document_title: Forest

question_text: describe the various uses of forests to human beings

text: Forest

text: Definition[edit]

text: Although forest is a term of common parlance, there is no universally recognised precise definition, with more than 800 definitions of forest used around the world.[4] Although a forest is usually defined by the presence of trees, under many definitions an area completely lacking trees may still be considered a forest if it grew trees in the past, will grow trees in the future,[9] or was legally designated as a forest regardless of vegetation type.[10][11]

text: There are three broad categories of forest definitions in use: administrative, land use, and land cover.[10] Administrative definitions are based primarily upon the legal designations of land, and commonly bear little relationship to the vegetation growing on the land: land that is legally designated as a forest is defined as a forest even if no trees are growing on it.[10] Land use definitions are based upon the primary purpose that the land serves. For example, a forest may be defined as any land that is used primarily for production of timber. Under such a land use definition, cleared roads or infrastructure within an area used for forestry, or areas within the region that have been cleared by harvesting, disease or fire are still considered forests even if they contain no trees. Land cover definitions define forests based upon the type and density of vegetation growing on the land. Such definitions typically define a forest as an area growing trees above some threshold. These thresholds are typically the number of trees per area (density), the area of ground under the tree canopy (canopy cover) or the section of land that is occupied by the cross-section of tree trunks (basal area).[10] Under such land cover definitions, and area of land only be defined as forest if it is growing trees. Areas that fail to meet the land cover definition may be still included under while immature trees are establishing if they are expected to meet the definition at maturity.[10]

text: Under land use definitions, there is considerable variation on where the cutoff points are between a forest, woodland, and savanna. Under some definitions, forests require very high levels of tree canopy cover, from 60% to 100%,[12] excluding savannas and woodlands in which trees have a lower canopy cover. Other definitions consider savannas to be a type of forest, and include all areas with tree canopies over 10%.[9]

text: Some areas covered in trees are legally defined as agricultural areas, e.g. Norway spruce plantations in Austrian forest law when the trees are being grown as Christmas trees and below a certain height.

text: Etymology[edit]

text: The word forest comes from Middle English, from Old French forest (also forès) "forest, vast expanse covered by trees"; first introduced in English as the word for wild land set aside for hunting[14] without the necessity in definition for the existence of trees.[15]  Possibly a borrowing (probably via Frankish or Old High German) of the Medieval Latin word foresta "open wood", foresta was first used by Carolingian scribes in the Capitularies of Charlemagne to refer specifically to the king's royal hunting grounds. The term was not endemic to Romance languages (e.g. native words for "forest" in the Romance languages evolved out of the Latin word silva "forest, wood" (English sylvan); cf. Italian, Spanish, Portuguese selva; Romanian silvă; Old French selve); and cognates in Romance languages, such as Italian foresta, Spanish and Portuguese floresta, etc. are all ultimately borrowings of the French word.

text: The exact origin of Medieval Latin foresta is obscure. Some authorities claim the word derives from the Late Latin phrase forestam silvam, meaning "the outer wood"; others claim the term is a latinisation of the Frankish word *forhist "forest, wooded country", assimilated to forestam silvam (a common practice among Frankish scribes). Frankish *forhist is attested by Old High German forst "forest", Middle Low German vorst "forest", Old English fyrhþ "forest, woodland, game preserve, hunting ground" (English frith), and Old Norse fýri "coniferous forest", all of which derive from Proto-Germanic *furhísa-, *furhíþija- "a fir-wood, coniferous forest", from Proto-Indo-European *perkwu- "a coniferous or mountain forest, wooded height".

text: Uses of the word "forest" in English to denote any uninhabited area of non-enclosure are now considered archaic.[16] The word was introduced by the Norman rulers of England as a legal term (appearing in Latin texts like the Magna Carta) denoting an uncultivated area legally set aside for hunting by feudal nobility (see Royal Forest).[16][17]

text: These hunting forests were not necessarily wooded much, if at all. However, as hunting forests did often include considerable areas of woodland, the word "forest" eventually came to mean wooded land more generally.[citation needed] By the start of the 14th century, the word appeared in English texts, indicating all three senses: the most common one, the legal term and the archaic usage.[16] Other terms used to mean "an area with a high density of trees" are wood, woodland, wold, weald, holt, frith and firth. Unlike forest, these are all derived from Old English and were not borrowed from another language. Some classifications now reserve the term woodland for an area with more open space between trees and distinguish among woodlands, open forests, and closed forests based on crown cover.[18]

text: Evolution[edit]

text: The first known forests on Earth arose in the Late Devonian (approximately 380 million years ago), with the evolution of Archaeopteris.[19] Archaeopteris was a plant that was both tree-like and fern-like, growing to 10 metres (33 ft) in height. Archaeopteris quickly spread throughout the world, from the equator to subpolar latitudes.[19] Archaeopteris formed the first forest by being the first known species to cast shade due to its fronds and forming soil from its roots. Archaeopteris was deciduous, dropping its fronds onto the forest floor. The shade, soil, and forest duff from the dropped fronds created the first forest.[19] The shed organic matter altered the freshwater environment, slowing it down and providing food. This promoted freshwater fish.[19]

text: Ecology[edit]

text: Forests account for 75% of the gross primary productivity of the Earth's biosphere, and contain 80% of the Earth's plant biomass.[7] Forest ecosystems can be found in all regions capable of sustaining tree growth, at altitudes up to the tree line, except where natural fire frequency or other disturbance is too high, or where the environment has been altered by human activity.

text: The latitudes 10° north and south of the equator are mostly covered in tropical rainforest, and the latitudes between 53°N and 67°N have boreal forest. As a general rule, forests dominated by angiosperms (broadleaf forests) are more species-rich than those dominated by gymnosperms (conifer, montane, or needleleaf forests), although exceptions exist.

text: Forests sometimes contain many tree species within a small area (as in tropical rain and temperate deciduous forests), or relatively few species over large areas (e.g., taiga and arid montane coniferous forests). Forests are often home to many animal and plant species, and biomass per unit area is high compared to other vegetation communities. Much of this biomass occurs below ground in the root systems and as partially decomposed plant detritus. The woody component of a forest contains lignin, which is relatively slow to decompose compared with other organic materials such as cellulose or carbohydrate.

text: Components[edit]

text: A forest consists of many components that can be broadly divided into two categories that are biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. The living parts include trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and other herbaceous (non-woody) plants, mosses, algae, fungi, insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and microorganisms living on the plants and animals and in the soil.

text: Layers[edit]

text: A forest is made up of many layers. Starting from the ground level and moving up, the main layers of all forest types are the forest floor, the understory and the canopy. The emergent layer exists in tropical rainforests. Each layer has a different set of plants and animals depending upon the availability of sunlight, moisture and food.

text:
Forest floor contains decomposing leaves, animal droppings, and dead trees. Decay on the forest floor forms new soil and provides nutrients to the plants. The forest floor supports ferns, grasses, mushroom and tree seedlings.
Understory is made up of bushes, shrubs, and young trees that are adapted to living in the shades of the canopy.
Canopy is formed by the mass of intertwined branches, twigs and leaves of the mature trees. The crowns of the dominant trees  receive most of the sunlight. This is the most productive part of the trees where maximum food is produced. The canopy forms a shady, protective "umbrella" over the rest of the forest.
Emergent layer exists in the tropical rain forest and is composed of a few scattered trees that tower over the canopy.[20]

text: Types[edit]

text: Forests can be classified in different ways and to different degrees of specificity. One such way is in terms of the biome in which they exist, combined with leaf longevity of the dominant species (whether they are evergreen or deciduous). Another distinction is whether the forests are composed predominantly of broadleaf trees, coniferous (needle-leaved) trees, or mixed.

text:
Boreal forests occupy the subarctic zone and are generally evergreen and coniferous.
Temperate zones support both broadleaf deciduous forests (e.g., temperate deciduous forest) and evergreen coniferous forests (e.g., temperate coniferous forests and temperate rainforests). Warm temperate zones support broadleaf evergreen forests, including laurel forests.
Tropical and subtropical forests include tropical and subtropical moist forests, tropical and subtropical dry forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests.
Physiognomy classifies forests based on their overall physical structure or developmental stage (e.g. old growth vs. second growth).
Forests can also be classified more specifically based on the climate and the dominant tree species present, resulting in numerous different forest types (e.g., Ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forest).

text: The number of trees in the world, according to a 2015 estimate, is 3 trillion, of which 1.4 trillion are in the tropics or sub-tropics, 0.6 trillion in the temperate zones, and 0.7 trillion in the coniferous boreal forests. The estimate is about eight times higher than previous estimates, and is based on tree densities measured on over 400,000 plots. It remains subject to a wide margin of error, not least because the samples are mainly from Europe and North America.[21]

text: Forests can also be classified according to the amount of human alteration. Old-growth forest contains mainly natural patterns of biodiversity in established seral patterns, and they contain mainly species native to the region and habitat. In contrast, secondary forest is regrowing forest following timber harvest and may contain species originally from other regions or habitats.[22]

text: Different global forest classification systems have been proposed, but none has gained universal acceptance.[23] UNEP-WCMC's forest category classification system is a simplification of other more complex systems (e.g. UNESCO's forest and woodland 'subformations'). This system divides the world's forests into 26 major types, which reflect climatic zones as well as the principal types of trees. These 26 major types can be reclassified into 6 broader categories: temperate needleleaf; temperate broadleaf and mixed; tropical moist; tropical dry; sparse trees and parkland; and forest plantations.[23] Each category is described as a separate section below.

