List of best-selling Latin albums

Latin music has an ambiguous meaning in the music industry due to differing definitions of the term "Latin". For example, the Latin music market in the United States defines Latin music as any release that is mostly sung in Spanish, regardless of genre or artist nationality, by industry organizations including the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Billboard. International organizations and trade groups such as the Latin Recording Academy include Portuguese-language music in the Latin category.

Music journalists and musicologists define Latin music as musical styles from Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America and from Spain. Music from Brazil is usually included in the genre, and music from Portugal is occasionally included.

As a result of the conflicting views of defining Latin music, the list includes Latin albums defined either by language for vocal albums or genre for instrumental albums. Therefore, for an album to appear on the list, the figure must have been published by a reliable source, the album must have sold at least 2 million copies with at least 600,000 certified units (the equivalent of a Latin diamond certification by the RIAA), and it must either a) have at least 51% of its content in Spanish or Portuguese or b) is abeatin instrumental album (or any of its subgenres). This information cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization that has recorded global Latin music sales. This list can contain any types of album, including studio albums, extended plays, greatest hits, compilations, various artists, soundtracks and remixes. The figures given do not take into account the resale of used albums. For albums recorded in multiple languages, only the Spanish/Portuguese version(s) will be counted towards the certified sales.

Certified copies are sourced either from available online databases of local music industry associations or a country with an established certifying authority (see List of music recording certifications). Online certifications in Latin America are not extensive and only date back to a certain time period. For example, the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON), the certifying authority in Mexico, only has certifications dating back to 1999 on its online database. Certifications from countries without online databases may be used if it has a certifying authority. In the case of sales of Latin albums in the US, primarily those released before the 1990s, certifications were awarded by the artists own record label rather than the RIAA with a lower threshold, a practice that was widely criticized by Latin label executives due to sales not being audited by an outside party. In a 1989 article for Billboard, Carlos Agudelo cited the insularity of the Latin music market in the US for the lack of reliable sales numbers reported to the RIAA. Therefore, only certifications listed on the RIAA database may be used for US certifications.

With estimated sales of 12 million copies worldwide, Spanish singer Julio Iglesias's Momentos (1982) is the highest-selling Latin album on the list. Mexican singer Luis Miguel currently has the highest number of albums on the list with 14, while Colombian songstress Shakira has the most by a female artist with four.

Legend Colors Studio albums Greatest hits and compilations Live albums

Best-selling Latin albums *All sales figures are shown in millions ArtistAlbumReleasedGenreLanguage(s)Total certified copies*Reported sales*Ref(s)Momentos 1982 Latin pop 12Luis MiguelRomance1991BoleroSpanish 8Buena Vista Social ClubBuena Vista Social Club1997Cuban"Interview with Ry Cooder" in Los Angeles, by Betty Arcos, host, "The Global Village", Pacifica Radio, June 27, 2000 . Buena Vista Social Club site. PBS.org. Retrieved 18 March 2007.Spanish 8ShakiraDónde Están los Ladrones?1998Spanish 7Más 1997Flamenco popSpanish 6Vuelve1998Spanish

6Mi Tierra1993CubanSpanish 5.2The album sold over 1,2 million copies in the US according to Nielsen Soundscan:

and 4 million copies outside the US according to Billboard magazine: SelenaDreaming of You1995Spanish English 5Maná1992Latin pop/rockSpanish 5ShakiraFijación Oral, Vol. 12005Latin popSpanish 5Bachata Rosa1990Spanish 5Luis MiguelRomances 1997BoleroSpanish

4.5Luis MiguelSegundo Romance1994BoleroSpanish 4.5SantanaAbraxas1970Latin rock 4Enrique Iglesias1995Spanish 4Tango1996TangoSpanish 4ShakiraSale el Sol2010 4ShakiraPies Descalzos1995Spanish 4JuanesMi Sangre2004Latin rockSpanish 4Sentimientos1996BoleroSpanish 4KaomaWorldbeat1989Lambada 4Hey!1980Latin balladSpanish 4Clásicos de la Provincia1993VallenatoSpanish 4Luis MiguelAmarte es un Placer1999PopSpanish 3.5ManáSueños Liquidos1997Latin pop/rockSpanish 3.5XuxaXou da Xuxa 31988Portuguese

