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List of best-selling albums of the 2010s in the United Kingdom

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Adele's two albums released in the decade, 21 and 25, are the top two best-sellers of the 2010s, while 19 (released in 2008) also features at #13 for the decade.
2010s in music in the UK
Events
Charts
2020→
Ed Sheeran features three times in the top ten, with x (#3), ÷ (#4) and + (#7)
Sam Smith features twice on the list, with In the Lonely Hour (#6), which was the best-selling debut album of the 2010s, and The Thrill of It All (#93)

The UK Albums Chart is a music chart compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) that calculates the best-selling artist albums of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Since 2005, the chart has been based on the sales of both physical and digital albums, on the condition that the album was available in both formats. In January 2007, the rules were changed so that legal downloads of all albums, irrespective of whether a physical copy was available, were eligible to chart.[2] Further changes occurred in February 2015 when audio streaming was included for the first time.[3]

On 11 December 2019, the OCC announced their list of the top 100 best-selling albums between January 2010 and December 2019. The best-selling album of the decade is Adele's 21, which sold 6 million following its release in January 2011. Adele is also one of two artists to achieve three million-selling albums since 2010 with 19 (released in 2008 but sold over a million copies since 2010), 21 and 25. The other is Ed Sheeran with +, x and ÷. Sheeran is also the only artist to feature in the top 10 three times.[4]

