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This list is a compiled from a variety of sources for sales figures (see complete source list here), but they are generally estimates since there is no official agency to track worldwide sales. As such, it is highly possible that some of these sales figures have been inflated by record companies or other vested parties, but this list does at least offer some idea of the world’s best-selling songs.

If you have your doubts about some of these songs belonging on this list, you’re not alone. I realize my knowledge of music beyond U.S. shores is limited, but if songs like Thelma Aoyama’s “Soba ni lur ne”, Utada Hikaru’s “Flavor of Life”, Kiseki’s “Greeeen”, Andre Brasseur’s “Early Bird”, and Machiko Soga’s “Oba-Q Ondo” are truly that monstrous in sales, shouldn’t I have at least heard of them? Oh well. I just report the lists. I don’t make these figures up (even if someone else does).

Note: in the event of ties, songs are ranked according to overall DMDB points.


The World’s Top 100 Best-Selling Songs


    20+ million:

  1. Bing Crosby…White Christmas (1942) 56 million
  2. Elton John…Candle in the Wind 1997 (1997) 37 m
  3. Bing Crosby…Silent Night (1935) 30 m
  4. Bill Haley & His Comets…We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock (1954) 25 m
  5. The Harry Simeone Chorale…The Little Drummer Boy (1958) 25 m
  6. U.S.A. for Africa…We Are the World (1985) 20 m
  7. Elvis Presley…It’s Now or Never (1960) 20 m
  8. The Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) (1892) 20 m *
  9. Listen to the Mocking Bird (aka “The Mocking Bird”) (1891) 20 m *

    11+ to 19 million:

  10. The Ink Spots…If I Didn’t Care (1939) 19 m
  11. Baccara…Yes Sir, I Can Boogie (1977) 18 m
  12. Celine Dion…My Heart Will Go On (1997) 15 m
  13. The Scorpions…Wind of Change (1991) 14 m
  14. Black Eyed Peas…I Gotta Feeling (2009) 13.2 m
  15. Kyu Sakamoto…Sukiyaki (1963) 13.0 m
  16. Ke$ha…Tik Tok (2009) 12.8 m
  17. Whitney Houston…I Will Always Love You (1992) 12 m
  18. The Beatles…I Want to Hold Your Hand (1963) 12 m
  19. Village People…Y.M.C.A. (1978) 12 m
  20. Terry Jacks…Seasons in the Sun (1974) 11.5 m

    11 million:

  21. Mills Brothers…Paper Doll (1943) 11 m
  22. Los Del Rio…Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) (1995) 11 m
  23. George McCrae…Rock Your Baby (1974) 11 m
  24. Carl Douglas…Kung Fu Fighting (1974) 11 m
  25. Roger Whittaker…The Last Farewell (1975) 11 m

    10 million:

  26. The Beatles…Hey Jude (1968) 10 m
  27. Elvis Presley…Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog (1956) 10 m
  28. Bryan Adams…Everything I Do (I Do It for You) (1991) 10 m
  29. Procol Harum…A Whiter Shade of Pale (1967) 10 m
  30. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts…I Love Rock and Roll (1981) 10 m
  31. The Monkees…I’m a Believer (1966) 10 m
  32. Gene Autry…Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949) 10 m
  33. Cher…Believe (1998) 10 m
  34. Roy Acuff & the Smoky Mountain Boys…Wabash Cannonball (1938) 10 m
  35. Band Aid…Do They Know It’s Christmas (1984) 10 m
  36. Shakira with Wyclef Jean…Hips Don’t Lie (2006) 10 m
  37. One Republic with Timbaland…Apologize (2007) 10 m
  38. Van McCoy…The Hustle (1975) 10 m
  39. Abba…Fernando (1976) 10 m
  40. Middle of the Road…Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1971) 10 m
  41. Goombay Dance Band…Sun of Jamaica (1982) 10 m

    9+ million:

  42. Lady Gaga…Poker Face (2009) 9.8 m
  43. Lady Gaga…Bad Romance (2009) 9.7 m
  44. Eminem with Rihanna…Love the Way You Lie (2010) 9.3 m
  45. Lil Wayne with Static Major…Lollipop (2008) 9.1 m

    9 million:

  46. Rihanna with Jay-Z…Umbrella (2007) 9 m
  47. Britney Spears…Baby One More Time (1998) 9 m
  48. Paul Anka…Diana (1957) 9 m

    8+ million:

  49. Madonna…Hung Up (2005) 8.7 m
  50. Ben Selvin…Dardanella (1920) 8.5 m **
  51. Black Eyed Peas…Boom Boom Pow (2009) 8.5 m
  52. Shakira…Whenever, Wherever (2001) 8.5 m
  53. Katy Perry…I Kissed a Girl (2008) 8.4 m
  54. Thelma Aoyama…Soba ni lur ne (2009) 8.2 m
  55. Jason Mraz…I’m Yours (2008) 8.1 m

