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List of best-selling singles

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According to Guinness World Records, the holiday perennial "White Christmas" (1942) by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies. 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 states that double A-side charity single "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) by Elton John, a tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, is "the biggest-selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s, having accumulated worldwide sales of 33 million copies," making it the second-best-selling single of all time.

The artist with the most singles (excluding featured credits) on this list are Rihanna and Katy Perry with seven entries each, Elvis Presley and Shakira with six entries, and Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Flo Rida and Lady Gaga with five each.

Given the recent trend that commercial music download sites increasingly sell mostly single tracks rather than whole albums, the list is split between digital singles and physical (CD and vinyl) singles.[1] Portable audio players, which make it extremely easy to load and play songs from many different artists, are claimed to be a major factor behind this trend.

In italics, singles whose listed sales are the compilation of sales in available markets instead of a worldwide sales figure. These sales figures are therefore neither complete nor definitive.

Best-selling physical singles

15 million copies or more

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Bing Crosby "White Christmas" 1942 Christmas, pop 50 [2]
Elton John "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" 1997 Soft rock, symphonic rock, pop 33 [2]
Bing Crosby "Silent Night" 1935 Christmas, pop 30 [3]
Bill Haley & His Comets "Rock Around the Clock" 1954 Rock and roll, rockabilly 25 [4]
Elvis Presley "It's Now or Never" 1960 Pop 20 [5]
USA for Africa "We Are the World" 1985 Pop, gospel 20 [6]
Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" 1992 Pop, soul 20 [7]
The Ink Spots "If I Didn't Care" 1939 R&B, doo-wop 19 [8]
Baccara "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" 1977 Euro disco 16 [9]
Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" 1991 Soft rock 15 [10]
Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" 1997 Pop 15 [11]

10—14.9 million copies

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas Is You" 1994 Pop, R&B, dance-pop 14 [12][13]
Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" 1978 Disco 14 [14]
Scorpions "Wind of Change" 1991 Rock 14 [15]
The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" 1963 Rock, pop 13 [16]
Kyu Sakamoto "Sukiyaki" 1961 Pop, Kayōkyoku, J-pop 13 [17]
Trio "Da Da Da" 1981 Neue Deutsche Welle 13 [18]
Gene Autry "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" 1949 Christmas 12 [19]
Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman "Time to Say Goodbye" 1996 Operatic pop 12 [20][21]
The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" 1963 Rock, pop 12 [3]
Village People "Y.M.C.A." 1978 Disco 12 [22]
Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" 1984 Pop rock, New Wave, synthpop, Christmas 11.7 [23]
Carl Douglas "Kung Fu Fighting" 1974 Disco, funk 11 [24][25]
Cher "Believe" 1998 Dance-pop, Eurodance 11 [26]
George McCrae "Rock Your Baby" 1974 Soul, disco 11 [3]
Los del Río "Macarena" 1995 Dance-pop, flamenco 11 [27]
Mills Brothers "Paper Doll" 1943 Country 11 [3]
Roger Whittaker "The Last Farewell" 1971 Adult contemporary, pop 11 [28]
Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time" 1998 Teen pop, dance-pop 10 [29]
Elvis Presley "Hound Dog" 1956 Rock and roll 10 [30]
Middle of the Road "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" 1971 Pop 10 [31]
The Monkees "I'm a Believer" 1966 Pop rock 10 [3][32]
Panjabi MC "Mundian To Bach Ke" 1998 Bhangra, Asian underground 10 [33]
Procol Harum "A Whiter Shade of Pale" 1967 Psychedelic rock, progressive rock, baroque pop 10 [3]
Roy Acuff "Wabash Cannonball" 1942 Country 10 [31]