text: Temperate needleleaf[edit]

text: Temperate needleleaf forests mostly occupy the higher latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere, as well as high altitude zones and some warm temperate areas, especially on nutrient-poor or otherwise unfavourable soils. These forests are composed entirely, or nearly so, of coniferous species (Coniferophyta). In the Northern Hemisphere pines Pinus, spruces Picea, larches Larix, firs Abies, Douglas firs Pseudotsuga and hemlocks Tsuga, make up the canopy, but other taxa are also important. In the Southern Hemisphere, most coniferous trees (members of the Araucariaceae and Podocarpaceae) occur in mixtures with broadleaf species, and are classed as broadleaf and mixed forests.[23]

text: Temperate broadleaf and mixed[edit]

text: Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests include a substantial component of trees in the Anthophyta. They are generally characteristic of the warmer temperate latitudes, but extend to cool temperate ones, particularly in the southern hemisphere. They include such forest types as the mixed deciduous forests of the United States and their counterparts in China and Japan, the broadleaf evergreen rainforests of Japan, Chile and Tasmania, the sclerophyllous forests of Australia, central Chile, the Mediterranean and California, and the southern beech Nothofagus forests of Chile and New Zealand.[23]

text: Tropical moist[edit]

text: There are many different types of tropical moist forests, with lowland evergreen broad leaf tropical rainforests, for example várzea and igapó forests and the terra firma forests of the Amazon Basin; the peat swamp forests, dipterocarp forests of Southeast Asia; and the high forests of the Congo Basin.  Seasonal tropical forests, perhaps the best description for the colloquial term "jungle", typically range from the rainforest zone 10 degrees north or south of the equator, to the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Forests located on mountains are also included in this category, divided largely into upper and lower montane formations on the basis of the variation of physiognomy corresponding to changes in altitude.[24]

text: Tropical dry[edit]

text: Tropical dry forests are characteristic of areas in the tropics affected by seasonal drought. The seasonality of rainfall is usually reflected in the deciduousness of the forest canopy, with most trees being leafless for several months of the year. However, under some conditions, e.g. less fertile soils or less predictable drought regimes, the proportion of evergreen species increases and the forests are characterised as "sclerophyllous". Thorn forest, a dense forest of low stature with a high frequency of thorny or spiny species, is found where drought is prolonged, and especially where grazing animals are plentiful. On very poor soils, and especially where fire or herbivory are recurrent phenomena, savannas develop.[23]

text: Sparse trees and parkland[edit]

text: Sparse trees and savanna are forests with lower canopy cover of trees. They occur principally in areas of transition from forested to non-forested landscapes. The two major zones in which these ecosystems occur are in the boreal region and in the seasonally dry tropics. At high latitudes, north of the main zone of boreal forest, growing conditions are not adequate to maintain a continuous closed forest cover, so tree cover is both sparse and discontinuous. This vegetation is variously called open taiga, open lichen woodland, and forest tundra. A savanna is a mixed woodland grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses. Savannas maintain an open canopy despite a high tree density.[23]

text: Forest plantations[edit]

text: Forest plantations are generally intended for the production of timber and pulpwood. Commonly mono-specific and/or composed of introduced tree species, these ecosystems are not generally important as habitat for native biodiversity. However, they can be managed in ways that enhance their biodiversity protection functions and they can provide ecosystem services such as maintaining nutrient capital, protecting watersheds and soil structure, and storing carbon.[22][23]

text: Societal significance[edit]

text: Forests provide a diversity of ecosystem services including converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and biomass, acting as a carbon sink, aiding in regulating climate, purifying water, mitigating natural hazards such as floods, and serving as a genetic reserve. Forests also serve as a source of lumber and as recreational areas.

text: Some researchers state that forests do not only provide benefits, but can in certain cases also incur costs to humans.[25][26] Forests may impose an economic burden,[27][28] diminish the enjoyment of natural areas,[29] reduce the food producing capacity of grazing land [30] and cultivated land,[31] reduce biodiversity [32][33] reduce available water for humans and wildlife,[34][35] harbour dangerous or destructive wildlife,[25][36] and act as reservoirs of human and livestock disease.[37][38]

text: The management of forests is often referred to as forestry. Forest management has changed considerably over the last few centuries, with rapid changes from the 1980s onwards culminating in a practice now referred to as sustainable forest management. Forest ecologists concentrate on forest patterns and processes, usually with the aim of elucidating cause-and-effect relationships. Foresters who practice sustainable forest management focus on the integration of ecological, social, and economic values, often in consultation with local communities and other stakeholders.

text: Humans have generally decreased the amount of forest worldwide. Anthropogenic factors that can affect forests include logging, urban sprawl, human-caused forest fires, acid rain, invasive species, and the slash and burn practices of swidden agriculture or shifting cultivation. The loss and re-growth of forest leads to a distinction between two broad types of forest, primary or old-growth forest and secondary forest. There are also many natural factors that can cause changes in forests over time including forest fires, insects, diseases, weather, competition between species, etc. In 1997, the World Resources Institute recorded that only 20% of the world's original forests remained in large intact tracts of undisturbed forest.[39] More than 75% of these intact forests lie in three countries—the boreal forests of Russia and Canada and the rainforest of Brazil.

text:
In 2010, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations[40] reported that world deforestation, mainly the conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land, had decreased over the past ten years but still continues at a high rate in many countries. Globally, around 13 million hectares of forests were converted to other uses or lost through natural causes each year between 2000 and 2010 as compared to around 16 million hectares per year during the 1990s. The study covered 233 countries and areas. Brazil and Indonesia, which had the highest loss of forests in the 1990s, have significantly reduced their deforestation rates. China instituted a ban on logging, beginning in 1998, due to the erosion and flooding that it caused.[41] In addition, ambitious tree planting programmes in countries such as China, India, the United States and Vietnam - combined with natural expansion of forests in some regions - have added more than seven million hectares of new forests annually. As a result, the net loss of forest area was reduced to 5.2 million hectares per year between 2000 and 2010, down from 8.3 million hectares annually in the 1990s. In 2015, a study for Nature Climate Change showed that the trend has recently been reversed, leading to an "overall gain" in global biomass and forests. This gain is due especially to reforestation in China and Russia.[42] However new forests are not completely equivalent to old growth forests in terms of species diversity, resilience and carbon capture.
On September 7, 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released a new study stating that, over the last 25 years, the global deforestation rate has decreased by 50% due to improved management of forests and greater government protection.[43][44]

text: Smaller areas of woodland in cities may be managed as urban forestry, sometimes within public parks. These are often created for human benefits; Attention Restoration Theory argues that spending time in nature reduces stress and improves health, while forest schools and kindergartens help young people to develop social as well as scientific skills in forests. These typically need to be close to where the children live, for practical logistics.

text: Canada[edit]

text: Canada has about 4,020,000 square kilometres (1,550,000 sq mi) of forest land. More than 90% of forest land is publicly owned and about 50% of the total forest area is allocated for harvesting. These allocated areas are managed using the principles of sustainable forest management, which includes extensive consultation with local stakeholders. About eight percent of Canada’s forest is legally protected from resource development.[45][46]  Much more forest land—about 40 percent of the total forest land base—is subject to varying degrees of protection through processes such as integrated land use planning or defined management areas such as certified forests.[46]

text: By December 2006, over 1,237,000 square kilometers of forest land in Canada (about half the global total) had been certified as being sustainably managed.[47] Clearcutting, first used in the latter half of the 20th century, is less expensive, but devastating to the environment, and companies are required by law to ensure that harvested areas are adequately regenerated. Most Canadian provinces have regulations limiting the size of clearcuts, although some older clearcuts can range upwards of 110 square kilometres (27,000 acres) in size which were cut over several years.

text: Latvia[edit]

text: Latvia has about 3,270,000 hectares (12,626 sq mi) of forest land which equates to 50.6% of Latvia's total area (24,938 sq mi). 1,510,000 hectares of forest land (46.3% of total forest land) is publicly owned and 1,750,000 hectares of forest land (53.7% of total forest land) is in private hands. Latvia's forests have been steadily increasing over the years which is in contrast to many other nations, mostly due to the forestation of land not used for agriculture. In 1935 there was only 1,757,000 hectares of forest, today this has increased by more than 150%. Birch is the most common tree at 28.2% followed by pine (26,9%), spruce (18.3%), grey alder (9.7%), aspen (8,0%), black alder (5.7%), oak/ash (1.2%) and finally hardwood making up the rest (2.0%).[48] [49]

text: United States[edit]

text: In the United States, most forests have historically been affected by humans to some degree, though in recent years improved forestry practices has helped regulate or moderate large scale or severe impacts. However, the United States Forest Service estimates a net loss of about 2 million hectares (4,942,000 acres) between 1997 and 2020; this estimate includes conversion of forest land to other uses, including urban and suburban development, as well as afforestation and natural reversion of abandoned crop and pasture land to forest. However, in many areas of the United States, the area of forest is stable or increasing, particularly in many northern states. The opposite problem from flooding has plagued national forests, with loggers complaining that a lack of thinning and proper forest management has resulted in large forest fires.[50][51]

text: Land area[edit]

text:
Forest land area[52]

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

('000 km2)

('000 mi2)

('000 km2)

('000 mi2)

('000 km2)

('000 mi2)

('000 km2)

('000 mi2)

('000 km2)

('000 mi2)

Australia
1,511

583
1,502

580
1,493

576
1,473

569
1,467

566

Brazil
5,239

2,023
5,217

2,014
5,195

2,006
5,183

2,001
5,173

1,997

Canada
3,101

1,197
3,101

1,197
3,101

1,197
3,101

1,197
3,101

1,197

China
2,013

777
2,041

788
2,069

799
2,159

834
2,168

837

European Union
1,559

602
1,564

604
1,569

606
1,573

607
1,578

609

Germany
111

43
111

43
111

43
113

44
113

44

India
681

263
683

264
684

264
693

268
693

268

Indonesia
958

370
951

367
944

364
937

362
931

359

Japan
250

97
250

97
250

97
251

97
251

97

Russia
8,090

3,120
8,090

3,120
8,091

3,124
8,092

3,124
8,093

3,125

United States
3,033

1,171
3,036

1,172
3,040

1,170
3,049

1,177
3,051

1,178

World total
40,318

15,567
40,261

15,545
40,204

15,523
40,184

15,515
39,519

15,258


document_title: List of best-selling music artists

question_text: who is the highest selling r&b artist of all time

root

text: List of best-selling music artists

text: Definitions

text: All artists included on this list, which have begun charting on official albums or singles charts have their available claimed figures supported by at least 20% in certified units. That is why Cliff Richard, Diana Ross, Scorpions, Bing Crosby, Gloria Estefan, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Tom Jones, The Jackson 5, Dionne Warwick, the Spice Girls, Dolly Parton, Ozzy Osbourne, Andrea Bocelli and others have not been included on this list. The more recent the artist, the higher the required percentage of certified units, so artists such as Rihanna, Chris Brown, Taylor Swift, Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Adele, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj and Ed Sheeran are expected to have their claimed figures supported by over 75% in certified units. The certified units are sourced from available online databases of local music industry associations. All certified units are converted from Gold/Platinum/Diamond certification awards based on criteria provided by certifying bodies. The certified units percentage varies according to the first year that an artist appeared in the charts.[a]

tag: p

text: The requirements of certified units are designed to avoid inflated sales figures, which are frequently practiced by record companies for promotional purposes.[1][2] The claimed figures are referenced from online articles created by highly reliable sources. For clarity, the sources used, say the term "records" (singles, albums, videos) and not "albums". However, if all available sources for an artist or band say "albums", such sources are only used if the certified album units of the said artist meet the required percentage amount. This list uses claimed figures that are closest to artists' available certified units: inflated claimed figures that meet the required certified units amount but are unrealistically high, are not used.