3.2Músicas para Louvar ao Senhor1997ChristianPortuguese 3.3ManáMTV Unplugged1999Pop rockSpanish 3Paulina2000Spanish 3A Medio Vivir1995LatinSpanish 3Luis MiguelAries1993Spanish 3Manu ChaoPróxima Estación: Esperanza2001Latin 3Luis MiguelBusca una Mujer1988Latin popSpanish 3Vivir1997Spanish 3Luis MiguelNada Es Igual...1996Spanish 3Libra1985 3Un hombre solo1987Latin popSpanish 3Xuxa4º Xou da Xuxa1989Portuguese

2.9Só Pra Contrariar1997Portuguese

2.9Sandy & Junior1999teen popPortuguese 2.8Sandy & Junior 2000teen popPortuguese 2.7XuxaXegundo Xou da Xuxa1987Portuguese

2.7XuxaXou da Xuxa1987Portuguese

2.6Leandro e Leonardo1998Musica sertanejaPortuguese

2.7Hijas del Tomate2002Spanish 2.6SelenaAmor Prohibido1994Tejano cumbiaSpanish 2.5Canciones de Mi Padre 1987MariachiSpanish 2.5ChayanneAtado a Tu Amor1998Spanish 2.5Luis MiguelMis Romances 2001BoleroSpanish 2.5Alejandro Sanz3 1995Latin popSpanish 2.5Enrique IglesiasQuizás 2002Latin popSpanish 2.5Mamonas AssassinasMamonas Assassinas1995Comedy rockPortuguese

2.461998Portuguese

2.45El Alma al Aire 2000Latin popSpanish 2.4Abriendo Puertas1995Spanish 2.3Me Estoy Enamorando 1997Spanish 2.2MecanoDescanso Dominical 1988Synth-popSpanish 2.2Mi Reflejo 2000Spanish 2.2ManáAmar es Combatir2006Rock en españolSpanish 2.1Trozos de Mi Alma 1999Latin popSpanish 2Gipsy KingsGipsy Kings 1987Pop music-FlamencoSpanish 2Corazón latino 2002Spanish 2Bad BunnyYHLQMDLG 2020Latin trapreggaetonalternative reggaetonpophip-hopR&BSpanish 2Julio IglesiasLa Carretera1995Latin popSpanish 2Luis Miguel20 Años1990BalladsSpanish 2El viaje de Copperpot 2000PopSpanish 2Nouveau Flamenco 1990Nouveau flamencoInstrumental 2Suavemente1998MerengueSpanish 2Luis MiguelSoy Como Quiero Ser1987Latin popSpanish 2Luis MiguelMéxico en la Piel2004MariachiSpanish 2Laura Pausini1994PopSpanish 2Historias1994BalladsSpanish 2Lunas Rotas1996Spanish 2Luis MiguelEl Concierto1995Spanish 2MTV Unplugged2006PopSpanish 2JuanesUn Dia Normal2002Latin RockSpanish 2TribalistasTribalistas2002BrazilianPortuguese 2No Es lo Mismo 2003Pop balladsSpanish 2RBDRebelde 2004teen popSpanish 2Luis MiguelVivo2000Spanish 2Daddy YankeeBarrio Fino2004ReggaetonSpanish 2Alejandro SanzViviendo Deprisa 1991Latin popSpanish 2Más de Mi Alma 2001Spanish 2Palabra De Mujer1997Spanish 2Calor 1992 2O Canto da Cidade1992AxéPortuguese 2ThalíaArrasando2000Dance musicSpanish 2Luis Miguel33 2003PopSpanish 2Papito2007Latin popSpanish 2Cosas del Amor 1998Power balladsSpanish 2ThalíaEn éxtasis 1995Pop musicSpanish 2ThalíaAmor a la mexicana1997Spanish 2Almas del Silencio 2003Spanish 2

List of best-selling Latin albums

Bron en licentie