According to U2 official site, THE JOSHUA TREE by U2 has sold 25,000,000 copies worldwide. The album sold best in United States (12,000,000 copies), United Kingdom (3,000,000 copies) and Canada (1,203,000 copies).
THE JOSHUA TREE certifications and sales
| Country / region | Sales | Certification / source | Certification date / sales as of | |
 Argentina |
120,000 | 2x Platinum |
Argentina Sales: 120,000
Certification / note: 2x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Australia |
350,000 | 5x Platinum | JULY 1996 |
Australia Sales: 350,000
Certification / note: 5x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: JULY 1996
|
 Austria |
75,000 | 3x Gold | 11 December, 1990 |
Austria Sales: 75,000
Certification / note: 3x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 11 December, 1990
|
 Canada |
1,203,000 | 1x Diamond | 1987 |
Canada Sales: 1,203,000
Certification / note: 1x Diamond
Certification Date / sales as of: 1987
|
 Finland |
27,965 | IFPI Finland |
Finland Sales: 27,965
Certification / note: IFPI Finland
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 France |
800,000 | 2x Platinum + 2x Gold | 1992 / 1995 |
France Sales: 800,000
Certification / note: 2x Platinum + 2x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 1992 / 1995
|
 Germany |
1,000,000 | 2x Platinum | 1987 |
Germany Sales: 1,000,000
Certification / note: 2x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1987
|
 Hong Kong |
20,000 | 1x Platinum |
Hong Kong Sales: 20,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Italy |
50,000 | 1x Platinum (Sales since 2009) | 2019 |
Italy Sales: 50,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum (Sales since 2009)
Certification Date / sales as of: 2019
|
 Japan |
150,590 | Oricon charts |
Japan Sales: 150,590
Certification / note: Oricon charts
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Mexico |
100,000 | 1x Gold | 21 October, 1999 |
Mexico Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 21 October, 1999
|
 Netherlands |
100,000 | 1x Platinum | 1987 |
Netherlands Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1987
|
 New Zealand |
210,000 | 14x Platinum |
New Zealand Sales: 210,000
Certification / note: 14x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Norway |
45,815 | Year-end list | 1987 |
Norway Sales: 45,815
Certification / note: Year-end list
Certification Date / sales as of: 1987
|
 Portugal |
20,000 | 1x Gold | 1987 |
Portugal Sales: 20,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 1987
|
 Spain |
400,000 | 3x Platinum + 1x Platinum | 1987 |
Spain Sales: 400,000
Certification / note: 3x Platinum + 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1987
|
 United Kingdom |
3,000,000 | 10x Platinum | 02 June, 2023 |
United Kingdom Sales: 3,000,000
Certification / note: 10x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 02 June, 2023
|
 United States |
12,000,000 | 10x Platinum | 11 September, 1995 |
United States Sales: 12,000,000
Certification / note: 10x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 11 September, 1995
|
| Worldwide sales | 25,000,000 | U2 official site |
Total
Sales: 25,000,000
Source: U2 official site
|
Year-end chart performance for THE JOSHUA TREE
| Chart 1987 | Rank | Sales |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) |
5 | |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) |
1 | |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) |
1 | |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) |
1 | |
 European Albums (Music & Media) |
2 | |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) |
1 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) |
1 | |
| Norwegian Albums (Dagbladet) |
24 | 45,815 |
 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) |
1 | |
| UK Albums (Music Week) |
2 | 1,450,000 |
| US Albums (Billboard 200) |
6 | |
| Chart 1988 | Rank | Sales |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) |
19 | |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) |
47 | |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) |
66 | |
| European Albums (Music & Media) |
70 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) |
4 | |
| UK Albums (Music Week) |
55 | 250,000 |
| US Albums (Billboard 200) |
26 | |
| Chart 2001 | Rank | Sales |
| UK Albums |
153 | 140,000 |
| UK Artist Albums |
115 | 140,000 |
| Chart 2017 | Rank | Sales |
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) |
97 | |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) |
141 | |
| Italian Albums (FIMI) |
100 | |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) |
78 | |
| Chart 2018 | Rank | Sales |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP) |
92 | 996 |
| Chart 2019 | Rank | Sales |
 South Korean International Albums (Gaon) |
81 | 500 |
Decade-end chart performance for THE JOSHUA TREE
| Chart 1980's | Rank |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) |
20 |
| UK Albums (Record Mirror) |
9 |