The list of best-selling albums in Norway based on IFPI Norge certifications. The IFPI Norge database includes certificates only since 1993. Information about albums sales prior to 1993 were found in: Dagbladet year-end lists, Billboard, Music & Media, Verdens Gang, Seher, NRK.
Glade Jul (Merry Christmas) by Sissel Kyrkjebø, released in 1987 and sold 650,000 copies, is the best-selling album in Norway. According to Sissel’s official website, Glade Jul had sold 450,000 copies in fist year of release in Norway and 1 million worldwide to date. Before Glade Jul, the record for sales in the country belonged to Kyrkjebø’s debut album Sissel, released in 1986 and sold 400,000 copies in its first year. On March 29, 1980, Billboard magazine listed Geir Borresen’s I Smurfeland as the best selling album in Norway at the time (270,000 copies).
Shania Twain’s Come On Over and soundtrack Gease are the best-selling foreign albums in Norway (300,000 copies each). Kurt Nielsen’s Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is biggest selling album of the 21st century in Norway with 270,000 copies sold.
Certification levels for albums in Norway
Certification Date | Gold | Platinum |
Before 1992 1 | 50,000 | 100,000 |
1992 – 30.06.2002 | 25,000 | 50,000 |
1.07.2002 – 12.02.2007 | 20,000 | 40,000 |
13.02.2007 – 31.12.2017 | 15,000 | 30,000 |
Since 1.01.2018 | 10,000 | 20,000 |
1 – in the magazine Music & Media on December 25, 1987 for Norway the criteria are indicated: Gold – 50.000, Platinum – 100.000.
List of best-selling albums in Norway
№ | Artist | Album | Certification / source | Sales | Year release |
1 | SISSEL KYRKJEBØ | GLADE JUL | 4x Platinum / Seher, NRK | 650,000 | 1987 |
2 | SISSEL KYRKJEBØ | SISSEL | 4x Platinum / Dagbladet year-end lists | 407,021 | 1986 |
3 | SHANIA TWAIN | COME ON OVER | 6x Platinum | 300,000 | 1997 |
4 | SOUNDTRACK | GREASE | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 – 250K / 1x Platinum (reissue) | 300,000 | 1978 |
5 | KURT NILSEN | HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS | 9x Platinum | 270,000 | 2010 |
6 | GEIR BORRESEN | I SMURFELAND | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 270,000 | 1979 |
7 | ÅGE ALEKSANDERSEN | LEVVA LIVET | Dagbladet year-end lists | 252,528 | 1984 |
8 | BJØRN EIDSVÅG | TÅLT | 5x Platinum | 250,000 | 2000 |
9 | D.D.E. | DET GÅR LIKAR NO | 4x Platinum | 250,000 | 1996 |
10 | ÅGE ALEKSANDERSEN | ELDORADO | 5x Platinum | 250,000 | 1986 |
11 | MICHAEL JACKSON | DANGEROUS | Dagbladet year-end lists | 238,827 | 1991 |
12 | DIRE STRAITS | BROTHERS IN ARMS | Dagbladet year-end lists | 238,777 | 1985 |
13 | A-HA | HUNTING HIGH AND LOW | Dagbladet year-end lists | 235,873 | 1985 |
14 | ABBA | THE ALBUM | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 210,000 | 1977 |
15 | MONROES | FACE ANOTHER DAY | Dagbladet year-end lists | 208,638 | 1985 |
16 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | BORN IN THE U.S.A. | Dagbladet year-end lists | 208,130 | 1984 |
17 | TANITA TIKARAM | ANCIENT HEART | Music & Media Issue 10.03.1989 | 202,000 | 1988 |
18 | ABSOLUTE MUSIC SERIES (NORWAY) | ABSOLUTE MUSIC 21 | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1997 |
19 | AQUA | AQUARIUM | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1997 |
20 | CELINE DION | LET`S TALK ABOUT LOVE | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1997 |
21 | ABSOLUTE MUSIC SERIES (NORWAY) | ABSOLUTE MUSIC 18 | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1996 |