text: The claimed figures are upgraded only when there is a significant progress in artists' certified units. In other words, the available certified units for each artist should get relatively closer to already listed claimed figure in order for higher figures to replace the listed ones.

text: The certified units of the newer artists may sometimes be higher than their listed claimed figures. This is because Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and almost all other certifying bodies count streaming towards Gold and Platinum thresholds required for Digital Single Award certification.[3][4][5] For this reason, some singles and even albums get over certified by hundreds of thousands of units. The over certified figures, however, are often in millions of units for RIAA certifications, one such example is Rihanna's single "We Found Love", which is certified at nine times Platinum by the RIAA, yet during the time of the certification, it had sold 5.4 million downloads.[6][7]

text: The certified units for some artists/bands who have multi-disc albums can be higher than their listed claimed figures due to Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) counting each unit within set as one unit toward certification.

text: Issued certifications for songs which have been recorded by multiple artists including featured artists are added to each artist's total amount of certified units, as all the artists would have played a significant part in a song. For example "This Is What You Came For" and "Where Them Girls At" include Rihanna and Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj as featured artists respectively, so the certifications issued for these songs are added to the total amount of certified units for all involved artists. However, the certifications issued for songs that have been recorded by four or more artists are not included as the artists involved would have played minor roles, examples of such songs are Kanye West's "Monster" and/or "All Day".[b]

text: Artists by reputed sales

text: 250 million or more records

text:
The Beatles

Elvis Presley

Michael Jackson

Madonna

Elton John

Led Zeppelin

Pink Floyd

tag: ul

text:
To ensure the highest level of fact checking and editorial control, this list sources sales figures to news organizations and highly regarded music industry related organizations such as MTV, VH1, Billboard and Rolling Stone.
The figures of total certified units within the tables below are based on certified units of albums, singles (including digital downloads) and videos.
Markets' order within the tables is based on Retail Value: each market generates respectively, the largest market at the top and smallest at the bottom.[8][9]

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

The Beatles
United Kingdom
1960–1970[10]
1962[10]
Rock / Pop[10]
7002271300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 271.3 million

US: 212.250 million[11]
JPN: 4.950 million[c][12]
UK: 18.245 million[c][13]
GER: 8 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.890 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 14.455 million[c][17]
AUS: 3.060 million[c][18][19]
ITA: 355,000[c][20]
BRA: 550,000[c][21]
SWE 485,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.250 million[c][23][24]
SWI: 350,000[c][25]
BEL: 265,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 1.606 million[c][28][29]
DEN: 270,000[c][30][31]
AUT: 500,000[c][32]
POL: 175,000[c][33]
NZ: 660,000[c][34][35]

600 million[36][37]
500 million[38]

Elvis Presley
United States
1954–1977[39]
1954[39]
Rock and roll / Pop / Country[39]
7002223100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 223.1 million

US: 199.150 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12]
UK: 13.145 million[c][13]
GER: 1.2 million[c][14]
FRA: 2.590 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 2.925 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.797 million[c][18][40]
ITA: 105,000[c][20]
BRA: 125,000[c][21]
SWE 380,000[c][22]
SPA: 300,000[c][23][41][42]
MEX: 105,000[c][43]
SWI: 185,000[c][25]
BEL: 115,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 110,000[c][28]
DEN: 120,000[c][44][45][46]
AUT: 205,000[c][32]
FIN: 213,945[c][47]
NZ: 117,500[c][34][35]

600 million[48][49]
500 million[50]

Michael Jackson
United States
1964–2009[51]
1971[51]
Pop / Rock / Dance / Soul / R&B[51]
7002185300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 185.3 million

US: 104.5 million[11]
JPN: 4.650 million[c][12][52]
UK: 28.245 million[13]
GER: 11.275 million[14]
FRA: 11.375 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 4.670 million[17]
AUS: 6.670 million[c][18][19][54][55][56]
ITA: 1.170 million[c][20]
BRA: 280,000[c][21]
SWE: 1.230 million[c][22][57]
SPA: 1.995 million[c][23][24][41][42][58]
MEX: 3.670 million[c][43]
SWI: 910,000[c][25]
BEL: 365,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 124,000[c][28][29]
DEN: 1.224 million[c][59][60][61]
AUT: 1.197 million[c][32]
POL: 530,000[c][33]
FIN: 384,127[47]
NZ: 902,500[34][35]

350 million[62][63]
300 million[64][65]

Madonna
United States
1979–present[66]
1982[66]
Pop / Dance / Electronica[66]
7002170700000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 170.7 million

US: 85.675 million[11]
JPN: 6.450 million [c][12][52]
UK: 28.845 million[13]
GER: 12.4 million[14]
FRA: 12.81 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 6.030 million[17]
AUS: 4.717 million[c][18][67][68]
ITA: 465,000[c][20]
BRA: 3.440 million[c][21]
SWE: 1.070 million[c][22][57]
SPA: 2.815 million[23][24][41][42][58]
MEX: 510,000[c][43]
SWI: 1.080 million[c][25]
BEL: 690,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 1.098[28][29]
DEN: 407,000[c][59][60][69][70][71][72]
AUT: 602,500[c][32]
POL: 530,000[c][33]
FIN: 652,686[47]
NZ: 417,500[34][35]

300 million[73][74]
275 million[75]

Elton John
United Kingdom
1964–present[76]
1969[76]
Pop / Rock[76]
7002169300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 169.3 million

US: 117.850 million[11]
JPN: 1.1 million [c][12]
UK: 22.595 million[c][13]
GER: 7.9 million[c][14]
FRA: 4.825 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 5.975 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.947 million[c][18][77]
BRA: 835,000[c][21]
SWE: 740,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.2 million[c][23][24][42][58]
MEX: 100,000[c][43]
SWI: 1.313 million[c][25]
BEL: 390,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 128,000[28][29]
DEN: 150,000[c][45][60][78]
AUT: 765,000[c][32]
POL: 150,000[c][33]
FIN: 163,481[47]
NZ: 255,000[c][34][35]

300 million[79][80]
250 million[81][82]

Led Zeppelin
United Kingdom
1968–1980[83]
1969[83]
Hard rock / Blues rock / Folk rock[83]
7002140000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 140 million

US: 114.1 million[11]
JPN: 400,000 [c][12]
UK: 9.530 million[c][13]
GER: 3.775 million[c][14]
FRA: 2.310 million[c][15][16][84]
CAN: 4.710 million[17]
AUS: 2.8 million[c][18][85][86]
ITA: 420,000[c][20]
BRA: 820,000[c][21]
SPA: 450,000[c][24][42][58]
SWI: 211,000[c][25]
ARG: 360,000[c][28]
POL: 120,000[c][33]

300 million[87][88]
200 million[89][90]

Pink Floyd
United Kingdom
1965–1996, 2014[91][92]
1967[91]
Progressive rock / Psychedelic rock[91]
7002119100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 119.1 million

US: 78 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][93]
UK: 11.520 million[c][13]
GER: 7.5 million[c][14]
FRA: 6.360 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 6.790 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.932 million[c][18][19]
ITA: 1.685 million[c][20]
BRA: 540,000[c][21]
SWE: 220,000[c][22][57]
SPA: 625,000[c][23][24][41][58]
SWI: 390,000[c][25]
BEL: 115,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 582,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 460,000[c][32]
POL: 590,000[c][33]
NZ: 787,500[c][34][35]

250 million[94][95]
200 million[96]

tag: table

text: The column for certified sales includes markets, the databases of which contain certifications representing figures of 100,000 and more.

text: 200 million to 249 million records

text:
Rihanna

Eminem

Mariah Carey

Queen

Celine Dion

Whitney Houston

AC/DC

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

Rihanna
Barbados
United States
2005–present[97]
2005[97]
R&B / Pop / Dance / Hip-hop[97]
7002255600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 255.6 million

US: 188.55 million[11]
JPN: 1.4 million[12][52]
UK: 31.1 million[13]
GER: 10.075 million[14]
FRA: 1.465 million[16]
CAN: 3.120 million[17]
AUS: 9.325 million[18]
ITA: 1.550 million[c][20]
BRA: 705,000[21]
SWE: 2.480 million[22][57]
SPA: 1.470 million[23]
MEX: 410,000[43][98]
SWI: 840,000[25]
BEL: 660,000[27]
DEN: 1.127[59][60][61][69][78][99][100][101]
AUT: 135,000[32]
POL: 500,000[33]
IRE: 240,000[102]
NZ: 682,500[34][35]

230 million[103][104]

Eminem
United States
1996–present[105]
1999[105]
Hip-hop[105]
7002215200000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 215.2 million

US: 163.2 million[11]
JPN: 2.9 million [12][52]
UK: 23.625 million[13]
GER: 6.450 million[14]
FRA: 3.288 million[16][84]
CAN: 3.930 million[17]
AUS: 5.807 million[18]
ITA: 665,000[c][20]
BRA: 220,000[21]
SWE: 910,000[22][57]
SPA: 290,000[23][58]
MEX: 365,000[43]
SWI: 805,000[25]
BEL: 505,000[26][27]
DEN: 656,000[c][59][106]>[61]
AUT: 362,500[32]
PL: 250,000[33]
FIN: 124,547[47]
IRE: 285,000[c][102]
NZ: 600,000[34][35]

220 million[107]
200 million[108]

Mariah Carey
United States
1988–present[109]
1990[109]
R&B / Pop / Soul / Hip-hop[109]
7002137300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 137.3 million

US: 92.6 million[11]
JPN: 14.5 million [c][12][52][110]
UK: 10.220 million[13]
GER: 3.750 million[14]
FRA: 4.690 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 4.1 million[17]
AUS: 3.515 million[c][18][111]
ITA: 200,000[c][20]
BRA: 835,000[21]
SWE: 425,000[22]
SPA: 1 million[23][24][42][58]
SWI: 515,000[25]
BEL: 175,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 280,000[61][112]
AUT: 200,000[32]
POL: 100,000[c][33]
NZ: 240,000[c][34]

200 million[113][114]
175 million[115][116]

Queen
United Kingdom
1971–present[117]
1973[117]
Rock[117]
7002125700000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 125.7 million

