According to Universal Music Japan, PROMISES AND LIES by UB40 has sold 9,000,000 copies worldwide. The album sold best in United States (1,000,000 copies), United Kingdom (600,000 copies) and Germany (500,000 copies).
PROMISES AND LIES certifications and sales
| Country / region | Sales | Certification / source | Certification date / sales as of | |
 Argentina |
67,000 | Billboard | Issue 1.12.1994 |
Argentina Sales: 67,000
Certification / note: Billboard
Certification Date / sales as of: Issue 1.12.1994
|
 Australia |
35,000 | 1x Gold | SEPTEMBER 1993 |
Australia Sales: 35,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: SEPTEMBER 1993
|
 Austria |
25,000 | 1x Gold | 10 January, 1994 |
Austria Sales: 25,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 10 January, 1994
|
 Canada |
100,000 | 1x Platinum | 1993 |
Canada Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1993
|
 France |
300,000 | 1x Platinum | 17 November, 1994 |
France Sales: 300,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 17 November, 1994
|
 Germany |
500,000 | 1x Platinum | 1994 |
Germany Sales: 500,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1994
|
 Japan |
100,000 | 1x Gold | October 1993 |
Japan Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: October 1993
|
 Netherlands |
100,000 | 1x Platinum | 1994 |
Netherlands Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1994
|
 New Zealand |
15,000 | 1x Platinum |
New Zealand Sales: 15,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Norway |
30,925 | Year-end list | 1993 |
Norway Sales: 30,925
Certification / note: Year-end list
Certification Date / sales as of: 1993
|
 Spain |
300,000 | 3x Platinum | 1993 |
Spain Sales: 300,000
Certification / note: 3x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1993
|
 Sweden |
50,000 | 1x Gold | 4 November, 1993 |
Sweden Sales: 50,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 4 November, 1993
|
 Switzerland |
50,000 | 1x Platinum | 1993 |
Switzerland Sales: 50,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1993
|
 United Kingdom |
600,000 | 2x Platinum | 1 January,1994 |
United Kingdom Sales: 600,000
Certification / note: 2x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1 January,1994
|
 United States |
1,000,000 | 1x Platinum | 28 September, 1993 |
United States Sales: 1,000,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 28 September, 1993
|
| Worldwide sales | 9,000,000 | Universal Music Japan |
Total
Sales: 9,000,000
Source: Universal Music Japan
|
Year-end chart performance for PROMISES AND LIES
| Chart 1993 | Rank | Sales |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) |
15 | |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) |
20 | |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) |
21 | |
 European Albums (Music & Media) |
12 | |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) |
23 | |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) |
95 | 187,120 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) |
7 | |
| Norwegian Albums (Dagbladet) |
38 | 30,925 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) |
9 | |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) |
11 | |
| UK Albums |
10 | 550,000 |
| UK Artist Albums |
7 | |
| US Albums (Billboard 200) |
77 | |
| US Albums (Soundscan) |
61 | 1,000,000 |
| Chart 1994 | Rank | Sales |
| European Albums (Music & Media) |
80 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) |
39 | |
| UK Albums |
154 |