8—9.9 million copies

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Paul Anka "Diana" 1957 Pop 9 [31][34]
Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" 1982 Hard rock 8.5[a] [35][36]
Shakira "Whenever, Wherever" 2001 Latin pop, World beat 8.5 [37]
Ashanti "Foolish" 2002 R&B 8.2 [38]
The Animals "The House of the Rising Sun" 1964 Blues rock, folk rock 8 [39]
Aqua "Barbie Girl" 1997 Bubblegum dance 8 [40]
The Beatles "Hey Jude" 1968 Rock, pop 8 [41]
Mahalia Jackson "Move On Up a Little Higher" 1948 Gospel 8 [42]
Mary Hopkin "Those Were the Days" 1968 Pop 8 [31]
Modern Talking "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" 1984 Synthpop, New Wave, Europop 8 [43]
Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" 1991 Grunge 8 [44]
O-Zone "Dragostea din tei" 2003 Eurodance 8 [45]
Paul Hardcastle "19" 1985 Synthpop, electro 8 [46]
Ricky Martin "Livin' la Vida Loca" 1999 Latin pop, dance-pop, pop rock 8 [27]
Richard Sanderson "Reality" 1980 Pop, soft rock, adult contemporary 8 [47][48]

7—7.9 million copies

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Shocking Blue "Venus" 1969 Garage rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock 7.5 [49]
Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 "I'll Be Missing You" 1997 Hip hop, R&B 7.2 [36][50]
a-ha "Take on Me" 1985 Synthpop, New Wave 7 [51][52]
The Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love" 1964 Rock, pop 7 [3][53]
Chic "Le Freak" 1978 Disco 7 [54]
Christina Aguilera "Genie in a Bottle" 1999 Teen pop, dance-pop 7 [27]
Danyel Gérard "Butterfly" 1971 Pop 7 [55][56]
Julie Rogers "The Wedding" 1964 Pop, adult contemporary 7 [31][57]
Las Ketchup "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" 2002 Beach, salsa 7 [58]
Queen "Another One Bites the Dust" 1980 Funk rock 7 [59]
Ricky Valance "Tell Laura I Love Her" 1960 Pop 7 [60]
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards "Amazing Grace" 1972 Gospel 7 [55]
Roy Orbison "Oh, Pretty Woman" 1964 Rock 7 [61]
Scott McKenzie "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" 1967 Psychedelic pop 7 [62]

6—6.9 million copies

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" 1976 Rock opera 6.7[a] [36][63]
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John "You're the One That I Want" 1978 Pop rock 6.5 [36][64]
Culture Club "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" 1982 New Wave, pop, reggae, blue-eyed soul, lovers rock 6.5 [65]
ABBA "Fernando" 1976 Pop, Europop 6 [66]
The Archies "Sugar, Sugar" 1969 Bubblegum pop 6 [3]
Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters "Jingle Bells" 1943 Christmas, pop 6 [3]
Bonnie Tyler "It's a Heartache" 1977 Country rock 6 [67]
Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart" 1983 Pop rock 6 [68]
Brotherhood of Man "Save Your Kisses for Me" 1976 Pop 6 [69]
Dawn featuring Tony Orlando "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" 1973 Pop 6 [3][70]
Elvis Presley "Don't Be Cruel" 1956 Rock and roll, rockabilly 6 [71]
George Michael "Careless Whisper" 1984 Pop, smooth jazz 6 [72]
Harry Simeone Chorale "The Little Drummer Boy" 1958 Pop 6 [31]
The Jackson 5 "I Want You Back" 1969 R&B 6 [73]
Janet Jackson "Together Again" 1997 Pop 6 [74]
Madonna "Vogue" 1990 Dance-pop, House, Disco 6 [75]
Mungo Jerry "In the Summertime" 1970 Pop 6 [3]
Neil Diamond "Cracklin' Rosie" 1970 Pop 6 [3]
The New Seekers "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" 1971 Pop/Folk 6 [31]
Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Water" 1970 Soft rock 6 [31]
Spice Girls "Wannabe" 1996 Pop 6 [76]
Tony Orlando and Dawn "Knock Three Times" 1970 Pop 6 [3][77]
Vernon Dalhart "The Prisoner's Song" 1924 Country 6 [3]
Wings "Mull of Kintyre" 1977 Rock 6 [78]