US: 65 million[11]
JPN: 2.850 million[c][12][52][118]
UK: 29.075 million[c][13]
GER: 11.875 million[c][14]
FRA: 4.495 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 1.870 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.167 million[c][18][19]
ITA: 505,000[c][20]
BRA: 970,000[c][21]
SWE: 190,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.720 million[c][23][24][41][42]
SWI: 1.256 million[c][25]
BEL: 100,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 205,000[61]
ARG: 1.080 million[c][28][29]
AUT: 900,000[c][32]
POL: 810,000[c][33]
FIN: 366,152[47]
NZ: 275,000[c][34][35]

200 million[119]
170 million[120]

Celine Dion
Canada
1981–present[121]
1981[121]
Pop[121]
7002125100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 125.1 million

US: 56.550 million[11]
JPN: 7.150 million[c][12][122][123]
UK: 13.615 million[13]
GER: 8 million[14]
FRA: 15.768 million[15][16][53][84]
CAN: 12.245 million[17]
AUS: 3.302 million[c][18][19]
BRA: 505,000[c][21]
SWE: 1.105 million[c][22]
SPA: 1 million[42][58]
SWI: 1.685 million[c][25]
BEL: 1.885 million[c][26][27]
ARG: 340,000[28]
DEN: 370,000[c][45][124][125][126]
AUT: 440,000[c][32]
POL: 680,000[c][33]
FIN: 356,183[47]
NZ: 192,500[34][35]

200 million[127][128]
175 million[129][130]

Whitney Houston
United States
1977–2012[131]
1984[131]
R&B / Soul / Pop[131]
7002114900000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 114.9 million

US: 76.775 million[11]
JPN: 4.3 million[c][12][132]
UK: 15.205 million[13]
GER: 5.6 million[c][14]
FRA: 2.275 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 3.430 million[17]
AUS: 1.755 million[c][18][19][133]
ITA: 140,000[c][20]
BRA: 1.025[c][21]
SWE: 1.035 million[c][22]
SPA: 1.260 million[23][24][41][42]
SWI: 845,000[c][25]
BEL: 215,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 140,000[60][61]
AUT: 535,000[c][32]
POL: 180,000[c][33]
FIN: 247,222[47]

200 million[134][135]
170 million[136][137]

AC/DC
Australia
1973–present[138]
1975[138]
Hard rock / Blues rock / Rock and roll[138]
7002114900000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 114.9 million

US: 79.7 million[11]
UK: 5.5 million[13]
GER: 10.3 million[c][14]
FRA: 4.180 million[15][16]
CAN: 2.490 million[c][17]
AUS: 7.740 million[c][18]
ITA: 775,000[c][20]
SWE: 350,000[c][22][57]
SPA: 1.355 million[c][23][24][41][42][58]
SWI: 894,000[c][25]
BEL: 100,000[c][27]
ARG: 594,000[c][28][29]
DEN: 130,000[60][61][139]
AUT: 380,000[c][32]
FIN: 321,169[47]
NZ: 140,000[c][34][35]

200 million[140][141]
150 million[142][143]

The Rolling Stones
United Kingdom
1962–present[144]
1963[144]
Rock / Blues rock [144]
7001978000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 97.8 million

US: 74.750 million[11]
JPN: 950,000[c][12]
UK: 8.970 million[c][13]
GER: 3.3 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.377 million[c][15][16][53]
AUS: 417,500[c][18]
CAN: 3.025 million[c][17]
ITA: 205,000[c][20]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SWE: 310,000[c][22]
SPA: 690,000[c][23][24][41][42][58]
SWI: 238,000[c][25]
BEL: 120,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 718,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 300,000[c][32]
POL: 140,000[c][33]
NZ: 190,000[c][34][35]

200 million[145][146]

ABBA
Sweden
1972–1982[147]
1972[147]
Pop / Disco[147]
7001609000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 60.9 million

US: 12.7 million[11]
JPN: 1.5 million[c][52][148][149]
UK: 19.170 million[c][13]
GER: 10.450 million[c][14]
FRA: 2.750 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 2.785 million[c][17]
AUS: 6.127 million[c][18][150]
BRA: 275,000[c][21][57]
SWE: 800,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.005 million[c][23][41]
MEX: 260,000[c][43]
SWI: 600,000[c][25]
BEL: 380,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 238,000[c][28][29]
DEN: 600,000[c][151][152][153]
AUT: 175,000[c][32]
POL: 150,000[c][33]
FIN: 656,319[47]
NZ: 297,500[c][35][154][155]

200 million[156][157]
100 million[158]

text: 120 million to 199 million records

text:
Taylor Swift

Garth Brooks

Justin Bieber

Eagles

Bruno Mars

Ed Sheeran

Kanye West

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

Taylor Swift
United States
2006–present[159]
2006[159]
Country / Country pop / Pop / Pop-rock[159]
7002184600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 184.6 million

US: 159 million[11]
JPN: 2.950 million[12][52]
UK: 8.9 million[13]
GER: 1.050[14]
FRA: 300,000[16]
CAN: 4.740 million[17]
AUS: 5.530 million[18]
ITA: 285,000[c][20]
BRA: 440,000[21]
SWE: 280,000[57]
MEX: 510,000[43][98][160]
DEN: 140,000>[61]
AUT: 100,000[32]
NZ: 375,000[34][35]

175 million[161]

Garth Brooks
United States
1989–present[162]
1989[162]
Country[162]
7002156100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 156.1 million

US: 149.4 million[11]
UK: 520,000[13]
CAN: 5.730 million[17]
AUS: 350,000[c][18][163]
IRE: 120,000[c][102]

160 million[164]

Eagles
United States
1971–1980, 1994–present[165]
1972[165]
Rock[165]
7002129600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 129.6 million

US: 108.9 million[11]
JPN: 600,000[c][12]
UK: 8.035 million[c][13]
GER: 925,000[c][14]
FRA: 2.040 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 4.2 million[c][17]
AUS: 3.395 million[c][18][166]
SWE: 140,000[c][22]
SPA: 500,000[c][23][24]
SWI: 290,000[c][25]
DEN: 185,000[c][60]>[61]
FIN: 124,749[47]
NZ: 352,500[c][34][35]

150 million[167]

U2
Ireland
1976–present[168]
1980[168]
Rock[168]
7002107100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 107.1 million

US: 53.1 million[11]
JPN: 1.450 million[c][12]
UK: 18.720 million[13]
GER: 5.125 million[14]
FRA: 5.125 million[15][16]
CAN: 7.155 million[17]
AUS: 4.412 million[c][18][19][169]
ITA: 855,000[c][20]
BRA: 2.675 million[c][21]
SWE: 515,000[c][22]
SPA: 2.295 million[23][24][41][42][58]
MEX: 835,000[c][43]
SWI: 696,000[c][25]
BEL: 750,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 806,000[28][29]
DEN: 473,000[c][59][60][61][78][170]
AUT: 522,500[c][32]
POL: 370,000[c][33]
FIN: 235,460[47]
IRE: 316,000[c][102]
NZ: 765,000[34][35]

150 million[171]

Billy Joel
United States
1964–present[172]
1971[172]
Pop / Rock[172]
7002102600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 102.6 million

US: 87.950 million[11]
JPN: 2 million[c][12][173]
UK: 5.655 million[c][13]
GER: 1.250 million[c][14]
FRA: 925,000[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 3.275 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.267[c][18][19]
AUT: 125,000[c][32]
NZ: 162,500[c][34]

150 million[174]

Phil Collins
United Kingdom
1980–2011, 2015–present[175]
1981[175]
Rock / Progressive rock / Adult contemporary[175]
7001884000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 88.4 million

US: 39.850 million[11]
JPN: 800,000[c][12]
UK: 15.850 million[13]
GER: 13.8 million[14]
FRA: 6.410 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 3.375 million[17]
AUS: 1.522[c][18][19]
BRA: 1.370 million[c][21]
SWE: 245,000[c][22]
SPA: 2.150 million[23][24][42][58]
SWI: 973,000[c][25]
BEL: 305,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 1.044 million[28][29]
AUT: 440,000[c][32]
FIN: 182,581[47]
NZ: 122,500[34][35]

150 million[176]

Aerosmith
United States
1970–present[177]
1973[177]
Hard rock[177]
7001847000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 84.7 million

US: 70.250 million[11]
JPN: 2.7 million[c][12][52]
UK: 3.230 million[13]
GER: 2 million[c][14]
FRA: 225,000[15][16][53]
CAN: 3.950 million[c][17]
AUS: 225,000[c][18][178]
ITA: 100,000[c][20]
BRA: 600,000[c][21]
SWE: 260,000[c][22]
SPA: 200,000[c][23][42]
MEX: 230,000[c][43]
SWI: 145,000[c][25]
ARG: 338,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 125,000[c][32]
POL: 100,000[c][33]
FIN: 101,722[47]

150 million[179]

Frank Sinatra
United States
1935–1995[180]
1939[180]
Pop / Swing[180]
7001375000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 37.5 million

US: 28.2 million[c][11]
UK: 5.645 million[c][13]
GER: 1 million[c][14]
FRA: 600,000[c][15]
CAN: 650,000[c][17]
AUS: 315,000[c][18][181]
BRA: 350,000[c][21]
SWE: 130,000[c][22]
SPA: 500,000[c][24][42][58]
ARG: 188,000[c][28][29]

150 million[182]

Barbra Streisand
United States
1960–present[183]
1963[183]
Pop / Adult contemporary[183]
7001975000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 97.5 million

US: 82.450 million[11]
UK: 5.765 million[c][13]
GER: 750,000[c][14]
FRA: 3.150 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 2.650 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.152 million[c][18]
SWE: 120,000[22][57]
SPA: 150,000[c][58]
FIN: 186,501[c][47]
NZ: 137,500[c][34]

145 million[184]

Justin Bieber
Canada
United States
2008–present[185]
2009[185]
Pop / Teen pop, Dance pop[185]
7002148300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 148.3 million

US: 101.5 million[11]
JPN: 750,000 [12][52]
UK: 18.285 million[13]
GER: 3.8 million[14]
FRA: 1.098[16]
CAN: 5.780 million[17]
AUS: 4.795 million[18]
ITA: 1.845 million[20]
BRA: 810,000[21]
SWE: 2.020 million[22][57]
SPA: 880,000[23]
MEX: 2.970 million[43][98]
BEL: 450,000[27]
DEN: 2.250 million[61]
POL: 370,000[33]
AUT: 140,000[32]
NZ: 615,000[34]

140 million[186]

Bruno Mars
United States
2004–present[187]
2010[187]
Pop rock / R&B[187]
7002126200000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 126.2 million