    8 million:

  56. Nirvana…Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991) 8 m
  57. The Kingsmen…Louie Louie (1963) 8 m
  58. Vernon Dalhart..The Prisoner’s Song (1925) 8 m **
  59. Flo Rida with T-Pain…Low (2007) 8 m
  60. Mahalia Jackson…Move on Up a Little Higher (1948) 8 m
  61. The Sugarhill Gang…Rapper’s Delight (1979) 8 m
  62. Enrique Iglesias…Hero (2001) 8 m
  63. Train…Hey, Soul Sister (2009) 8 m
  64. Mary Hopkin…Those Were the Days (1968) 8 m
  65. Shocking Blue…Venus (1969) 8 m
  66. Modern Talking…You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul (1985) 8 m
  67. Utada Hikaru…Flavor of Life (2007) 8 m

    7+ million:

  68. Leona Lewis…Bleeding Love (2007) 7.7 m
  69. Lady Gaga with Colby O’Donis…Just Dance (2008) 7.7 m
  70. Georgie Fame…The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde (1967) 7.5 m
  71. Lady Gaga with Beyonce…Telephone (2009) 7.4 m
  72. Avril Lavigne…Girlfriend (2007) 7.3 m

    7 million:

  73. Roy Orbison…Oh, Pretty Woman (1964) 7 m
  74. R. Kelly…I Believe I Can Fly (1996) 7 m
  75. Adele…Rolling in the Deep (2010) 7 m
  76. a-ha…Take on Me (1985) 7 m
  77. The Beatles…Can’t Buy Me Love (1964) 7 m
  78. Scott McKenzie…San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) (1967) 7 m
  79. Usher with will.i.am…OMG (2010) 7 m
  80. Charlie Gracie…Butterfly (1957) 7 m
  81. Royal Scots Dragoon Guards…Amazing Grace (1972) 7 m
  82. Julie Rogers…The Wedding (1964) 7 m
  83. Danyel Gerard…Butterfly (1971) 7 m
  84. Andrea Bocelli…Con te Partiro (1997) 7 m

    6+ million:

  85. Katy Perry with Snoop Dogg…California Gurls (2010)
  86. Culture Club…Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (1982) 6.5 m
  87. Taylor Swift…Love Story (2008) 6.5 m
  88. Tony Orlando & Dawn…Knock Three Times (1970) 6.5 m
  89. Britney Spears…Toxic (2004) 6.5 m
  90. Britney Spears…Womanizer (2008) 6.5 m
  91. Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta…You’re the One That I Want (1978) 6.28 m
  92. Kiseki…Greeeen (2009) 6.2 m
  93. The Jackson 5…I’ll Be There (1970)
  94. Beyonce…Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (2008) 6.1 m
  95. Katy Perry…Firework (2010) 6.1 m

    6 million:

  96. Simon & Garfunkel…Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) 6 m
  97. Abba…Dancing Queen (1976) 6 m
  98. Patti Page…Tennessee Waltz (1950) 6 m
  99. Gene Austin…My Blue Heaven (1927) 6 m **
  100. The Beatles…She Loves You (1963) 6 m
  101. The Archies…Sugar, Sugar (1969) 6 m
  102. Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1911) 6 m *
  103. Jerry Lee Lewis…Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On (1957) 6 m
  104. The Jackson 5…I Want You Back (1969) 6 m
  105. George Michael…Careless Whisper (1984) 6 m
  106. Tony Orlando & Dawn…Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree (1973) 6 m
  107. Down by the Old Mill Stream (1911) 6 m *
  108. Spice Girls…Wannabe (1996) 6 m
  109. Madonna…Vogue (1990) 6 m
  110. The Champs…Tequila (1958) 6 m
  111. The Tokens…The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) (1961) 6 m
  112. Rihanna…Disturbia (2008) 6 m
  113. Neil Diamond…Cracklin’ Rosie (1970) 6 m
  114. Mungo Jerry…In the Summertime (1970) 6 m
  115. Paul McCartney & Wings…Mull of Kintyre (1977) 6 m
  116. Jay Sean with Lil Wayne…Down (2009) 6 m
  117. New Seekers…I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (1971) 6 m
  118. Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters…Jingle Bells (1943) 6 m
  119. Janet Jackson…Together Alone (1997) 6 m
  120. The Brotherhood of Man…Save Your Kisses for Me (1976)
  121. Andre Brasseur…Early Bird (1965) 6 m
  122. Machiko Soga…Oba-Q Ondo (1966) 6 m

* Sales exclusively from sheet music sales. No particular artist identified.
** Includes sheet music sales

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This page last updated December 29, 2011.