5—5.9 million copies

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Coolio featuring L.V. "Gangsta's Paradise" 1995 West Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, hardcore hip hop 5.8 [36][79]
Michael Jackson "Thriller" 1983 Pop, Funk 5.7[a] [80][81]
Tino Rossi "Petit Papa Noël" 1946 Christmas 5.7 [80]
Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa and Pink "Lady Marmalade" 2001 R&B, hip hop soul 5.2 [82]
Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive" 1977 Disco, Pop 5.1[a] [83]
1910 Fruitgum Company "Simon Says" 1967 Bubblegum pop 5 [84]
ABBA "Waterloo" 1974 Pop rock 5 [31][85]
The Beatles "She Loves You" 1963 Rock 5 [31]
Bee Gees "Massachusetts" 1967 Baroque pop, folk rock 5 [3][86]
Billy Swan "I Can Help" 1974 Pop, country 5 [87][88]
Britney Spears "Oops!... I Did It Again" 2000 Pop 5 [89]
The Chipmunks and David Seville "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" 1958 Christmas, novelty, pop 5 [31]
Culture Club "Karma Chameleon" 1983 New Wave 5 [90][91]
Elvis Presley "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 1960 Pop 5 [92]
Elvis Presley "Love Me Tender" 1956 Acoustic 5 [93]
Elvis Presley "Surrender" 1961 Pop 5 [31][34]
Eminem featuring Dido "Stan" 2000 Hiphop 5 [89]
Enigma "Sadeness (Part I)" 1990 New Age, downtempo 5 [94]
Engelbert Humperdinck "Release Me" 1967 Pop 5 [31]
Gene Austin "My Blue Heaven" 1927 Pop 5 [3]
Gene Autry "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine" 1939 Pop 5 [31]
George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" 1970 Folk rock, Gospel 5 [3]
The Jackson 5 "I'll Be There" 1970 Pop 5 [95]
Jeannie C. Riley "Harper Valley PTA" 1968 Pop, Country 5 [31]
Jerry Lee Lewis "Great Balls of Fire" 1957 Rock and roll 5 [96]
Jerry Lee Lewis "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On" 1957 Rock and roll 6 [96]
Kaoma "Lambada" 1989 Lambada 5 [97]
Kylie Minogue "Can't Get You Out of My Head" 2001 Nu-Dance 5 [89]
Madonna "Like a Prayer" 1989 Gospel, Pop rock 5 [98]
Mitch Miller "March from Bridge on the River Kwai" 1957 March 5 [3]
The Monkees "Daydream Believer" 1967 Pop rock 5 [99]
Musical Youth "Pass the Dutchie" 1982 Reggae 5 [100]
Nini Rosso "Il Silenzio" 1965 Pop 5 [3]
The Partridge Family "I Think I Love You" 1970 Pop 5 [31]
R. Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly" 1984 R&B, Soul 5 [101]
Shakira "Underneath Your Clothes" 2002 Pop 5 [89]
Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler "Ballad of the Green Berets" 1966 Pop 5 [31]
Terry Jacks "Seasons in the Sun" 1974 Pop 5 [31]
Three Dog Night "Joy to the World" 1971 Rock 5 [31]
Tom Jones "Delilah" 1968 Pop 5 [3]
Tommy James and the Shondells "Crimson and Clover" 1968 Psychedelic pop 5 [102]
The Tornados "Telstar" 1962 Pop 5 [3]