US: 89.5 million[11]
JPN: 1.2 million[12][52]
UK: 14.5 million[13]
GER: 3.4 million[14]
FRA: 1.950 million[16]
CAN: 5.240 million[17]
AUS: 5.810 million[18]
ITA: 710,000[c][20]
SWE: 440,000[22][57]
SPA: 490,000[23]
MEX: 810,000[43][160]
SWI: 405,000[25]
BEL: 360,000[27]
DEN: 375,000[c][61][188]
AUT: 180,000[32]
NZ: 577,500[34]
PHL: 330,000[189]

130 million[190]

Ed Sheeran
United Kingdom
2004–present[191]
2011[191]
Pop / Folk pop [191]
7002121800000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 121.8 million

US: 54 million[11]
JPN: 350,000[12][52]
UK: 35.160 million[13]
GER: 7.2 million[14]
FRA: 1.691 million[16]
CAN: 6.360 million[17]
AUS: 7.420 million[18]
ITA: 2.390 million[20]
SWE: 1.360 million[57]
SPA: 730,000[23]
MEX: 180,000[43]
SWI: 475,000[25]
BEL: 555,000[27]
DEN: 2.115 million[61]
AUT: 340,000[32]
POL: 360,000[33]
NZ: 1.140 million[34]

126 million[192]

Kanye West
United States
1996–present[193]
2004[193]
Hip-hop / Electronic / Pop rock[193]
7002109200000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 109.2 million

US: 93.750 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[194]
UK: 11.080 million[13]
GER: 300,000[14]
CAN: 1.180 million[17]
AUS: 2.135 million[18]
ITA: 160,000[c][20]
SWE: 160,000[57]
DEN: 424,000[60][61][69][195]

121 million[196]

Bruce Springsteen
United States
1972–present[197]
1973[197]
Rock[197]
7002101700000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 101.7 million

US: 76.150 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[c][12]
UK: 7.345 million[13]
GER: 4.325 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.887 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 3.2 million[c][17]
AUS: 3.362 million[c][18]
ITA: 575,000[c][20]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SWE: 810,000[c][22][57]
SPA: 1.730 million[c][23][24][41][42][58]
SWI: 400,000[c][25]
DEN: 155,000[c][59][61][69][198]
AUT: 290,000[c][32]
FIN: 449,800[47]
IRE: 189,500[c][102]
NZ: 375,000[34][35]

120 million[199]

Bee Gees
United Kingdom
Australia[200][201]
1963–2003
2009–2012[202]
1963[202]
Pop / Disco[202]
7001684000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 68.4 million

US: 42.5 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12][203][204]
UK: 9.125 million[c][13]
GER: 6.675 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.4 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 3.215 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.187 million[c][18]
BRA: 350,000[c][21]
SPA: 450,000[c][24][41][58]
SWI: 415,000[c][25]
ARG: 188,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 125,000[c][32]
POL: 100,000[c][33]
NZ: 380,000[c][34][35]

120 million[205]

text: 100 million to 119 million records

text:
Katy Perry

Adele

Lady Gaga

Jay-Z

Metallica

Lil Wayne

B'z

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

Lady Gaga
United States
2005–present[206]
2008[206]
Pop / Dance / Electronic[206]
7002101400000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 101.4 million

US: 69.5 million[11]
JPN: 5.4 million[12][52]
UK: 11.585 million[13]
GER: 3.350 million[14]
FRA: 1.647 million[16]
CAN: 2.4 million[17]
AUS: 2.890 million[18]
ITA: 840,000[c][20]
BRA: 470,000[21]
SWE: 680,000[22][57]
SPA: 410,000[23]
MEX: 420,000[43][98][160]
SWI: 445,000[25]
BEL: 270,000[27]
DEN: 340,000[60][61][101]
AUT: 182,500[32]
POL: 130,000[33]
IRE: 165,000[102]
NZ: 277,500[34][35]

114 million[207]

Metallica
United States
1981–present[208]
1983[208]
Heavy metal / Thrash metal[208]
7001948000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 94.8 million

US: 73.3 million[11]
JPN: 900,000[c][12]
UK: 3.535 million[13]
GER: 3.525 million[14]
FRA: 940,000[15][16]
CAN: 3.885 million[17]
AUS: 2.637 million[c][18][19][209]
ITA: 180,000[c][20]
BRA: 380,000[c][21]
SWE: 675,000[c][22]
SPA: 420,000[23][42][58]
MEX: 430,000[c][43][98]
SWI: 560,000[c][25]
BEL: 335,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 180,000[61][60]
ARG: 874,000[28][29]
AUT: 340,000[c][32]
POL: 735,000[c][33]
FIN: 530,676[47]
NZ: 315,000[34][35]

110 million[210]

Katy Perry
United States
2001–present[211]
2008[211]
Pop[211]
7002137300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 137.3 million

US: 104 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[12][52]
UK: 13.010 million[13]
GER: 3.350 million[14]
FRA: 867,000[16]
CAN: 6.160 million[17]
AUS: 5.3 million[18]
ITA: 780,000[c][20]
BRA: 625,000[21]
SWE: 600,000[22][57]
SPA: 180,000[23]
MEX: 900,000[43][98]
SWI: 160,000[25]
BEL: 135,000[27]
DEN: 235,000[59][61]
AUT: 247,500[32]
NZ: 360,000[34][35]

100 million[212]

Adele
United Kingdom
2006–present[213]
2008[213]
Pop, soul[213]
7002105200000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 105.2 million

US: 61 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[12]
UK: 20.850 million[13]
GER: 4.7 million[14]
CAN: 6.120 million[17]
AUS: 3.955 million[18]
ITA: 1.570 million[c][20]
BRA: 1.310 million[21]
SWE: 240,000[22][57]
SPA: 800,000[23]
MEX: 1.490 million[43]
SWI: 510,000[25]
BEL: 795,000[27]
DEN: 812,500[59][61]
POL: 300,000[c][33]
FIN: 151,639[47]
NZ: 577,500[34]

100 million[214]

Jay-Z
United States
1996–present[215]
1996[215]
Hip-hop[215]
7002100100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 100.1 million

US: 84.7 million[11]
JPN: 1.050 million[52]
UK: 9.320 million[13]
GER: 1.550 million[14]
FRA: 400,000[16]
CAN: 1.6 million[17]
AUS: 1.260[18]
ITA: 180,000[c][20]
SWE: 130,000[22][57]

100 million[216]

Lil Wayne
United States
1996–present[217]
1999[217]
Hip-hop[217]
7001910000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 91 million

US: 87.7 million[11]
UK: 2.460 million[13]
CAN: 280,000[17]
AUS: 630,000[18]

100 million[218]

B'z
Japan
1988–present[219]
1988[219]
Rock / Pop rock / Hard rock[219]
7001857000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 85.7 million

JPN: 85.75 million[c][12][52][110]

100 million[220]

Bon Jovi
United States
1983–present[221]
1983[221]
Hard rock / Glam metal[221]
7001841009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 84.1 million

US: 49.9 million[11]
JPN: 4.400 million[c][12][52]
UK: 9.490 million[13]
GER: 5.650 million[14]
FRA: 825,000[15][16][53]
CAN: 4.735 million[17]
AUS: 3.030 million[c][18][222][223]
ITA: 135,000[c][20]
BRA: 435,000[c][21]
SWE: 365,000[c][22][57]
SPA: 1.620 million[23][24][41][42][58]
MEX: 250,000[c][43]
SWI: 1.275 million[c][25]
AUT: 725,000[c][32]
BEL: 165,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 358,000[28][29]
POL: 110,000[c][33]
FIN: 422,500[47]
NZ: 210,000[34][35]

100 million[224]

Linkin Park
United States
1996–present[225]
2000[225]
Alternative rock / Nu metal / Rap rock[225]
7001828000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 82.8 million

US: 61.6 million[11]
JPN: 1.550 million[12][52]
UK: 6.605 million[13]
GER: 5.850 million[14]
FRA: 1.025[16]
CAN: 1.330 million[17]
AUS: 1.485 million[18]
ITA: 640,000[c][20]
BRA: 595,000[21]
SWE: 165,000[22][57]
SPA: 175,000[23]
MEX: 225,000[43]
SWI: 435,000[25]
BEL: 140,000[27]
DEN: 175,000[59][61]
AUT: 252,500[32]
POL: 220,000[33]
FIN: 120,469[47]
NZ: 252,500[34][35]

100 million[226]

Coldplay
United Kingdom
1996–present[227]
1999[227]
Alternative rock, Pop rock, Pop[227]
7001817000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 81.7 million

US: 30.6 million[11]
JPN: 750,000[12][52]
UK: 25.245 million[13]
GER: 4.350 million[14]
FRA: 3.013[16]
CAN: 3.525 million[17]
AUS: 3.795 million[18]
ITA: 2.795 million[c][20]
BRA: 340,000[21]
SWE: 750,000[22][57]
SPA: 1.030 million[23]
MEX: 1.890 million[43][98]
SWI: 510,000[25]
BEL: 765,000[27]
ARG: 528,000[28][29]
DEN: 894,000[59][61]
AUT: 197,500[32]
POL: 240,000[c][33]
IRE: 210,000[c][102]
NZ: 345,000[34]

100 million[228]

Britney Spears
United States
1998–present[229]
1998[229]
Pop / Dance / Dance-pop[229]
7001815000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 81.5 million

US: 46.2 million[11]
JPN: 2.1 million[12][132]
UK: 10.750 million[13]
GER: 5.350 million[14]
FRA: 3.732 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 3.680 million[17]
AUS: 3.165 million[18]
ITA: 200,000[c][20]
BRA: 380,000[21]
SWE: 1.010 million[22][57]
SPA: 990,000[23][42][58]
MEX: 1.175 million[c][43]
SWI: 485,000[25]
AUT: 365,000[32]
BEL: 935,000[26][27]
ARG: 248,000[28][29]
DEN: 187,500[c][59][60][230][231]
POL: 210,000[33]
FIN: 143,627[47]
NZ: 240,000[34][35]

100 million[232]

Beyoncé
United States
1997–present[233]
2002[233][234]
R&B / Pop[233]
7001816009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 81.6 million

US: 56.150 million[11]
JPN: 1.7 million [12][52]
UK: 14.545 million[13]
GER: 1.550 million[14]
FRA: 560,000[16][84]
CAN: 1.395 million[17]
AUS: 2.975 million[18]
ITA: 260,000[c][20]
BRA: 390,000[21]
SWE: 120,000[22][57]
SPA: 1.030 million[c][23][235]
MEX: 110,000[43]
SWI: 165,000[25]
BEL: 115,000[27]
DEN: 312,500[60][61][69][101][236][237]
POL: 100,000[33]
NZ: 210,000[34][35]

