The 21 best-selling albums of all time
At 33 million certified units sold, the best-selling album of all time has achieved triple-diamond status — the only album to do so.
Best selling albums
Updated
With the release of blockbuster albums like Beyonce's "Lemonade" and Rihanna's "ANTI" and Drake's "Views," 2016 was a big year for the music industry. But are any of those recent hits on their way to being among the top-selling albums of all time? To help answer that question, PrettyFamous, an entertainment data site, looked back at the most popular albums in music history.
Based on information from the Recording Industry Association of America database of album sales/certification, the following is a ranking of albums by the total number of certified units sold. Overall, 117 albums have reached diamond certification, meaning they have sold more than 10 million units.
Country star Garth Brooks has more diamond certified albums than any other artist. The Beatles come in second. But neither of those artists have an album in the top five. At 33 million certified units sold, the best-selling album of all time has achieved triple-diamond status — the only album to do so.
Here's a look at the albums that have sold 16 million copies or more.
Note: Ties are broken first on the number of years between an album's initial release and diamond certification date, and then by the release year.
#21. "Physical Graffiti" by Led Zeppelin
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** FILE ** Singer Robert Plant, left, and guitarist Jimmy Page, right, of the British rock band Led Zeppelin perform at the Live Aid concert at Philadelphia's J.F.K. Stadium in this file photo July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, file)
Certified units: 16M
Last certified date: 01/30/2006
Release year: 1975
Album type: Studio album
Label: Swan Song
#20. "Hotel California" by Eagles
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The rock band the Eagles performs together for the first time in 14 years at a reunion concert , May 27, 1994, in Irvine, Calif. On drums is Don Henley. Front row, left to right, is Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey, Don Felder and Joe Walsh. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
Certified units: 16M
Last certified date: 03/20/2001
Release year: 1976
Album type: Studio album
Label: Asylum
#19. "Metallica" by Metallica
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Members of the group Metallica, from left; James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich and Jason Newsted, accept the award for Best Hard Rock Video at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Certified units: 16M
Last certified date: 12/13/2012
Release year: 1991
Album type: Studio album
Label: Atlantic Records / Elektra Records
#18. "Cracked Rear View" by Hootie & the Blowfish
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Hootie and the Blowfish accept the award for Best New Artist in a Video during the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York Thursday, Sept. 7, 1995. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Certified units: 16M
Last certified date: 03/31/1999
Release year: 1994
Album type: Studio album
Label: Atlantic
#17. "Jagged Little Pill" by Alanis Morissette
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Canadian rock singer Alanis Morissette performs at the Ariston Theater in Sanremo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999 as guest star of the Italian song contest "Festival of San Remo." (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Certified units: 16M
Last certified date: 07/29/1998
Release year: 1995
Album type: Studio album
Label: Maverick
#16. "Greatest Hits" by Elton John
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Rock Star Elton John tips his hat after having a star dedicated to him in the Walk of Fame along Hollywood Boulevard, Thursday, Oct. 23, 1975, Los Angeles, Calif. John was the 1,662 entertainer to be honored with a star in the sidewalk. (AP Photo/Jeff Robbins)
Certified units: 17M
Last certified date: 04/28/2016
Release year: 1974
Album type: Compilation album
Label: Island
#15. "1967-1970" by The Beatles
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The Beatles, Britain's top rock band, relax in London over tea in 1963. The group from left: John Lennon, Paul McCartney; George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The group is sporting similar thatch haircuts with bangs to the edge of their eyebrows. No other information available with photo. (AP Photo)
Certified units: 17M
Last certified date: 08/27/2010
Release year: 1973
Album type: Compilation album
Label: EMI
#14. "Boston" by Boston
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Tom Scholz, Gary Pihl, Curly Smith, Kimberley Dahme, Jeff Neal, Tommy DeCarlo, David Victor and Tracy Ferrie with Boston performing as part of the Heaven On Earth Tour at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park on Saturday, June 14, 2014, in Atlanta. (Photo by Robb D. Cohen/Invision/AP)
Certified units: 17M
Last certified date: 11/20/2003
Release year: 1976
Album type: Studio album
Label: Epic
#13. "No Fences" by Garth Brooks
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Country music singer Garth Brooks tips his hat to the audience at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Oct. 2, 1991, after winning his first award for single of the year during the 25th anniversary of the Country Music Association Awards. Brooks also won the album of the year award. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Certified units: 17M
Last certified date: 11/01/2006
Release year: 1990
Album type: Studio album
Label: Capitol
#12. "The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album" by Whitney Houston/ Various Artists