22 | ABSOLUTE MUSIC SERIES (NORWAY) | ABSOLUTE MUSIC 15 | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1995 |
23 | OSLO GOSPEL CHOIR | TUSEN JULELYS | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1994 |
24 | ABSOLUTE MUSIC SERIES (NORWAY) | ABSOLUTE MUSIC 9 | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1993 |
25 | TERJE FORMOE | KAPTEIN SABELTANN OG SKATTEN I KJUTTAVIGA | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1992 |
26 | WHITNEY HOUSTON | THE BODYGUARD (SOUNDTRACK) | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1992 |
27 | LEONARD COHEN | I`M YOUR MAN | 4x Platinum | 200,000 | 1988 |
28 | SMOKIE | GREATEST HITS | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 195,000 | 1977 |
29 | DIRE STRAITS | ON EVERY STREET | Dagbladet year-end lists | 188,756 | 1991 |
30 | KYGO | CLOUD NINE | 9x Platinum | 180,000 | 2016 |
31 | VARIOUS ARTISTS | X-FACTOR 2010 VOL. 1 | 6x Platinum | 180,000 | 2010 |
32 | VARIOUS ARTISTS | X-FACTOR 2010 VOL. 2 | 6x Platinum | 180,000 | 2010 |
33 | A-HA | SCOUNDREL DAYS | Dagbladet year-end lists | 180,000 | 1986 |
34 | BEE GEES | SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (SOUNDTRACK) | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 180,000 | 1977 |
35 | HANNE BOEL | KINDA SOUL | Dagbladet year-end lists | 176,881 | 1991 |
36 | DANCE WITH A STRANGER | TO | Dagbladet year-end lists | 176,518 | 1989 |
37 | BONNIE TYLER | BITTERBLUE | Dagbladet year-end lists | 172,509 | 1991 |
38 | MICHAEL JACKSON | BAD | Dagbladet year-end lists | 169,885 | 1987 |
39 | ABBA | ARRIVAL | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 167,000 | 1976 |
40 | ELTON JOHN | THE VERY BEST OF ELTON JOHN | Dagbladet year-end lists | 166,668 | 1990 |
41 | KIM LARSEN | MIDT OM NATTEN | Dagbladet year-end lists | 165,000 | 1983 |
42 | STEINAR ALBRIGTSEN | ALONE TOO LONG | Dagbladet year-end lists | 160,430 | 1990 |
43 | MARIAH CAREY | MUSIC BOX | 8x Platinum | 160,000 | 1993 |
44 | BJÖRN AFZELIUS | TUSAN BITAR | Dagbladet year-end lists | 158,864 | 1990 |
45 | PHIL COLLINS | BUT SERIOUSLY | Dagbladet year-end lists | 158,717 | 1989 |
46 | JØRN HOEL | VARME UT AV IS | Dagbladet year-end lists | 157,438 | 1987 |
47 | EURYTHMICS | REVENGE | Dagbladet year-end lists | 155,674 | 1986 |
48 | VAMP | LITEN FUGGEL | 5x Platinum | 150,000 | 2012 |
49 | SOUNDTRACK | MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK | 5x Platinum | 150,000 | 2008 |
50 | MORTEN ABEL | I`LL COME BACK & LOVE YOU FOREVER | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 2001 |
51 | HERBORG KRÅKEVIK | KRÅKEVIKS SONGBOK | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 2000 |
52 | MARK KNOPFLER | SAILING TO PHILADELPHIA | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 2000 |
53 | THE BEATLES | 1 | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 2000 |
54 | ABSOLUTE MUSIC SERIES (NORWAY) | ABSOLUTE MUSIC 28 | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1999 |
55 | LENE MARLIN | PLAYING MY GAME | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1999 |
56 | ABSOLUTE MUSIC SERIES (NORWAY) | ABSOLUTE MUSIC 19 | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1997 |
57 | ABSOLUTE MUSIC SERIES (NORWAY) | ABSOLUTE MUSIC 17 | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1996 |
58 | CELINE DION | FALLING INTO YOU | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1996 |
59 | SISSEL KYRKJEBØ | INNERST I SJELEN | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1994 |