100 million[238]

Rod Stewart
United Kingdom
1964–present[239]
1969[239]
Rock / Pop[239]
7001781009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 78.1 million

US: 43.650 million[11]
JPN: 450,000[c][12]
UK: 18.630 million[c][13]
GER: 3.8 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.8 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 4.055 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.610 million[c][18][19]
BRA: 980,000[c][21]
SWE: 440,000[c][22]
SPA: 290,000[c][23][24][41]
SWI: 100,000[c][25]
ARG: 524,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 100,000[c][32]
POL: 220,000[c][33]
IRE: 195,000[c][102]
NZ: 280,000[c][34][35]

100 million[240]

Fleetwood Mac
United Kingdom
United States
1967–present[241]
1968[241]
Rock / Pop[241]
7001771009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 77.1 million

US: 51.250 million[11]
UK: 14.585 million[c][13]
GER: 3.5 million[c][14]
FRA: 800,000[c][15][16]
AUS: 2.767 million[c][18][19]
CAN: 2.950 million[c][17]
SPA: 300,000[c][42][58]
SWI: 100,000[c][25]
BEL: 100,000[c][27]
NZ: 572,500[c][35][242][243]

100 million[244]

Guns N' Roses
United States
1985–present[245]
1987[245]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[245]
7001745000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 74.5 million

US: 48.5 million[11]
JPN: 1.7 million[c][12]
UK: 6.350 million[13]
GER: 4.1 million[14]
FRA: 1 million[16]
CAN: 3.520 million[17]
AUS: 2.410[c][18][19][166]
ITA: 685,000[c][20]
BRA: 1.9 million[c][21]
SWE: 485,000[22]
SPA: 450,000[23][24][41]
MEX: 760,000[c][43]
SWI: 365,000[c][25]
BEL: 165,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 1.248 million[c][28][29]
AUT: 365,000[32]
POL: 160,000[c][33]
IRE: 105,000[c][102]
NZ: 270,000[34][35]

100 million[246]

George Strait
United States
1981–present[247]
1984[247]
Country[247]
7001728000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 72.8 million

US: 72.150 million[11]
CAN: 705,000[17]

100 million[248]

Backstreet Boys
United States
1993–present[249]
1995[249]
Pop[249]
7001720000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 72 million

US: 41.5 million[11]
JPN: 5.4 million[12][52][250]
UK: 4.875 million[13]
GER: 7 million[14]
FRA: 325,000[15][16]
CAN: 3.430 million[17]
AUS: 1.4 million[c][18]
BRA: 1.625 million[21]
SWE: 655,000[22]
SPA: 1.850 million[42][58]
MEX: 1.475 million[c][43]
SWI: 415,000[25]
BEL: 425,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 740,000[28]
AUT: 325,000[32]
POL: 300,000[33]
FIN: 171,390[47]
NZ: 132,500[34]

100 million[251]

Neil Diamond
United States
1966–present[252]
1966[252]
Pop / Rock[252]
7001686009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 68.6 million

US: 55.9 million[11]
UK: 7.330 million[c][13]
GER: 1 million[c][14]
FRA: 400,000[c][15]
CAN: 1.725 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.085 million[c][18][253]
SPA: 100,000[c][41]
NZ: 127,500[c][34][35]

100 million[254]

Santana
United States
1966–present[255]
1969[255]
Rock[255]
7001645999999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.6 million

US: 50.295 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[c][12]
UK: 2.980 million[c][13]
GER: 2.4 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.510 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 1.660 million[c][17]
AUS: 855,000[c][18]
BRA: 375,000[c][21]
SWE: 125,000[c][22]
SPA: 450,000[c][42][58]
MEX: 405,000[c][43]
SWI: 375,000[c][25]
BEL: 190,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 158,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 145,000[c][32]
POL: 205,000[c][33]
NZ: 135,000[c][34][35]

100 million[256]

Prince
United States
1976–2016[257]
1978[257]
Funk / R&B / Pop / Soul / Rock[257]
7001642000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.2 million

US: 48.950 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12]
UK: 7.045 million[13]
GER: 2.4 million[14]
FRA: 2.110 million[15][16]
CAN: 1 million[17]
AUS: 1.120[c][18][19]
SWE: 100,000[22]
SPA: 700,000[c][24][41][42][58]
SWI: 250,000[c][25]
AUT: 125,000[c][32]
NZ: 177,500[c][34]

100 million[258]

Kenny Rogers
United States
1958–present[259]
1975[259]
Country / Pop[259]
7001601000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 61.4 million

US: 54.050 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][260]
UK: 2.520 million[13]
CAN: 4.6 million[17]
AUS: 100,000[c][261][262]
SPA: 100,000[c][41]

100 million[263]

Paul McCartney
United Kingdom
1960–present[264]
1970[264]
Rock[264]
7001606000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 60.6 million

US: 41.450 million[11]
JPN: 500,000[c][12]
UK: 12.425 million[c][13]
GER: 1.525 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.305 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 1.955 million[c][17]
AUS: 465,000[c][18][19]
SWE: 210,000[c][57][265]
SPA: 640,000[c][24][41]
DEN: 210,000[c][60][266]

100 million[267]

Simon & Garfunkel
United States
1956–present[268]
1964[268]
Folk rock[268]
7001589000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 58.9 million

US: 42.6 million[11]
JPN: 700,000[c][12]
UK: 6.620 million[c][13]
GER: 2.325 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.9 million[c][15]
CAN: 1.425 million[c][17]
AUS: 390,000[c][18][19]
ITA: 100,000[c][20]
SWE: 150,000[c][22]
SWI: 450,000[c][25]
AUT: 100,000[c][32]
FIN: 163,350[c][47]

100 million[269]

Janet Jackson
United States
1982–present[270]
1982[270]
R&B / Pop[270]
7001521000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 52.1 million

US: 39.750 million[11]
JPN: 1.6 million [c][12]
UK: 4.760 million[13]
GER: 1.4 million[14]
FRA: 1.475 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 1.460 million[17]
AUS: 1.155[c][18][19]
SWE: 105,000[c][22]
SPA: 150,000[42][58]
SWI: 170,000[c][25]
BEL: 125,000[c][26]

100 million[271]

Julio Iglesias
Spain
1968–present[272]
1968[272]
Latin[272]
7001510000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 51 million

US: 11 million[11]
JPN: 800,000[c][273]
UK: 1.620 million[c][13][273]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
FRA: 6.1 million[15][16][53][273]
CAN: 1.5 million[17]
AUS: 505,000[c][18][273]
ITA: 400,000[c][20][273]
NLD:950,000[c][273]
BRA: 12.475 million[c][21][273]
SWE: 290,000[c][22][273]
SPA: 8.7 million[c][23][24][41][42][58][273]
MEX: 2.975 million[c][43][273]
BEL: 125,000[c][273]
ARG: 3.220 million[c][28][273]
FIN: 131,636[c][47]

100 million[274]

Chicago
United States
1967–present[275]
1969[275]
Rock / Pop[275]
7001483000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 48.3 million

US: 44.150 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[c][12][276]
UK: 1.490 million[c][13]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
FRA: 100,000[c][15]
CAN: 1.865 million[17]
SPA: 100,000[c][24]

100 million[277]

Dire Straits
United Kingdom
1977–1995[278]
1978[278]
Rock [278]
7001454000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 45.4 million

US: 15.5 million[11]
UK: 11.8 million[13]
GER: 3.750 million[14]
FRA: 5.3 million[15][16]
CAN: 2.575 million[17]
AUS: 2.190 million[c][18][19]
ITA: 385,000[c][20]
BRA: 175,000[c][21]
SWE: 360,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.380 million[c][23][24][41][42]
SWI: 1 million[c][25]
BEL: 100,000[c][26][27]
AUT: 300,000[c][32]
FIN: 471,530[47]
NZ: 155,000[c][35]

100 million[279]

Bob Dylan
United States
1959–present[280]
1963[280]
Folk / Rock[280]
7001453000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 45.3 million

US: 35.6 million[11]
UK: 6.025 million[c][13]
GER: 625,000[c][14]
FRA: 800,000[c][15][16]
CAN: 1.5 million[c][17]
AUS: 480,000[c][18]
SWI: 175,000[c][25]
NZ: 105,000[c][34]

100 million[281]

Def Leppard
United Kingdom
1977–present[282]
1979[282]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[282]
7001418009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 41.8 million

US: 35.650 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12]
UK: 1.960 million[13]
FRA: 200,000[15]
CAN: 2.995 million[17]
AUS: 385,000[19][283]
SWE: 150,000[c][22]
MEX: 200,000[c][43]
SWI: 125,000[c][25]

100 million[284]

Cher
United States
1964–present[285]
1965[285]
Pop / Rock / Dance / Folk[285]
7001410000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 41 million

US: 21.9 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][12]
UK: 6.510 million[c][13]
GER: 4.175 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.525 million[c][16][53]
CAN: 1.340 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.530 million[c][18][286]
ITA: 300,000[c][287]
NLD: 375,000[c][288][289][290]
BRA: 125,000[c][21]
SWE: 850,000[c][22][57]
SPA: 600,000[c][42][58][287]
MEX: 200,000[c][43]
SWI: 295,000[c][25]
BEL: 275,000[c][26]
ARG: 106,000[c][28][273]
DEN: 300,000[c][287][291]
AUT: 250,000[c][32]
POL: 100,000[c][33]
NZ: 150,000[34][292]

100 million[293]

Genesis
United Kingdom
1967–1999
2006–present[294]
1969[294]
Progressive rock / Pop rock[294]
7001399000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 39.9 million

US: 21.650 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][12]
UK: 7.325 million[c][13]
GER: 5.875 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.460 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 805,000[c][17]
SWE: 100,000[c][22]
SPA: 250,000[c][23][24][41]
SWI: 400,000[c][25]

100 million[295]

Olivia Newton-John
Australia
1966–present[296]
1966[296]
Pop[296]
7001357000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 35.7 million

US: 27 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][12]
UK: 3.950 million[c][13]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
FRA: 1 million[53]
CAN: 3.025 million[c][17]
AUS: 450,000[c][18][19][297]

100 million[298]

James Taylor
United States
1968–present[299]
1970[299]
Rock / Pop[299]
7001355000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 35.5 million