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Whitney Houston performs during the 21st annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium Feb. 7, 1994 in Los Angeles. On the strength of "The Bodyguard" soundtrack, the vocalist swept the awards with seven honors and also was named recipient of the award of Merit for "outstanding contributions to the musical entertainment of the American public."(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Certified units: 17M
Last certified date: 11/01/1999
Release year: 1992
Album type: Soundtrack
Label: Arista
#11. "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns N' Roses
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Guns N'Roses rock group receives the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for "November Rain" at the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, Ca., on Sept. 9, 1992. At the podium are, Axl Rose, left, and Slash. Joining them on the stage are, from left, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke, Dizzy Reed and Matt Sorum. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Certified units: 18M
Last certified date: 09/23/2008
Release year: 1987
Album type: Studio album
Label: Geffen
#10. "The Beatles" by The Beatles
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The Beatles smile as they display the Member of The Order of The British Empire medals presented to them by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony in Buckingham Palace in London, England on Oct. 26, 1965. Left to right are Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. (AP Photo)
Certified units: 19M
Last certified date: 02/06/2001
Release year: 1968
Album type: Studio album
Label: Apple
#9. "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac
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Members of Fleetwood Mac, from left, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, wearing sunglasses, and John McVie, pose with their Grammys at the annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Ca., Feb. 23, 1978. The group won in the category of Album of the Year for "Rumours." (AP Photo)
Certified units: 20M
Last certified date: 10/03/2014
Release year: 1977
Album type: Studio album
Label: Warner Bros.
#8. "Come On Over" by Shania Twain
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Country singing sensation Shania Twain sings during her rain soaked concert Monday, Aug. 24, 1998, in the grandstand area of the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes, N.Y. Twain performed before a sold out audience. (AP Photo/Michael Okoniewski)
Certified units: 20M
Last certified date: 11/15/2004
Release year: 1997
Album type: Studio album
Label: Mercury Nashville
#7. "Double Live" by Garth Brooks
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Garth Brooks takes off his hat as he holds up his award for Artist of the Decade during the 34th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Universal City, Calif., Wednesday, May 5, 1999. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Certified units: 21M
Last certified date: 11/01/2006
Release year: 1998
Album type: Live album
Label: Capitol Nashville
#6. "Back in Black" by AC/DC
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Angus Young, right, and Brian Johnson from AC/DC on stage, Wednesday, June 20, 2001 at Zurich, Switzerland. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Franco Greco)
Certified units: 22M
Last certified date: 12/13/2007
Release year: 1980
Album type: Studio album
Label: Epic
#5. "Led Zeppelin IV" by Led Zeppelin
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Former Led Zeppelin band members Jimmy Page, left, and Robert Plant perform at the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary celebration at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday, May 15, 1988. The marathon show featured artists from the recording label’s early years to the latest pop stars. (AP Photo/Mario Suriani)
Certified units: 23M
Last certified date: 01/30/2006
Release year: 1971
Album type: Studio album
Label: Atlantic
#4. "Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II" by Billy Joel
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Musician Billy Joel belts out a tune while playing guitar during his performance at New York's Madison Square Garden, Oct. 2, 1993. Joel's current tour is supporting his new album entitled "River of Dreams." (AP Photo/Paul Hurschmann)
Certified units: 23M
Last certified date: 10/26/2011
Release year: 1985
Album type: Compilation album
Label: Columbia
#3. "The Wall" by Pink Floyd
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In this March 3, 1967 file photo, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett and Richard Wright, of Pink Floyd appear in London. The band released their debut album in 1967. (AP Photo, File)
Certified units: 23M
Last certified date: 01/29/1999
Release year: 1979
Album type: Studio album
Label: Columbia
#2. "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" by Eagles
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** FILE ** The Eagles, from left, Timothy B. Schmidt, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Joe Walsh perform on stage at Invesco Field during the first event to be held at the new stadium in a Saturday, Aug. 11, 2001 file photo, in Denver. The Eagles will headline a newly added third day of the Stagecoach Country Music Festival this spring in Indio, Calif. The Eagles will play May 2, 2008 along with John Fogerty, Trisha Yearwood, Shelby Lynne, Glen Campbell and Rissi Palmer. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Certified units: 29M
Last certified date: 01/30/2006
Release year: 1976
Album type: Compilation album
Label: Elektra
#1. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson
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FILE - This Feb. 1, 1993 file photo shows Pop superstar Michael Jackson performing during the halftime show at the Super Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, file)
Certified units: 33M
Last certified date: 02/16/2017
Release year: 1982
Album type: Studio album
Label: Epic Records
