According to Universal France, COLOUR BY NUMBERS by CULTURE CLUB has sold 16,000,000 copies worldwide. The album sold best in United States (4,100,000 copies), Canada (1,000,000 copies) and United Kingdom (900,000 copies).
COLOUR BY NUMBERS certifications and sales
| Country / region | Sales | Certification / source | Certification date / sales as of | |
 Canada |
1,000,000 | 1x Diamond | 1984 |
Canada Sales: 1,000,000
Certification / note: 1x Diamond
Certification Date / sales as of: 1984
|
 France |
100,000 | 1x Gold | 1984 |
France Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 1984
|
 Hong Kong |
20,000 | 1x Platinum |
Hong Kong Sales: 20,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Japan |
481,790 | Oricon charts |
Japan Sales: 481,790
Certification / note: Oricon charts
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Netherlands |
100,000 | 1x Platinum | 1984 |
Netherlands Sales: 100,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 1984
|
 New Zealand |
15,000 | 1x Platinum |
New Zealand Sales: 15,000
Certification / note: 1x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of:
|
|
 Norway |
40,000 | Year-end list | 1983 |
Norway Sales: 40,000
Certification / note: Year-end list
Certification Date / sales as of: 1983
|
 Spain |
50,000 | 1x Gold | 1984 |
Spain Sales: 50,000
Certification / note: 1x Gold
Certification Date / sales as of: 1984
|
 United Kingdom |
900,000 | 3x Platinum | 26 April, 1985 |
United Kingdom Sales: 900,000
Certification / note: 3x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 26 April, 1985
|
 United States |
4,100,000 | 4x Platinum | 24 November, 1986 |
United States Sales: 4,100,000
Certification / note: 4x Platinum
Certification Date / sales as of: 24 November, 1986
|
 Yugoslavia |
68,613 | Yugopapir | 1984 |
Yugoslavia Sales: 68,613
Certification / note: Yugopapir
Certification Date / sales as of: 1984
|
| Worldwide sales | 16,000,000 | Universal France |
Total
Sales: 16,000,000
Source: Universal France
|
Year-end chart performance for COLOUR BY NUMBERS
| Chart 1983 | Rank | Sales |
 Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) |
25 | |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) |
65 | |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) |
22 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) |
37 | |
| Norwegian Albums (Dagbladet) |
23 | |
| UK Albums (Music Week) |
3 | |
| Chart 1984 | Rank | Sales |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) |
3 | |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) |
7 | |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) |
83 | |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) |
14 | 469,000 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) |
8 | |
| UK Albums (Music Week) |
35 | 230,000 |
| US Albums (Billboard 200) |
5 |
Decade-end chart performance for COLOUR BY NUMBERS
| Chart 1980's | Rank |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) |
16 |