US: 34.650 million[11]
UK: 655,000[c][13]
CAN: 100,000[c][17]
AUS: 100,000[c][18]

100 million[300]

Stevie Wonder
United States
1961–present[301]
1962[301]
Funk / R&B / Soul[301]
7001346000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 34.6 million

US: 21.650 million[11]
JPN: 1.050 million[c][12]
UK: 8.285 million[c][13]
GER: 500,000[c][14]
FRA: 1.4 million[c][15][53]
CAN: 1.550 million[17]
SPA: 250,000[c][41]

100 million[302]

David Bowie
United Kingdom
1962–2016[303]
1967[303]
Art rock / Glam rock / Pop[303]
7001335000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 33.5 million

US: 13.7 million[11]
JPN: 200,000[c][12]
UK: 13.095 million[c][13]
GER: 525,000[c][14]
FRA: 2.380 million[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 2.315 million[c][17]
AUS: 635,000[c][18][77]
ITA: 345,000[c][20]
SPA: 170,000[c][23][24][41]
NZ: 142,500[c][34]

100 million[304]

Tina Turner
United States
1955–present[305]
1975[305]
Rock / Pop[305]
7001328009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 32.8 million

US: 12.7 million[11]
UK: 8.145 million[13]
GER: 6.050 million[14]
FRA: 1.135 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 1.560 million[17]
AUS: 480,000[c][18][19]
SWE: 330,000[c][22]
SPA: 700,000[c][23][24][41][42]
SWI: 565,000[c][25]
BEL: 190,000[c][26][27]
AUT: 630,000[c][32]
POL: 120,000[c][33]
FIN: 241,954[47]

100 million[306]

Linda Ronstadt
United States
1967–present[307]
1968[307]
Rock / Folk / Country[307]
7001325000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 32.5 million

US: 31.5 million[11]
UK: 435,000[c][13]
FRA: 100,000[c][15]
CAN: 500,000[c][17]

100 million[308]

Donna Summer
United States
1968–2012[309]
1974[309]
Pop / Disco / R&B[309]
7001308000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 30.8 million

US: 24.5 million[11]
UK: 3.735 million[c][13]
FRA: 900,000[c][15][16]
CAN: 1.550 million[c][17]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SPA: 100,000[c][42]

100 million[310]

The Beach Boys
United States
1961–present[311]
1962[311]
Rock / Pop / Surf Rock[311]
7001305000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 30.5 million

US: 25.6 million[11]
UK: 3.410 million[c][13]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
FRA: 400,000[c][15][16][53]
CAN: 100,000[c][17]
AUS: 492,500[c][18][19]
SPA: 250,000[c][41][42]

100 million[312]

The Who
United Kingdom
1964–present[313]
1965[313]
Rock / Hard rock[313]
7001271000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 27.1 million

US: 22.150 million[11]
UK: 4.105 million[c][13]
FRA: 300,000[c][15]
CAN: 425,000[c][17]
ITA: 125,000[c][20]

100 million[314]

Barry White
United States
1972–2003[315]
1973[315]
R&B / Soul[315]
7001217000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 21.7 million

US: 16.5 million[11]
UK: 3.665 million[c][13]
FRA: 1.1 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 150,000[c][17]
SPA: 200,000[c][58]
BEL: 150,000[c][27]

100 million[316]

text: 80 million to 99 million records

text:
Chris Brown

Nicki Minaj

Shania Twain

Flo Rida

Pink

Justin Timberlake

Van Halen

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

Shania Twain
Canada
1993–present[317]
1993[317]
Country pop[317]
7001759000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 75.9 million

US: 54.5 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[12]
UK: 6.795 million[13]
GER: 1.750 million[14]
FRA: 975,000[16][53]
CAN: 6.880 million[17]
AUS: 2.360 million[c][18]
BRA: 475,000[21]
SWE: 330,000[22]
SPA: 100,000[58]
MEX: 100,000[c][43]
SWI: 310,000[25]
BEL: 250,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 120,000[28]
DEN: 210,000[c][59][61]
AUT: 115,000[32]
NZ: 402,500[34][35]

90 million[318]

Pink
United States
1995–present[319]
2000[319]
Pop, Pop rock, R&B[319]
7001685000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 68.5 million

US: 32.225 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[12]
UK: 13.375 million[13]
GER: 5.725 million[14]
FRA: 1.198 million[16][53]
CAN: 4.130 million[17]
AUS: 8.225 million[18]
ITA: 425,000[c][20]
SWE: 530,000[22]
MEX: 360,000[43]
SWI: 545,000[25]
BEL: 235,000[27]
DEN: 281,500[59][61]
AUT: 417,500[32]
NZ: 450,000[34][35]

90 million[320]

The Carpenters
United States
1969–1983[321]
1969[321]
Pop[321]
7001460000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 46 million

US: 34.6 million[11]
JPN: 2.9 million[c][12][123][322]
UK: 7.950 million[c][13]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
CAN: 275,000[c][17]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]

90 million[323]

Lionel Richie
United States
1968–present[324]
1981[324]
Pop / R&B[324]
7001404000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 40.4 million

US: 28.650 million[11]
UK: 6.355 million[c][13]
GER: 1.050 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.4 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 2.380 million[c][17]
AUS: 260,000[c][18][325]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SPA: 150,000[24][41]
SWI: 145,000[c][25]

90 million[326]

Earth, Wind & Fire
United States
1969–present[327]
1971[327]
Funk / R&B / Soul[327]
7001358009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 35.8 million

US: 31.8 million[11]
JPN: 500,000[c][12][328][329]
UK: 2.725 million[13]
FRA: 500,000[15][16]
CAN: 360,000[17]

90 million[330]

Johnny Cash
United States
1954–2003[331]
1956[331]
Country/ Rock and roll/ Gospel[331]
7001310000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 31 million

US: 25.7 million[11]
UK: 3.910 million[c][13]
GER: 400,000[c][14]
CAN: 490,000[c][17]
AUS: 522,500[c][18]

90 million[332]

Justin Timberlake
United States
1992–present[333]
2002[333]
Pop, R&B, Neo soul[333]
7001644000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.4 million

US: 43.2 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[12]
UK: 11.120 million[13]
GER: 2.550 million[14]
FRA: 578,000[16][53]
CAN: 2.480 million[17]
AUS: 2.310 million[18]
ITA: 270,000[c][20]
SWE: 210,000[22]
SPA: 120,000[58]
MEX: 330,000[43]
SWI: 230,000[25]
BEL: 270,000[27]
DEN: 385,000[59][61]
POL: 140,000[33]
NZ: 185,000[34]

88 million[334]

Chris Brown
United States
2005–present[335]
2005[335]
Pop / R&B, Hip hop [335]
7001988000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 98.8 million

US: 84.050 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[52]
UK: 9.180 million[13]
GER: 450,000[14]
CAN: 770,000[17]
AUS: 2.520 million[18]
ITA: 140,000[20]
BRA: 570,000[21]
SWE: 310,000[57]
MEX: 150,000[43]
DEN: 152,500[61]
NZ: 215,000[34]

86 million[336]

Nicki Minaj
United States
2008–present[337]
2010[337]
Hip hop, Pop[337]
7001827000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 82.7 million

US: 66.5 million[11]
JPN: 450,000[52]
UK: 8.3 million[13]
GER: 1 million[14]
FRA: 566,000[16]
CAN: 720,000[17]
AUS: 3.115 million[18]
ITA: 485,000[20]
BRA: 250,000[21]
SWE: 420,000[22][57]
SPA: 220,000[23]
MEX: 150,000[43][98]
SWI: 120,000[25]
DEN: 220,000[61]
NZ: 232,500[34]

85 million[338]

R.E.M.
United States
1980–2011[339]
1983[339]
Alternative rock[339]
7001426000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 42.6 million

US: 21.150 million[11]
UK: 8.765 million[13]
GER: 4.275 million[14]
FRA: 1.450 million[15][16]
CAN: 2.650 million[17]
AUS: 1.030[c][18][19]
ITA: 225,000[c][20]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SWE: 500,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.1 million[23][24][42][58]
SWI: 450,000[c][25]
BEL: 108,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 158,000[c][28][29]
DEN: 155,000[c][59][60]
AUT: 350,000[c][32]
IRE: 127,500[c][102]
NZ: 105,000[34]

85 million[340]

Flo Rida
United States
2007–present[341]
2007[341]
Hip-hop, Hip house, EDM[341]
7001705000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 70.5 million

US: 49 million[11]
JPN: 650,000[c][12][52]
UK: 7.960 million[13]
GER: 3.4 million[14]
FRA: 225,000[16]
CAN: 3.090 million[17]
AUS: 3.605 million[c][18]
ITA: 360,000[c][20]
SWE: 780,000[22]
SPA: 140,000[58]
MEX: 330,000[c][43]
SWI: 420,000[25]
DEN: 205,000[c][61]
AUT: 180,000[32]
NZ: 247,500[34][35]

80 million[342]

Ayumi Hamasaki
Japan
1998–present[343]
1998[343]
J-pop / Pop / dance / electronic[343]
7001643000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.3 million

JPN: 64.3 million[12][52][110]

80 million[344][345]

Van Halen
United States
1978–present[346]
1978[346]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[346]
7001643000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.3 million

US: 57.8 million[11]
JPN: 1.3 million[c][12][132]
UK: 740,000[13]
GER: 1.5 million[14]
FRA: 400,000[15]
CAN: 2.450 million[17]
BRA: 200,000[c][21]

80 million[347]

Red Hot Chili Peppers
United States
1983–present[348]
1987[348]
Funk rock / Alternative rock[348]
7001585000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 58.5 million

US: 32.250 million[11]
JPN: 2.6 million[c][12][52]
UK: 10.595 million[13]
GER: 2.650 million[14]
FRA: 1.420 million[16]
CAN: 2.020 million[17]
AUS: 2.625 million[c][18][19][349]
ITA: 530,000[c][20]
BRA: 515,000[c][21]
SWE: 390,000[c][22]
SPA: 640,000[23][42][58]
MEX: 150,000[c][43]
SWI: 405,000[c][25]
BEL: 170,000[c][27]
ARG: 406,000[28][29]
DEN: 227,000[c][59][60][69][350]
AUT: 247,500[c][32]
POL: 245,000[c][33]
FIN: 171,951[47]
NZ: 285,000[34][35]

80 million[351]

Foreigner
United States
United Kingdom
1976–present[352]
1977[352]
Rock / Hard Rock[352]
7001496000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 49.6 million