Best-selling digital singles

10 million copies or more

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
The Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" 2009 Dance-pop 15 [103]
Robin Thicke featuring T.I and Pharrell Williams "Blurred Lines" 2013 R&B, Disco 14.8[b] [104]
Kesha "Tik Tok" 2009 Electropop, Dance-pop 14 [105]
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz "Thrift Shop" 2012 Alternative hip hop, hipster hop 13.4[b] [104]
Gotye featuring Kimbra "Somebody That I Used to Know" 2011 Alternative rock, indie pop 13 [106]
Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are" 2010 Pop 12.5 [107]
Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" 2011 Pop 12.5 [108]
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain "Low" 2007 Southern Hip hop 12 [109]
Adele "Rolling in the Deep" 2010 Pop, Soul, Blues 11.2 [110]
LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem" 2011 Electro-house 11.2 [111]
Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc "Wake Me Up" 2013 EDM 11.1[b] [104]
Katy Perry "Firework" 2010 Disco-rock 11 [112]
Lady Gaga "Poker Face" 2008 Electropop 10.8 [113]
Bruno Mars "Grenade" 2010 Pop 10.2 [107]
Eminem featuring Rihanna "Love the Way You Lie" 2010 Hip hop 10 [114]
Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" 2009 Electropop 10 [115]
Pharrell Williams "Happy" 2013 Neo soul, funk 10 [116]
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie" 2006 Salsa 10 [37]
Shakira featuring Freshlyground "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" 2010 Afro-pop 10 [117]

8—9.9 million copies

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Katy Perry "Roar" 2013 Power Pop 9.9[b] [104]
Pink featuring Nate Ruess "Just Give Me a Reason" 2013 Pop 9.9[b] [104]
Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves like Jagger" 2011 Pop 9.8 [118]
Psy "Gangnam Style" 2012 K-pop 9.7 [108]
fun. featuring Janelle Monáe "We Are Young" 2011 Indie pop 9.6 [108]
Daft Punk "Get Lucky" 2013 Funk, Disco 9.3[b] [104]
Lil Wayne featuring Static Major "Lollipop" 2008 Electronic, Rap 9.1 [119]
Maroon 5 "Payphone" 2012 Pop 9.1 [108]
Adele "Someone like You" 2011 Pop, Soul 9 [120]
Madonna "Hung Up" 2005 Dance-pop, disco 9 [75][121]
Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis "Just Dance" 2008 Electropop 8.9 [122]
Imagine Dragons "Radioactive" 2013 Alternative rock, Electronic rock 8.6[b] [104]
The Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow" 2009 Electro hop 8.5 [123]
Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull "On the Floor" 2011 Dance-pop 8.4 [107]
Bruno Mars "When I Was Your Man" 2013 Pop 8.3[b] [104]
Lady Gaga "Born This Way" 2011 Electropop 8.2 [107]
Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer "Give Me Everything" 2011 Electro-house, Dance-pop 8.2 [107]
Thelma Aoyama "Soba ni Iru ne" 2008 Pop 8.2 [119]
Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" 2008 Pop, Folk rock, Roots rock 8.1 [123]
Will.i.am featuring Britney Spears "Scream & Shout" 2012 Dance-pop 8.1[b] [104]
Katy Perry "I Kissed a Girl" 2008 Electro-rock 8 [27]
Utada Hikaru "Flavor of Life" 2007 J-Pop, R&B 8 [124]