Best-selling albums since 2010

[edit]
Rihanna has three albums on this list, with Loud (#11), Talk That Talk (#41) and Unapologetic (#80)
Coldplay have three albums, with Mylo Xyloto (#18), A Head Full of Dreams (#27) and Ghost Stories (#94)
Mumford & Sons have two albums, with Sigh No More (#17) and Babel (#32)
Florence and the Machine (lead singer Florence Welch pictured) feature twice, with Lungs (#24) and Ceremonials (#67)
Taylor Swift features twice, 1989 (#25) and Red (#96)
Olly Murs features four times, with Right Place Right Time (#19), In Case You Didn't Know (#32), Never Been Better (#65) and Olly Murs (#72)
Ellie Goulding features twice, with Halcyon (#26) and Lights (#71)
One Direction have three albums, with Up All Night (#29), Take Me Home (#45) and Four (#100)
Little Mix feature twice, with Glory Days (#39) and Get Weird (#70)
No.[4] Title Artist Peak
position 		Year of
release 		Sales
(where available)[a] 		No. of times
Platinum[b]
1 21 Adele 1 2011 6,000,000[6] 17×
2 25 1 2015 3,600,000 12×
3 x Ed Sheeran 1 2014 3,600,000[7] 12×
4 ÷ 1 2017 3,400,000[7] 11×
5 Christmas Michael Bublé 1 2011 2,950,000 9×
6 In the Lonely Hour Sam Smith 1 2014 2,590,000 8×
7 + Ed Sheeran 1 2011 2,443,000 8×
8 Our Version of Events Emeli Sandé 1 2012 2,430,000 8×
9 Progress Take That 1 2010 2,390,000 8×
10 The Greatest Showman Various Artists 1 2017 2,130,000 7×
11 Loud Rihanna 1 2010 1,997,500 6×
12 Crazy Love Michael Bublé 1 2009† 1,890,300 6×
13 19 Adele 1 2008† 2,450,000 8×
14 AM Arctic Monkeys 1 2013 1,800,000 6×
15 Doo-Wops & Hooligans Bruno Mars 1 2010 1,713,000[8] 5×
16 The Fame / The Fame Monster Lady Gaga 1 2009† 1,578,000 5×
17 Sigh No More Mumford & Sons 2 2009† 1,561,800 5×
18 Mylo Xyloto Coldplay 1 2011 1,536,700 5×
19 Wanted on Voyage George Ezra 1 2014 1,420,200[9] 4×
20 Teenage Dream / Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection Katy Perry 1 2010 1,304,325[10] 4×
21 The Defamation of Strickland Banks Plan B 1 2010 1,399,400[11] 4×
22 Right Place Right Time Olly Murs 1 2012 1,380,000[12] 4×
23 Who You Are Jessie J 2 2011 1,270,000[13] 4×
24 Purpose Justin Bieber 2 2015 1,200,000 4×
25 Lungs Florence and the Machine 1 2009† 1,813,557[14] 6×
26 1989 Taylor Swift 1 2014 1,500,000[15] 5×
27 Halcyon / Halcyon Days Ellie Goulding 1 2012 1,200,000 4×
28 A Head Full of Dreams Coldplay 1 2015 1,375,805[16] 4×
29 I Cry When I Laugh Jess Glynne 1 2015 1,200,000 4×
30 Human Rag'n'Bone Man 1 2017 1,200,000 4×
31 If I Can Dream Elvis Presley 1 2015 1,062,457 4×
32 Babel Mumford & Sons 1 2012 1,064,338 4×
33 Greatest Hits Bon Jovi 2 2010 1,200,000 3×
34 Born to Die Lana Del Rey 1 2012 1,174,000[17] 3×
35 Up All Night One Direction 1 2011 1,086,434 3×
36 In Case You Didn't Know Olly Murs 1 2011 1,105,000[12] 3×
37 Time Flies... 1994–2009 Oasis 1 2010 1,200,000 3×
38 Greatest Hits... So Far!!! Pink 5 2010 1,050,000[18] 3×
39 Glory Days Little Mix 1 2016 1,014,800[19] 3×
40 Sunny Side Up Paolo Nutini 1 2009† 1,033,000 3×
41 Take Me Home One Direction 1 2012 1,103,500 3×
42 Talk That Talk Rihanna 1 2011 1,000,000 3×
43 Recovery Eminem 1 2010 1,030,000[20] 3×
44 Unorthodox Jukebox Bruno Mars 1 2012 987,854 3×
45 Born This Way Lady Gaga 1 2011 1,020,800 3×
46 Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA 1 1992† 18×
47 Legend Bob Marley and the Wailers 1 1984† 12×
48 18 Months Calvin Harris 1 2012 923,861 3×
49 Staying at Tamara's George Ezra 1 2018 1,000,300[21] 3×
50 Rumours Fleetwood Mac 1 1977† 13×
51 Curtain Call: The Hits Eminem 1 2005† 7×
52 The Ultimate Collection Whitney Houston 3 2007† 5×
53 Greatest Hits Foo Fighters 4 2009† 4×
54 Back to Black Amy Winehouse 1 2006† 13×
55 Bad Blood Bastille 1 2013 1,000,640 3×
56 Midnight Memories One Direction 1 2013 3×
57 Come Around Sundown Kings of Leon 1 2010 915,300[22] 3×
58 Number Ones Michael Jackson 1 2003† 9×
59 The Truth About Love Pink 1 2012 907,000[18] 3×
60 Nothing but the Beat David Guetta 1 2011 3×
61 The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac 6 2002 6×
62 Disc-Overy Tinie Tempah 1 2010 3×
63 The Element of Freedom Alicia Keys 1 2009† 3×
64 Lioness: Hidden Treasures Amy Winehouse 1 2011 2×
65 Never Been Better Olly Murs 1 2014 863,000[12] 2×
66 All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Electric Light Orchestra 1 2005† 3×
67 Ceremonials Florence and the Machine 1 2011 2×
68 Chaos and the Calm James Bay 1 2015 824,540[23] 2×
69 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 1 2011 864,600[24] 2×
70 Get Weird Little Mix 2 2015 883,000[25] 3×
71 Lights Ellie Goulding 1 2010 2x
72 Olly Murs Olly Murs 2 2010 2x
73 My World / My World 2.0 Justin Bieber 3 2010 2x
74 To Be Loved Michael Bublé 1 2013 3x
75 Science & Faith The Script 1 2010 2x
76 Every Kingdom Ben Howard 4 2011 2x
77 Jake Bugg Jake Bugg 1 2012 2x
78 A Perfect Contradiction Paloma Faith 2 2014 2x
79 4 Beyoncé 1 2011 2x
80 Unapologetic Rihanna 1 2012 2x
81 The Lady Killer Cee Lo Green 3 2010 2x
82 No More Idols Chase & Status 2 2011 2x
83 The Marshall Mathers LP 2 Eminem 1 2013 2x
84 Only By the Night Kings of Leon 1 2008† 10x
85 Swings Both Ways Robbie Williams 1 2013 2x
86 Decade in the Sun: Best of Stereophonics Stereophonics 2 2008† 5x
87 In and Out of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990-2010 Robbie Williams 1 2010 2x
88 Fall to Grace Paloma Faith 2 2012 2x
89 Greatest Hits Queen 1 1981† 22x
90 Caustic Love Paolo Nutini 1 2014 2x
91 If You Wait London Grammar 2 2013 2x
92 Since I Saw You Last Gary Barlow 2 2013 2x
93 The Thrill of It All Sam Smith 1 2017 2x
94 Ghost Stories Coldplay 1 2014 733,000[26] 2x
95 Greatest Hits Guns N' Roses 1 2004† 7x
96 Red Taylor Swift 1 2012 695,000 2x
97 Greatest Hits Westlife 4 2011 2x
98 Outta This World JLS 2 2010 2x
99 Direct Hits The Killers 5 2013 2x
100 Four One Direction 1 2014 600,000 2x

