What is the Best-Selling British Album of the 21st Century?

When discussing the iconic albums that have sold tens of millions of copies, most people reflect on the blockbuster LPs of the 1970s and ’80s. Apart from Shania Twain’s Come On Over and the The Bodyguard soundtrack, the majority of the top ten best-selling albums were released during an 11-year span when the music industry rivaled Hollywood in entertainment revenue. Interestingly, the only British album to make it into that list is Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, which ranks fourth with over 45 million sales.

The 21st century’s contribution to the all-time sales leaderboard is less impressive. Aside from The Beatles’ 1 compilation, which has sold 31 million copies, and one enduring chart success we’ll reveal shortly, the 2000s entries appear lower on the list, generally starting around the 20 million mark. Eminem, Green Day, Norah Jones, Linkin Park, and Britney Spears prominently represent this era in terms of sales and indicate America’s sales dominance.

Surprisingly, British artists of the 21st century haven’t made a significant impact on the UK’s top 40 albums. While Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, Dido, Coldplay, Leona Lewis, and Sam Smith have all enjoyed millions of sales and occupy spots in the national rankings, they make up only about a third of the entries when considering multiple albums from one artist.

In a notable twist, Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black holds the silver medal in the UK and globally among top selling albums, with over 20 million copies sold since its 2006 release. This neo-soul and R&B masterpiece paved the way for a new generation of deeply personal female pop stars. Fueled by her haunting sound of love and longing, complemented by co-producer Mark Ronson, Back to Black is now regarded as a defining pop moment of the 2000s, earning its place in the US Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

So, what is the best-selling British album of the 21st century?

With an astonishing 23 million sales, Adele’s 21, released in 2011, holds the title of the biggest-selling British album of the 21st century. Surprising the indie XL label, Adele’s sophomore effort quickly permeated music channels, mainstream radio, and even store playlists at the start of the 2010s, driven by massive hits like “Rolling in the Deep,” “Someone Like You,” and “Set Fire to the Rain.”

Notably, 21 made a significant impact in the U.S., debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 in its first week. Although critics had mixed reviews, listeners embraced the album with enthusiasm, making it hard to envision a record surpassing its success anytime soon.