The following albums, recorded by female solo artists and all-female groups, have sold at least 10 million copies. This list can contain any types of album, including studio albums, extended plays, greatest hits, compilations, soundtracks, and remixes. Various artists albums are eligible for inclusion if a woman is credited as the main artist by record charts and certifying organizations. The figures given do not take into account the resale of pre owned albums.
The Bodyguard soundtrack by Whitney Houston (with various artists) is the best-selling album credited to a woman; its sales are over 45 million copies since its release in November 1992. Come On Over by Shania Twain is recognized by Guinness World Records as the biggest-selling studio album by a solo female artist with over 40 million copies. Previous record holders of the best-selling album by a female artist include Carole King's Tapestry, and Whitney Houston's debut album as well as Madonna with True Blue according to the Guinness World Records (1989 and 1992 editions, respectively). Madonna also has the best-selling compilation album by a female artist (and solo artist) with The Immaculate Collection, which sold around 30 million copies. Other notable appearances include Shakira, as the only Latino artist in the list thanks to her crossover album Laundry Service, Hikaru Utada with First Love as the only Asian artist. Celine Dion has the only entirely non-English album with D'eux, which remains the best-selling French album of all time. The Spice Girls have the best-selling album by a girl group with Spice, while Mariah Carey has the best-selling Christmas album by a female artist with Merry Christmas. Whitney Houston' Whitney Houston remains the biggest-selling debut album of all time by a solo artist. Britney Spears' …Baby One More Time is the best-selling debut album by a teenage artist.
Many artists have multiple entries, led by Madonna with nine of her albums and followed by Celine Dion (seven), Mariah Carey (seven), Whitney Houston (six), while Britney Spears, Enya, Shania Twain, and Janet Jackson each have three. The first five artists also have multiple albums with sales of over 20 million copies worldwide. Currently, Adele's 21 is the best-selling album of the 21st century.
Groupings are based on different sales benchmarks, the highest being for claims of at least 40 million copies, and the lowest being for claims of 10 million copies. Albums are listed in order of number of copies sold and thereafter by the release year.
List of albums +Key*Indicates a previous record holder of the best-selling music album by a woman
40 million copies or more + Artist Country Album Released year Estimated sales Whitney Houston / various artists United States The Bodyguard 1992 45 million Shania Twain Canada Come On Over 1997 40 million
30 to 39 million copies + Artist Country Album Released year Estimated sales Alanis Morissette Canada Jagged Little Pill 1995 33 million Celine Dion Falling into You 1996 32 million Let's Talk About Love 1997 31 million Adele United Kingdom 21 2011 31 million Madonna United States The Immaculate Collection 1990 30 million
20 to 29 million copies + Artist Country Album Released year Estimated sales Mariah Carey United States Music Box 1993 28 million Norah Jones Come Away with Me 2002 27 million Carole King Tapestry 1971 25 million Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 1985 25 million Madonna True Blue 1986 25 million Britney Spears ...Baby One More Time 1999 25 million Spice Girls United Kingdom Spice 1996 23 million Celine Dion Canada All the Way... A Decade of Song 1999 22 million Adele United Kingdom 25 2015 22 million Madonna United States Like a Virgin 1984 21 million Whitney Houston Whitney 1987 20 million Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman 1988 20 million Celine Dion Canada The Colour of My Love 1993 20 million Shania Twain The Woman in Me 1995 20 million Mariah Carey United States Daydream 1995 20 million Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1998 20 million Britney Spears Oops!... I Did It Again 2000 20 million Amy Winehouse United Kingdom Back to Black 2006 20 million
11 to 19 million copies + Artist Country Album Released year Estimated sales Mariah CareyUnited States Merry Christmas 1994 18 million Hikaru Utada Japan First Love 1999 17.9 million Cyndi Lauper United States She's So Unusual 1983 16 million Madonna Ray of Light 1998 16 million Avril Lavigne Canada Let Go 2002 16 million Dido United Kingdom No Angel 1999 15 million Madonna United States Like a Prayer 1989 15 million Mariah Carey Mariah Carey 1990 15 million TLC CrazySexyCool 1994 15 million Toni Braxton Secrets 1996 15 millionLevine, Nick (May 3, 2010). "Toni Braxton: 'Yesterday'". Digital Spy. Retrieved June 6, 2020 Mariah Carey Number 1's 1998 15 million Enya Ireland A Day Without Rain 2000 15 million Lady Gaga United States The Fame 2008 15 million Barbra Streisand Guilty 1980 15 million Janet Jackson Janet 1993 14 million Spice Girls United Kingdom Spiceworld 1997 14 million Christina Aguilera United States Christina Aguilera 1999 14 million Taylor Swift United States 1989 2014 14 million Aaliyah Aaliyah 2001 13 million Enya Ireland Shepherd Moons 1991 13 million Destiny's Child United States The Writing's on the Wall 1999 13 million Shakira Colombia Laundry Service 2001 13 million Pink United States Missundaztood 2001 13 million Tina Turner United States Private Dancer 1984 12 million Katy Perry Teenage Dream 2010 12 million175 Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl 1988 12 million Janet Jackson Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 1989 12 million Celine Dion Canada D'eux 1995 12 million Jewel United States Pieces of You 1995 12 million Celine Dion Canada These Are Special Times 1998 12 millionChuck Taylor (2007). These Are Special Times Collector's Edition liner notes. p. 4.: "In all, the album has so far sold (...) 12 million worldwide". Alicia Keys United States Songs in A Minor 2001 12 million Celine Dion Canada A New Day Has Come 2002 12 million Christina Aguilera United States Stripped 2002 12 million Dido United Kingdom Life for Rent 2003 12 million Norah Jones United States Feels like Home 2004 12 million Kelly Clarkson Breakaway 2004 12 million Taylor Swift Fearless 2008 12 million Enya Ireland Watermark 1988 11 million Natalie Cole United States Unforgettable... with Love 1991 11 million Cher Believe 1998 11 million Madonna Music 2000 11 million Shania Twain Canada Up! 2002 11 million Beyoncé United States Dangerously in Love 2003 11 million
10 million copies + Artist Country Album Released year Estimated sales Barbra Streisand United States Memories 1981 10 million Madonna Madonna 1983 10 million Janet Jackson Control 1986 10 million Whitney Houston I'm Your Baby Tonight 1990 10 million Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club 1993 10 million Toni Braxton Toni Braxton 1993 10 million"Toni Braxton: Back on Top After Bankruptcy". Jet. Vol. 98 no. 6. July 17, 2000. p. 58. ISSN 0021-5996 – via Google Books Madonna Something to Remember 1995 10 million Mariah Carey Butterfly 1997 10 million Whitney Houston My Love Is Your Love 1998 10 million TLC FanMail 1999 10 million Whitney Houston Whitney: The Greatest Hits 2000 10 million Destiny's Child Survivor 2001 10 million Britney Spears Britney 2001 10 million Alt URL Avril Lavigne Canada Under My Skin 2004 10 million Mariah Carey United States The Emancipation of Mimi 2005 10 million Madonna Confessions on a Dance Floor 2005 10 million Carrie Underwood Some Hearts 2005 10 million Nelly Furtado Canada Loose 2006 10 million Beyoncé United States I Am... Sasha Fierce 2008 10 million Susan Boyle United Kingdom I Dreamed a Dream 2009 10 million
See also List of best-selling albums List of best-selling girl group albums List of best-selling female rappers List of all-female bands List of highest-grossing concert tours by women Women in music Women in jazz Women in Latin music Women in punk rock Women in rock
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