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UK singles chart number ones
UK singles chart
Other charts
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Black-and-white publicity photograph of Elvis Presley from the film Jailhouse Rock.
Elvis Presley has achieved 21 number ones on the UK Singles Chart, more than any other act.

The UK Singles Chart is a weekly record chart which for most of its history was based on single sales from Sunday to Saturday in the United Kingdom. Since July 2014 it has also incorporated streaming data, and from 10 July 2015 has been based on a Friday to Thursday week. As of 28 December 2023, 1420 singles have reached number one. The chart was founded in 1952 by Percy Dickins of New Musical Express (NME), who telephoned 20 record stores to ask what their top 10 highest-selling singles were. Dickins aggregated the results into a top 12 hit parade, which was topped by "Here in My Heart" by Al Martino. NME's chart was published each week in its eponymous magazine.

The sources, in accordance with the official canon of the Official Charts Company, are the New Musical Express chart from 1952 to 1960; the Record Retailer chart from 1960 to 1969; and the Official UK Singles Chart from 1969 onwards.

Turnover of number ones

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The calendar year that has featured the most UK number ones is 2000, which featured 42 singles reaching the top spot; the year with the fewest number ones is 1952 with 1, followed by 2016 with 10. The act that has achieved the most number ones is American entertainer Elvis Presley, who has topped the chart 21 times (including 3 re-releases of songs that had previously been number ones) – Presley's second number one, "Jailhouse Rock", was the first single ever to debut at the top of the chart.[1] The most successful band (and equal with Elvis based on unique songs) are The Beatles, who have achieved 18 number ones. The Beatles' first chart-topper, "From Me to You", reached number one in May 1963, and their last in November 2023 - the longest span of number ones for any artist.

In the 1970s, the required number of sales needed to top the chart was roughly 150,000.[2] During 1992, when few releases were reaching number one, sales of CD singles were low: songs needed to sell only 60–70,000 each week to remain at the top.[3] In 2000, when turnover of number ones was high, tracks could often sell between 100,000 and 200,000 copies in a single week.[3] UK chart commentator James Masterton remarked in 2003: "When record sales are high, public interest in a song expires very quickly and this creates a need for ever more new product to take its place."[3] Sales figures improved in 2008 and continued into the early 2010s, peaking in 2013, before declining over the next few years as audio streaming became popular. Eventually, streaming was incorporated into the sales chart.

Graph showing number of UK number-one singles for each year since 1953. The 2011 figure is projected.
Al Martino's track "Here in My Heart" was the first single ever to top the UK Singles Chart, and the only single to reach number one during 1952.

Number ones in each year

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Composite image of four black and white photographs showing the faces of The Beatles
The Beatles topped the chart 17 times during the 1960s, more than any other act that decade
Madonna is the most successful female solo artist in the UK, having achieved 13 number one singles
Bryan Adams' first number one, "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", spent 16 consecutive weeks at number one, longer than any other track
Westlife were the most successful band of the 2000s, with 11 number one singles in that decade and 14 overall
Tinie Tempah (above) had seven UK number one singles in the 2010s
Key
† Most number ones of the decade
‡ Most number ones of all time
Contents
1950s • 1960s • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s • 2010s • 2020s
Year Number-one singles Ref.
1950s
1952 1 [4]
1953 14 [4]
1954 11 [4]
1955 14 [4]
1956 12 [4]
1957 13 [4]
1958 13 [4]
1959 16 † [4]
1960s
1960 16 [5]
1961 21 [6]
1962 12 [7]
1963 17 [8]
1964 23 [9]
1965 24 † [10]
1966 20 [11]
1967 14 [12]
1968 21 [13]
1969 18 [14]
1970s
1970 14 [15]
1971 13 [16]
1972 17 [17]
1973 17 [18]
1974 21 † [19]
1975 20 [20]
1976 16 [21]
1977 18 [22]
1978 14 [23]
1979 18 [24]
1980s
1980 24 † [25]
1981 19 [26]
1982 21 [27]
1983 17 [28]
1984 14 [29]
1985 19 [30]
1986 20 [31]
1987 19 [32]
1988 19 [33]
1989 18 [34]
1990s
1990 17 [35]
1991 17 [36]
1992 12 [37]
1993 15 [38]
1994 15 [39]
1995 17 [40]
1996 24 [41]
1997 24 [42]
1998 29 [43]
1999 36 † [44]
2000s
2000 42 ‡ [45]
2001 30 [46]
2002 30 [47]
2003 22 [48]
2004 29 [49]
2005 28 [50]
2006 24 [51]
2007 17 [52]
2008 20 [53]
2009 31 [54]
2010s
2010 35 [55]
2011 30 [56]
2012 36 [57]
2013 29 [58]
2014 38 † [59]
2015 23 [60]
2016 10 [61]
2017 14 [62]
2018 16 [63]
2019 12 [64]
2020s
2020 20 [65]
2021 13 [66]
2022 12 [67]
2023 15 [68]
2024 11 [69]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Return of the king". Music Week (29.01.05). London: CMP. 29 January 2005. ISSN 0265-1548. OCLC 60620772. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  2. ^ Martland, Peter (1997). Edge, Ruth (ed.). Since records began: EMI, the first 100 years (illustrated ed.). London: Batsford. p. 253. ISBN 9780713462074. OCLC 37740500.
  3. ^ a b c Masterton, James (31 March 2003). "dotmusic.com – Chart Commentary". dotmusic. Archived from the original on 1 April 2003. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "All the Number 1 Singles". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  5. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1960". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  6. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1961". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  7. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1962". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  8. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1963". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  9. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1964". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  10. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1965". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  11. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1966". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  12. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1967". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  13. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1968". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  14. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1969". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  15. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1970". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  16. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1971". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  17. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1972". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  18. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1973". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  19. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1974". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  20. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1975". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  21. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1976". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  22. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1977". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  23. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1978". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  24. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1979". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  25. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1980". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  26. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1981". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  27. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1982". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  28. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1983". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  29. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1984". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  30. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1985". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  31. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1986". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  32. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1987". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  33. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1988". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  34. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1989". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  35. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1990". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  36. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1991". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  37. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1992". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  38. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1993". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  39. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1994". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  40. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1995". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  41. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1996". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  42. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1997". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  43. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1998". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  44. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1999". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  45. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2000". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  46. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2001". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  47. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2002". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  48. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2003". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  49. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2004". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  50. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2005". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  51. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2006". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  52. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2007". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  53. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2008". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  54. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2009". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  55. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2010". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  56. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2011". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  57. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2012". London: Official Charts Company. 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  58. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2013". London: Official Charts Company. 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  59. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2014". London: Official Charts Company. 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  60. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2015". London: Official Charts Company. 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  61. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2016". London: Official Charts Company. 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  62. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2017". London: Official Charts Company. 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  63. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2018". London: Official Charts Company. 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  64. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2019". London: Official Charts Company. 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  65. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2020". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  66. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2020". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  67. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2020". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  68. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2020". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  69. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 2020". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
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