US: 45.1 million[11]
UK: 1.300 million[13]
GER: 1.5 million[14]
FRA: 400,000[15][16]
CAN: 700,000[17]
AUS: 105,000[c][18]
SWI: 125,000[c][25]

80 million[353]

The Doors
United States
1965–1973[354]
1967[354]
Psychedelic rock[354]
7001469000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 46.9 million

US: 36.6 million[11]
UK: 2.040 million[c][13]
GER: 1.750 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.9 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 2.780 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.022 million[c][18]
ITA: 130,000[c][20]
BRA: 100,000[21]
SPA: 300,000[c][41][58]
SWI: 125,000[c][25]
ARG: 150,000[c][28]
AUT: 100,000[c][32]

80 million[355]

George Michael
United Kingdom
1981–2016[356]
1984[356]
Pop[356]
7001468000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 46.8 million

US: 20.8 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12]
UK: 12.850 million[13]
GER: 2.4 million[14]
FRA: 3.217 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 1.870 million[17]
AUS: 2.205 million[c][18][19]
BRA: 350,000[c][21]
SWE: 310,000[c][22]
SPA: 850,000[23][24][41][42][58]
SWI: 335,000[c][25]
BEL: 215,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 118,000[28][29]
DEN: 380,000[59][61][69][357]
AUT: 140,000[c][32]
POL: 340,000[c][33]
NZ: 140,000[34][35]

80 million[358]

Reba McEntire
United States
1975–present[359]
1987[359]
Country / Country Pop[359]
7001427000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 42.7 million

US: 41.9 million[11]
CAN: 850,000[17]

80 million[360]

Meat Loaf
United States
1968–present[361]
1977[361]
Rock / Hard rock[361]
7001418009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 41.8 million

US: 23.6 million[11]
UK: 9.665 million[13]
GER: 2.350 million[14]
CAN: 3.380 million[17]
AUS: 2.522 million[c][18][19]
SWE: 100,000[c][22]
SWI: 115,000[c][25]
AUT: 100,000[c][32]

80 million[362]

Tom Petty
United States
1976–2017[363]
1977[363]
Rock[363]
7001346000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 34.6 million

US: 31.250 million[11]
UK: 1 million[13]
GER: 500,000[14]
CAN: 1.7 million[17]
SWE: 200,000[c][22]

80 million[364]

Johnny Hallyday
France
1957–2017[365]
1960[365]
Rock / Pop[365]
7001250000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 25 million

FRA: 24.272 million[c][15][16][53][84][366]
SWI: 268,000[c][25]
BEL: 460,000[c][26][27]

80 million[367]

text: 75 million to 79 million records

text:
Maroon 5

Journey

The Black Eyed Peas

Usher

Kenny G

Tupac Shakur

Robbie Williams

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

The Black Eyed Peas
United States
1995–present[368]
1998[368]
Hip-hop / R&B / Dance[368]
7001556000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 55.6 million

US: 29.4 million[11]
JPN: 1.250 million[12][52]
UK: 10.8 million[13]
GER: 2.250 million[14]
FRA: 2.650 million[16]
CAN: 2.7 million[17]
AUS: 3.270 million[18]
ITA: 365,000[c][20]
BRA: 255,000[21]
SWE: 300,000[22][57]
SPA: 460,000[c][23]
MEX: 390,000[c][43]
SWI: 460,000[25]
BEL: 460,000[27]
DEN: 161,000[c][61][69][101][369][369][370]
IRE: 135,000[c][102]
NZ: 340,000[34][35]

76 million[371]

Maroon 5
United States
1994–present[372]
2002[372]
Pop rock / Funk rock / Dance-pop[372]
7001648000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.8 million

US: 36.7 million[11]
JPN: 2 million[12][52]
UK: 9.960 million[13]
GER: 2.250[14]
FRA: 792,000[16]
CAN: 3.9255 million[17]
AUS: 2.975 million[18]
ITA: 760,000[c][20]
BRA: 380,000[21]
SWE: 770,000[22][57]
SPA: 230,000[c][23]
MEX: 3.365[43]
DEN: 462,500[c][61][60][59]
NZ: 300,000[34]

75 million[373]

Journey
United States
1973–present[374]
1975[374]
Rock / Soft rock[374]
7001621000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 62.1 million

US: 59.7 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12][375]
UK: 1.4 million[13]
CAN: 725,000[17]

75 million[376]

Usher
United States
1991–present[377]
1994[377]
R&B / Pop[377]
7001550000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 55 million

US: 40.435 million[11]
JPN: 750,000 [12][52]
UK: 8.525 million[13]
GER: 1.150[14]
FRA: 210,000[16]
CAN: 1.330 million[17]
AUS: 2.112 million[18]
SWE: 105,000[22][57]
SWI: 170,000[25]
DEN: 137,500[c][61][60]
NZ: 150,000[34]

75 million[378]

Kenny G
United States
1982–present[379]
1984[379]
Smooth jazz[379]
7001521000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 52.1 million

US: 48.1 million[11]
JPN: 700,000[c][12]
UK: 360,000[13]
CAN: 950,000[17]
AUS: 245,000[c][18][181]
BRA: 1.350 million[c][21]
SPA: 450,000[24][42]

75 million[380]

Tupac Shakur
United States
1991–1996[381]
1991[381]
Hip hop[381]
7001513000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 51.3 million

US: 46.2 million[11]
UK: 3.435 million[13]
GER: 500,000[14]
CAN: 820,000[17]
AUS: 430,000[18][382]

75 million[383]

Robbie Williams
United Kingdom
1990–present[384]
1996[384]
Pop rock[384]
7001511000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 51.1 million

US: 500,000[11]
UK: 27.550 million[13]
GER: 9.775 million[14]
FRA: 2.695 million[16][53]
CAN: 250,000[17]
AUS: 2.905 million[18]
ITA: 385,000[c][20]
SWE: 445,000[22][57]
SPA: 440,000[c][23][58]
MEX: 1.595 million[c][43]
SWI: 983,000[25]
BEL: 600,000[26][27]
ARG: 462,000[28][29]
DEN: 676,500[c][59][60][61][69][78]
AUT: 917,500[32]
POL: 140,000[33]
FIN: 235,743[47]
IRE: 135,000[c][102]
NZ: 445,000[34]

75 million[385]

Enya
Ireland
1982–present[386]
1987[386]
New-age / Celtic[386]
7001500000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 50 million

US: 26.5 million[11]
JPN: 4.6 million[c][12]
UK: 5.250 million[13]
GER: 4.2 million[14]
FRA: 775,000[15][16]
CAN: 1.540 million[17]
AUS: 1.505[c][18][19]
BRA: 1.650 million[c][21]
SWE: 390,000[22]
SPA: 1.760 million[23][42]
MEX: 125,000[c][43]
SWI: 370,000[c][25]
BEL: 460,000[c][27]
ARG: 390,000[28]
DEN: 100,000[c][30][387][388][389]
AUT: 185,000[c][32]
POL: 120,000[c][33]
NZ: 135,000[34]

75 million[390]

Alabama
United States
1972–present[391]
1980[391]
Country / Pop rock[391]
7001480000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 48 million

US: 46.8 million[11]
CAN: 1.2 million[17]

75 million[392]

Nirvana
United States
1987–1994[393]
1989[393]
Grunge / Alternative rock[393]
7001467000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 46.7 million

US: 26.5 million[11]
JPN: 1.3 million[c][12]
UK: 5.970 million[13]
GER: 1.5 million[14]
FRA: 2.5 million[15][16]
CAN: 2.970 million[17]
AUS: 1.362[c][18][209][394][253][395]
ITA: 600,000[c][20]
BRA: 725,000[c][21]
SWE: 380,000[22]
SPA: 450,000[23][24][42]
MEX: 475,000[c][43]
SWI: 190,000[25]
BEL: 350,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 522,000[28][29]
DEN: 160,000[c][61]
AUT: 230,000[c][32]
POL: 335,000[c][33]
NZ: 215,000[34][35]

75 million[396]

Bryan Adams
Canada
1979–present[397]
1979[397]
Rock[397]
7001448000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 44.8 million

US: 21 million[11]
JPN: 600,000[c][12]
UK: 8.675 million[13]
GER: 4.1 million[14]
FRA: 650,000[15][16][53]
CAN: 5.120 million[17]
AUS: 2.010 million[c][18][398]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SWE: 440,000[c][22]
SPA: 450,000 [c][24][42][58]
SWI: 805,000[c][25]
BEL: 250,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 105,000[c][60][61]
AUT: 375,000[c][32]
FIN: 183,444[47]

75 million[399]

The Police
United Kingdom
1977–1986
2007–2008[400]
1978[400]
Pop / Rock[400]
7001392000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 39.2 million

US: 23.150 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][12]
UK: 8.560 million[13]
GER: 1.775 million[14]
FRA: 3.340 million[15][16][53]
CAN: 875,000[17]
AUS: 407,500[c][18]
ITA: 100,000[c][20]
BRA: 140,000[c][21]
SPA: 300,000[c][24][41]
MEX: 100,000[c][43]
BEL: 115,000[c][401][402][403]
ARG: 228,000[c][28][29]

75 million[404]

Bob Marley
Jamaica
1962–1981[405]
1975[405]
Reggae[405]
7001389000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 38.9 million

US: 21.850 million[11]
JPN: 200,000[c][12]
UK: 7.4 million[13]
GER: 1.750 million[14]
FRA: 4.735 million[16]
CAN: 600,000[17]
AUS: 350,000[406][407]
ITA: 250,000[c][20]
SWE: 120,000[c][22]
SPA: 450,000[c][24][41][42][58]
SWI: 303,000[c][25]
ARG: 376,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 125,000[c][32]
NZ: 427,500[c][34][35]

75 million[408]

Barry Manilow
United States
1973–present[409]
1973[409]
Pop / Soft rock[409]
7001365000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 36.5 million

US: 33.3 million[11]
UK: 2.825 million[13]
CAN: 400,000[c][17]

75 million[410]

Kiss
United States
1972–present[411]
1974[411]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[411]
7001278000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 27.8 million

US: 26 million[11]
CAN: 1.495 million[c][17]
UK: 100,000[13]
AUS: 130,000[c][18]
ARG: 112,000[c][28]

75 million[412]

Aretha Franklin
United States
1956–present[413]
1961[413]
Soul / Jazz / Blues / R&B[413]
7001247000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 24.7 million

US: 23.5 million[11]
UK: 840,000[c][13]
FRA: 275,000[c][15][16]
CAN: 150,000[c][17]

75 million[414]