7—7.9 million copies

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Journey "Don't Stop Believin'" 1981 Rock 7.9[c] [125]
Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko "Stay" 2013 Pop 7.9[b] [104]
Katy Perry "Hot n Cold" 2008 Electro-rock, dance-pop 7.8 [126]
Pink "So What" 2008 Pop rock 7.8 [27]
Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love" 2008 Pop 7.7 [119]
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg "California Gurls" 2010 Disco, funk 7.6 [127]
Rihanna "Diamonds" 2012 Pop, electronic 7.5 [128]
Coldplay "Viva la Vida" 2008 Baroque pop 7.4 [129]
Eminem "Lose Yourself" 2002 Hardcore hip hop 7.4 [130]
LMFAO "Sexy and I Know It" 2011 Electro house 7.4 [131]
Timbaland featuring OneRepublic "Apologize" 2007 Pop 7.4 [132]
Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris "We Found Love" 2011 Electro house, Disco-pop 7.4 [133]
Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé "Telephone" 2010 Electropop 7.4 [134]
Train "Hey, Soul Sister" 2009 Pop rock, roots rock 7.3 [135]
Avril Lavigne "Girlfriend" 2007 Pop punk 7.3 [136]
The Black Eyed Peas "The Time (Dirty Bit)" 2010 Dance, Techno 7.3 [107]
Michel Teló "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" 2011 Sertanejo 7.2 [108]
Nicki Minaj "Starships" 2012 Eurodance 7.2 [108]
Taio Cruz "Dynamite" 2010 Electropop 7.1 [137]
One Direction "What Makes You Beautiful" 2011 Pop 7 [138]
Exile "Lovers Again" 2007 Pop 7 [139]

6—6.9 million copies

Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Maroon 5 "One More Night" 2012 Pop, reggae, funk rock 6.9 [108]
Usher featuring will.i.am "OMG" 2010 R&B 6.9 [134]
Florida Georgia Line "Cruise" 2012 Country Pop 6.7 [140]
Lorde "Royals" 2013 Art pop 6.7 [141]
Flo Rida featuring Ke$ha "Right Round" 2009 Electro dance 6.6 [142]
Flo Rida "Whistle" 2012 Pop 6.6 [108]
Rihanna featuring Jay-Z "Umbrella" 2007 R&B, urban-pop 6.6 [136]
Passenger "Let Her Go" 2013 Indie Pop, Folk Rock 6.5 [143]
Britney Spears "Toxic" 2004 Dance-pop 6.5 [144]
Bruno Mars "The Lazy Song" 2011 Pop 6.5 [107]
Flo Rida featuring Sia "Wild Ones" 2012 Dance-pop 6.5 [108]
Taylor Swift "Love Story" 2008 Country pop 6.5 [123]
Cee Lo Green "Fuck You" 2010 Pop, Funk, Soul 6.4 [145]
Foster the People "Pumped Up Kicks" 2010 Indie pop, Neo psychedelia 6.4 [146]
Katy Perry featuring Kanye West "E.T." 2011 Electronic, hiphop 6.4 [147]
Lady Antebellum "Need You Now" 2009 Country pop 6.4 [148]
OneRepublic "Counting Stars" 2013 Pop 6.4 [149]
Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris "Baby" 2010 Pop 6.4 [134]
Flo Rida "Good Feeling" 2011 Dance-pop 6.2 [150]
Greeeen "Kiseki" 2008 Pop 6.2 [119]
Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind" 2009 Hip-hop, R&B 6.1 [151]
Beyoncé "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" 2008 R&B, dance-pop 6.1 [123]
Paramore "crushcrushcrush" 2007 Rock 6.1 [134]
Adele "Set Fire to the Rain" 2011 Pop, Soul 6 [152]
Bruno Mars "Locked Out of Heaven" 2012 New wave, Funk, Reggae rock 6 [153]
David Guetta featuring Sia "Titanium" 2012 House, pop, urban-dance 6 [154]
Miley Cyrus "Party in the U.S.A." 2009 Dance-pop 6 [155]
Taylor Swift "I Knew You Were Trouble" 2012 Popstep 6 [156]
Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne "Down" 2009 R&B, Dance 6 [157]
The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes "Don't Cha" 2005 Pop 6 [158]

