 120,000 [40] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 600,000 [34] Italy: 200,000 [24] Mexico: 350,000 [35] Netherlands: 93,000 [38] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] Poland: 250,000 [45] Portugal: 70,000 [27] Spain: 180,000 [28] Switzerland: 120,000 [46] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 8,000,000 [30]
"Something in the Orange"	Zach Bryan	2022	14.82 Australia: 560,000 [19] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 45,000 [22] New Zealand: 210,000 [26] UK: 1,200,000 [29] US: 12,000,000 [30]
"Good 4 U"	Olivia Rodrigo	2021	14.45 Australia: 770,000 [19] Brazil: 800,000 [20] Canada: 800,000 [21] Denmark: 180,000 [22] France: 333,333 [36] Germany: 600,000 [34] Italy: 70,000 [24] Mexico: 980,000 [35] New Zealand: 150,000 [26] Norway: 120,000 [41] Poland: 100,000 [45] Portugal: 30,000 [27] Spain: 120,000 [28] UK: 2,400,000 [29] US: 7,000,000 [30]

By year

Kesha's "Tik Tok" is the first single to sell over 10 million digital copies in a year according to the IFPI.

The Weeknd is the first artist to top the IFPI's year-end global single chart twice, with "Blinding Lights" in 2020 and "Save Your Tears" in 2021.

Best-selling singles of the year reported by various sources (non-IFPI)

Year	Single	Artist	Ref.
1966	"The Ballad of the Green Berets"	Barry Sadler	[52]
1968	"Hey Jude"	The Beatles	[53]
1969	"Sugar, Sugar"	The Archies	[54]
1990	"Vogue"	Madonna	[55]
1996	"Killing Me Softly"	Fugees	[56]
1998	"My Heart Will Go On"	Celine Dion	[57]

IFPI's top singles of the year based on pure digital sales

Year	Single	Artist	Sales (in million)	Ref.
2007	"Girlfriend"	Avril Lavigne	7.3	[58]
2008	"Lollipop"	Lil Wayne featuring Static Major	9.1	[59]
2009	"Poker Face"	Lady Gaga	9.8	[60]
2010	"Tik Tok"	Kesha	12.8	[61]
2011	"Just the Way You Are"	Bruno Mars	12.5	[62]
2012	"Call Me Maybe"	Carly Rae Jepsen	12.5	[62]

IFPI's top singles of the year based on track-equivalent units

Year	Single	Artist	Units (in million)	Ref.
2013	"Blurred Lines"	Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell	14.8	[63]
2014	"Happy"	Pharrell Williams	13.9	[64]
2015	"See You Again"	Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth	20.9	[65]
2016	"One Dance"	Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla	12.5	[66] [67]
2017	"Shape of You"	Ed Sheeran	26.6	[67]
2018	"Havana"	Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug	19	[68]
2019	"Bad Guy"	Billie Eilish	19.5	[69]

IFPI's top singles of the year based on subscription-stream equivalents

Year	Single	Artist	Ref.
2020	"Blinding Lights"	The Weeknd	[70]
2021	"Save Your Tears"	The Weeknd	[71]
2022	"As It Was"	Harry Styles	[72]
2023	"Flowers"	Miley Cyrus	[73]
2024	"Beautiful Things"	Benson Boone	[74]

See also

• Record production portal

• Hit song
• IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year
• List of best-selling singles by country
• List of best-selling Latin singles

Notes

1. 1 album sold equals 3 physical singles or 10 track downloads. ^[1]

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Literary sources

• Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd, illustrated ed.). Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN   0-214-20480-4.