According to Billboard, Universal Music Canada, AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE by R.E.M. has sold 18,000,000 copies worldwide. The album sold best in United States (4,000,000 copies), United Kingdom (2,270,000 copies) and Germany (1,250,000 copies).
AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE certifications and sales
| Country / region | Sales | Certification / source | Certification date / sales as of | |
 Argentina |
60,000 | 1x Platinum |
Argentina Sales: 60,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Australia |
280,000 | 4x Platinum | JUNE 2001 |
Australia Sales: 280,000
Certification / note: 4x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: JUNE 2001
|
 Austria |
100,000 | 2x Platinum | 30 January, 2001 |
Austria Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 2x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 30 January, 2001
|
 Canada |
700,000 | 7x Platinum | 2003 |
Canada Sales: 700,000
Certification / note: 7x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 2003
|
 France |
300,000 | 1x Platinum | 3 July, 2001 |
France Sales: 300,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 3 July, 2001
|
 Germany |
1,250,000 | 5x Gold | 2011 |
Germany Sales: 1,250,000
Certification / note: 5x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 2011
|
 Italy |
25,000 | 1x Gold (Sales since 2009) | 2021 |
Italy Sales: 25,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold (Sales since 2009)
Certification Date / sales as of: 2021
|
 Japan |
2,660 | Oricon charts |
Japan Sales: 2,660
Certification / note: Oricon charts
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Netherlands |
240,000 | 3x Platinum | 2001 |
Netherlands Sales: 240,000
Certification / note: 3x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 2001
|
 New Zealand |
15,000 | 1x Platinum |
New Zealand Sales: 15,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Norway |
38,161 | Year-end list | 1992 |
Norway Sales: 38,161
Certification / note: Year-end list
Certification Date / sales as of: 1992
|
 Spain |
200,000 | 2x Platinum | 1993 |
Spain Sales: 200,000
Certification / note: 2x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1993
|
 Sweden |
200,000 | 2x Platinum | 13 April, 2000 |
Sweden Sales: 200,000
Certification / note: 2x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 13 April, 2000
|
 Switzerland |
100,000 | 2x Platinum | 1995 |
Switzerland Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 2x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1995
|
 United Kingdom |
2,270,000 | 7x Platinum | 5 February,2016 |
United Kingdom Sales: 2,270,000
Certification / note: 7x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 5 February,2016
|
 United States |
4,000,000 | 4x Platinum | 9 February, 1995 |
United States Sales: 4,000,000
Certification / note: 4x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 9 February, 1995
|
| Worldwide sales | 18,000,000 | Billboard, Universal Music Canada |
Total
Sales: 18,000,000
Source: Billboard, Universal Music Canada
|
Year-end chart performance for AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE
| Chart 1992 | Rank | Sales |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) |
25 | |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) |
81 | |
 European Albums (Music & Media) |
36 | |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) |
64 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) |
31 | |
| Norwegian Albums (Dagbladet) |
32 | 38,161 |
| UK Albums |
18 | |
| UK Artist Albums |
17 | |
| US Albums (Billboard 200) |
83 | |
| Chart 1993 | Rank | Sales |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) |
22 | |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) |
11 | |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) |
26 | |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) |
17 | |
| European Albums (Music & Media) |
3 | |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) |
7 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) |
5 | |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) |
43 | |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) |
13 | |
| UK Albums |
3 | 940,000 |
| UK Artist Albums |
2 | |
| US Albums (Billboard 200) |
27 | |
| US Albums (Soundscan) |
53 | 1,000,000 |
| Chart 1994 | Rank | Sales |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) |
70 | |
| UK Albums |
73 | 190,000 |
| Chart 1995 | Rank | Sales |
| UK Artist Albums |
81 | |
| Chart 2000 | Rank | Sales |
| UK Albums |
83 | 190,000 |
| Chart 2020 | Rank | Sales |
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) |
197 | |
| Chart 2021 | Rank | Sales |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) |
194 |
Decade-end chart performance for AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE
| Chart 1990's | Rank | Sales |
| UK Albums (Music Week) |
16 | 1,870,000 |