5—5.99 million copies

John Legend || "All of Me" || 2013 || R&B || 5.4 ||[167]
Artist Single Released Genre Sales
(in millions)
Source
Pitbull featuring Kesha "Timber" 2013 Dance-pop, Hiphop 5.9 [159]
T-Pain "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" 2007 Snap & B 5.9 [136]
fun. "Some Nights" 2012 Indie pop, world beat 5.8 [160]
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton "Can't Hold Us" 2011 Alternative hip hop, R&B 5.8 [161]
Owl City "Fireflies" 2009 Pop 5.7 [162]
Akon "Don't Matter" 2007 Reggae fusion, folk, contemporary R&B 5.7 [136]
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" 2007 Southern rap 5.7 [123]
Alicia Keys "No One" 2007 R&B, Soul 5.6 [119]
Usher featuring Young Jeezy "Love in This Club" 2008 R&B, Synthpop 5.6 [119]
Awolnation "Sail" 2010 Rock 5.5 [163]
David Guetta featuring Akon "Sexy Bitch" 2009 Electro house, Dance-pop 5.5 [164]
Katy Perry "Teenage Dream" 2010 Power pop, electropop 5.5 [165]
Katy Perry featuring Juicy J "Dark Horse" 2013 Trap, hip hop 5.5 [166]
Britney Spears "Circus" 2008 Pop 5.5 [123]
Chris Brown "With You" 2007 R&B, Pop 5.5 [119]
Kanye West "Heartless" 2008 Pop 5.5 [123]
Kings of Leon "Use Somebody" 2008 Alternative rock 5.4 [168]
Phillip Phillips "Home" 2012 Folk Rock 5.4
Rihanna "Only Girl (In the World)" 2010 Europop, Dance-pop 5.3 [169]
Eminem "Not Afraid" 2010 Hip hop 5.2 [170]
The Lumineers "Ho Hey" 2012 Folk Pop 5.2
Rihanna "Disturbia" 2008 Dance-pop, Electropop 5.2 [171]
Shop Boyz "Party Like a Rock Star" 2007 Pop 5.2 [136]
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" 2007 Snap 5.2 [136]
Kanye West "Stronger" 2007 Hip hop 5.07 [172]
Pink "Raise Your Glass" 2010 Electropop 5 [173]
Rihanna "S&M" 2011 Dance-pop, Eurodance 5 [174]
Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris "Yeah!" 2004 Crunk&B 5
Avicii "Levels" 2012 Progressive house 5 [104]
Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z "Crazy in Love" 2003 R&B, funk, hip hop, dance-pop 5 [89]
The Black Eyed Peas "My Humps" 2005 Dance hop 5 [89]
Britney Spears "Womanizer" 2008 Electropop 5 [89]
Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull "I Like It" 2010 Electropop 5 [175]
Green Day "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" 2004 Alternative Rock 5 [89]
Kelly Clarkson "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" 2012 Pop rock, electropop 5 [176]
Mariah Carey "We Belong Together" 2005 R&B, soul 5 [89]
Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz "La Tortura" 2005 Reggaeton 5 [89]
Shakira "Loca" 2010 Latin pop 5 [177]

Best-selling single by year worldwide

The charts of the best-selling singles by year in the world are compiled by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry annually since 2007. These charts are published in their two annual reports, the Digital Music Report and the Recording Industry in Numbers.

Units sold include single-track downloads, audio and video mastertones, ringback tones, full track downloads to mobile and, starting in 2013, track-equivalent streams. All versions of the same song are combined in these charts.

Year Single Artist Nationality Sales
(in millions)
Source
2007 "Girlfriend" Avril Lavigne  Canada 7.3 [136]
2008 "Lollipop" Lil Wayne featuring Static Major  United States 9.1 [119]
2009 "Poker Face" Lady Gaga  United States 9.8 [123]
2010 "TiK ToK" Ke$ha  United States 12.8 [134]
2011 "Just the Way You Are" Bruno Mars  United States 12.5 [107]
2012 "Call Me Maybe" Carly Rae Jepsen  Canada 12.5 [108]
2013 "Blurred Lines" Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell  Canada /  United States 14.8 [104]

Notes

  • ^ Sales figure includes digital sales.
  • ^ Sales figure includes 'equivalent track streams'.
  • ^ Sales figure includes physical sales.

See also

References

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