† Released before 2010; only sales from 2010 onwards included

Best-selling debut albums

[edit]
No. Debut album Artist Peak
position 		Year of
release 		Sales
1 In the Lonely Hour Sam Smith 1 2014 2,590,000
2 19 Adele 1 2008† 2,450,000
3 + Ed Sheeran 1 2011 2,443,000
4 Our Version of Events Emeli Sandé 1 2012 2,430,000
5 Doo-Wops & Hooligans Bruno Mars 1 2010 1,870,000
6 Wanted on Voyage George Ezra 1 2014 1,420,000
7 Who You Are Jessie J 2 2011 1,330,000
8 I Cry When I Laugh Jess Glynne 1 2015 1,230,000
9 Human Rag'n'Bone Man 1 2017 1,220,000
10 Born to Die Lana Del Rey 1 2012 1,190,000
11 Up All Night One Direction 2 2011 1,160,000
12 Bad Blood Bastille 1 2013 975,000
13 Disc-Overy Tinie Tempah 1 2010 905,000
14 Chaos and the Calm James Bay 1 2015 867,000
15 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 1 2011
16 Lights Ellie Goulding 1 2010 841,000
17 Olly Murs Olly Murs 2 2010 839,000
18 My World / My World 2.0 Justin Bieber 3 2010
19 Every Kingdom Ben Howard 4 2011
20 Jake Bugg Jake Bugg 1 2012
21 The Lady Killer CeeLo Green 3 2010
22 If You Wait London Grammar 2 2013
23 Heaven Rebecca Ferguson 3 2011 669,000
24 Night Visions Imagine Dragons 2 2013
25 Home Rudimental 1 2013
26 The 1975 The 1975 1 2013
27 Seasons of My Soul Rumer 3 2010
28 Royal Blood Royal Blood 1 2014
29 Hozier Hozier 3 2014
30 Dua Lipa Dua Lipa 3 2017
31 All the Little Lights Passenger 3 2013
32 Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent Lewis Capaldi 1 2019 547,000
33 Communion Years & Years 1 2015
34 The Wanted The Wanted 4 2010
35 Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor Caro Emerald 4 2011
36 The Lumineers The Lumineers 8 2012
37 Settle Disclosure 1 2013
38 Chapter One Ella Henderson 1 2014 476,000
39 Good Ol' Fashioned Love The Overtones 4 2010
40 The Balcony Catfish and the Bottlemen 10 2014

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Sales
  2. ^ The certifications are those given by the BPI as of December 2019.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  2. ^ Swash, Rosie (8 January 2007). "Old songs return to brave new singles chart". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  3. ^ Copsey, Rob (11 February 2015). "UK's Official Albums Chart to include streaming data for first time". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b Copsey, Rob (17 December 2019). "The UK's Official Top 100 biggest albums of the decade". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  6. ^ Ainsley, Helen (8 March 2021). "National Album Day: Adele named UK's best-selling female album artist of 21st Century". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  7. ^ a b White, Jack (12 October 2019). "The UK's Official Top 40 biggest studio albums of the 21st Century". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  8. ^ Jones, Alan (25 November 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Little Mix top albums chart with Glory Days". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  9. ^ Paine, Andre (19 November 2019). "George Ezra passes one million sales for Staying at Tamara's". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  10. ^ Garner, George (May 17, 2017). "Katy Perry confirmed to be a judge on American Idol". Music Week. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  11. ^ Jones, Alan (11 May 2018). "Charts analysis: Greatest Showman returns to albums summit". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Myers, Justin (7 November 2018). "Olly Murs' Official Top 10 biggest songs revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  13. ^ Myers, Justin (10 November 2017). "One hit album wonders – huge albums that were hard acts to follow". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  14. ^ Jones, Alan (23 August 2019). "Charts analysis: Ed Sheeran returns to albums summit". Music Week. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  15. ^ Jones, Alan (30 August 2019). "Charts analysis: Taylor Swift feels the love on streaming services". Music Week. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  16. ^ "Coldplay secure another entry in YouTube's Billion Views Club". Musicweek. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  17. ^ Jones, Alan (6 September 2019). "Charts analysis: Lana Del Rey scores fourth No.1, increases week one sales". Music Week. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  18. ^ a b Myers, Justin (1 February 2019). "Pink's biggest albums and songs on the Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  19. ^ Jones, Alan (23 November 2018). "Charts analysis: Michael Buble scores year's second biggest artist sale so far". Music Week. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  20. ^ Copsey, Rob (5 September 2018). "Eminem's Top 10 biggest albums on the Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  21. ^ Paine, Andre (19 November 2019). "George Ezra passes one million sales for Staying at Tamara's". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  22. ^ Jones, Alan (21 October 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Kings of Leon score fifth No.1 album". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  23. ^ Jones, Alan (25 May 2018). "Charts analysis: Greatest Showman bests Bay on albums chart". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  24. ^ Hanley, Jamea (21 October 2019). "High & Mighty: Noel Gallagher - The Music Week Interview". Music Week. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  25. ^ Copsey, Rob (15 November 2018). "Little Mix's Top 20 biggest singles on the Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  26. ^ Griffiths, George (19 October 2021). "Coldplay's Official biggest albums in the UK revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
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