60 | BRYAN ADAMS | SO FAR SO GOOD | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1993 |
61 | CELINE DION | THE COLOUR OF MY LOVE | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1993 |
62 | DEFINITIVE SUMMER HITS SERIES | DEFINITIVE SUMMER HITS | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1993 |
63 | DIANA ROSS, JOSE CARRERAS & PLACIDO DOMINGO | CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1993 |
64 | TRINE REIN | FINDERS KEEPERS | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1993 |
65 | VARIOUS ARTISTS | MORE POWER BALLADS | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1992 |
66 | METALLICA | METALLICA | 3x Platinum | 150,000 | 1991 |
67 | BJØRO HÅLAND | BJØRO HÅLAND | Dagbladet year-end lists | 150,000 | 1982 |
68 | ROXETTE | JOYRIDE | Dagbladet year-end lists | 147,349 | 1991 |
69 | WHITNEY HOUSTON | WHITNEY | Dagbladet year-end lists | 144,929 | 1987 |
70 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | TUNNEL OF LOVE | Dagbladet year-end lists | 143,492 | 1987 |
71 | ABBA | GOLD – GREATEST HITS | Dagbladet year-end lists | 141,545 | 1992 |
72 | ÅGE ALEKSANDERSEN | SOLREGN | Dagbladet year-end lists | 140,343 | 1989 |
73 | AVA MAX | HEAVEN & HELL | 7x Platinum | 140,000 | 2020 |
74 | JUSTIN BIEBER | PURPOSE | 7x Platinum | 140,000 | 2015 |
75 | SISSEL KYRKJEBØ | SORIA MORIA | Dagbladet year-end lists | 135,462 | 1989 |
76 | BRYAN ADAMS | RECKLESS | Dagbladet year-end lists | 134,762 | 1984 |
77 | BRYAN ADAMS | WAKING UP THE NEIGHBOURS | Dagbladet year-end lists | 131,102 | 1991 |
78 | FORENTE ARTISTER | SAMMEN FOR LIVET | Dagbladet year-end lists | 130,072 | 1985 |
79 | JØRN HOEL | DET INGEN FÅR | Dagbladet year-end lists | 128,680 | 1988 |
80 | PRIMA VERA | BRAKARA | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 125,000 | 1978 |
81 | RUNE RUDBERG | UT MOT HAVET | Dagbladet year-end lists | 123,278 | 1988 |
82 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | HUMAN TOUCH | Dagbladet year-end lists | 122,580 | 1992 |
83 | TERJE FORMOE | KAPTEIN SABELTANN | Dagbladet year-end lists | 120,075 | 1992 |
84 | BILLIE EILISH | WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? | 6x Platinum | 120,000 | 2019 |
85 | ZARA LARSSON | SO GOOD | 6x Platinum | 120,000 | 2017 |
86 | ARIANA GRANDE | MY EVERYTHING | 6x Platinum | 120,000 | 2014 |
87 | MICHAEL BUBLÉ | CHRISTMAS | 6x Platinum | 120,000 | 2011 |
88 | HANS ROTMO | SPÆLL ÅT MÆ | 3x Platinum | 120,000 | 2003 |
89 | OSLO GOSPEL CHOIR | DET SKJEDDE I DE DAGER | 3x Platinum | 120,000 | 2002 |
90 | SHANIA TWAIN | UP! | 3x Platinum | 120,000 | 2002 |
91 | JAHN TEIGEN & ANITA SKORGAN | CHEEK TO CHEEK | Dagbladet year-end lists | 120,000 | 1983 |
92 | EAGLES | HOTEL CALIFORNIA | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 120,000 | 1976 |
93 | ABBA | ABBA | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 120,000 | 1975 |
94 | TOMBOY | BACK TO THE BEAT | Dagbladet year-end lists | 119,179 | 1987 |
95 | USA FOR AFRICA | WE ARE THE WORLD | Dagbladet year-end lists | 119,031 | 1985 |
96 | ARVE TELLEFSEN | INTERMEZZO | 2x Platinum | 118,411 | 1992 |
97 | A-HA | EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON | Verdens Gang | 118,000 | 1990 |
98 | DANCE WITH A STRANGER | ATMOSPHERE | Dagbladet year-end lists | 117,306 | 1991 |
99 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | LUCKY TOWN | Dagbladet year-end lists | 115,937 | 1992 |
100 | BEE GEES | SPIRITS HAVING FLOWN | Billboard Issue 29.03.1980 | 115,000 | 1979 |