Best selling albums in Canada

The list of the best selling albums in Canada is based on Music Canada (formerly known as the Canadian Recording Industry Association) certifications and Nielsen Soundscan figures. Music Canada has been certifying recordings since 1975. SoundScan began tracking sales data for Billboard in Canada in 1995.

The best-selling album in Canada is Michael Jackson’s Thriller which sold over 2.7 million copies (according to Billboard, 2.4 million sold by 1986; 350,000 since 1995, according to Soundscan). Some publications suggest that the Thriller has already crossed the three million mark. Accourding to Soundscan 2017 report Shania Twain’s Come on Over is the best selling album in Canada since SoundScan began tracking sales.

Certification levels

Certifications for albums released in Canada depend upon their release date. In July 2017, Music Canada updated the Album Award guidelines to include Track Equivalent Album (TEA) and Stream Equivalent Album (SEA) units toward Certification. 1,500 on-demand audio streams = 10 track downloads = 1 unit toward Certification.

DateGoldPlatinumDiamond
Before May 1, 200850,000100,0001,000,000
Since May 1,200840,00080,000800,000

Note: in the early 90s, a rule was introduced according to which in albums consisting of several discs (double, triple, box sets), each disc is counted. That is, a double album needs not 50,000 copies to become Gold, but 25,000, a triple – 16,667, a box set of 10 discs – 5,000.

List of best-selling albums in Canada

Michael-Jackson-Thriller-1982
Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the best-selling album in Canada
ArtistAlbumCertification / sourceSalesYear release
1MICHAEL JACKSONTHRILLER2x Diamond + 1x Gold / Soundscan / Billboard 2,4M(1984)2,750,0001982
2FLEETWOOD MACRUMOURS2x Diamond / Soundscan2,511,0001977
3ALANIS MORISSETTEJAGGED LITTLE PILL2x Diamond / Soundscan2,442,0001995
4PINK FLOYDDARK SIDE OF THE MOON2x Diamond / Soundscan2,350,0001973
5MEAT LOAFBAT OUT OF HELL2x Diamond / Soundscan2,145,0001977
6EAGLESTHEIR GREATEST HITS 1971-19752x Diamond / Soundscan2,128,0001976
7SHANIA TWAINCOME ON OVER2x Diamond2,000,0001997
8SHANIA TWAINTHE WOMAN IN ME2x Diamond2,000,0001995
9LED ZEPPELINLED ZEPPELIN IV2x Diamond2,000,0001971
10ADELE212x Diamond1,600,0002011
11METALLICAMETALLICA1x Diamond / Soundscan1,500,0001991
12GUNS N` ROSESAPPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION1x Diamond / Soundscan1,422,0001987
13PINK FLOYDTHE WALL2x Diamond / Soundscan1,360,0001979
14AC/DCBACK IN BLACK1x Diamond / Soundscan1,331,0001980
15THE BEATLESABBEY ROAD1x Diamond / Soundscan1,306,0001969
16ABBAGOLD – GREATEST HITS1x Diamond + 3x Platinum1,300,0001992
17SOUNDTRACKDIRTY DANCING1x Diamond / Soundscan1,233,0001987
18BRYAN ADAMSRECKLESS1x Diamond + 1x Platinum / Soundscan1,226,0001984
19GREEN DAYDOOKIE1x Diamond / Soundscan1,220,0001994
20THE BEATLES11x Diamond / Soundscan1,215,0002000
21U2THE JOSHUA TREE1x Diamond / Soundscan1,203,0001987
22DIRE STRAITSBROTHERS IN ARMS1x Diamond / Soundscan1,165,0001985
23ERIC CLAPTONUNPLUGGED1x Diamond / Soundscan1,156,0001992
24SUPERTRAMPCRIME OF THE CENTURY1x Diamond / Soundscan1,132,0001974
25ANDREA BOCELLIROMANZA1x Diamond / Soundscan1,130,0001997
26SHANIA TWAINUP!2x Diamond / Soundscan1,129,0002002
27SUPERTRAMPBREAKFAST IN AMERICA1x Diamond / Soundscan1,129,0001979
28ADELE251x Diamond / Soundcan sales 2015 – 20161,126,0002015
29NIRVANANEVERMIND1x Diamond / Soundscan1,122,0001991
30BRUCE SPRINGSTEENBORN IN THE U.S.A.1x Diamond / Soundscan1,072,0001984
31THE TRAGICALLY HIPUP TO HERE1x Diamond / Soundscan1,050,0001989
32THE BEATLESSGT. PEPPER`S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND8x Platinum / Soundscan1,040,0001967
33AVRIL LAVIGNELET GO1x Diamond1,000,0002002
34EMINEMTHE EMINEM SHOW1x Diamond1,000,0002002
35NORAH JONESCOME AWAY WITH ME1x Diamond1,000,0002002
36BACKSTREET BOYSMILLENNIUM1x Diamond1,000,0001999
37BRITNEY SPEARS…BABY ONE MORE TIME1x Diamond1,000,0001999
38CELINE DIONALL THE WAY…A DECADE OF SONG1x Diamond1,000,0001999
39RICKY MARTINRICKY MARTIN1x Diamond1,000,0001999
40SANTANASUPERNATURAL1x Diamond1,000,0001999
41CELINE DIONTHESE ARE SPECIAL TIMES1x Diamond1,000,0001998
42AQUAAQUARIUM1x Diamond1,000,0001997
43BACKSTREET BOYSBACKSTREET`S BACK1x Diamond1,000,0001997
44BIG SHINY TUNES SERIESBIG SHINY TUNES 21x Diamond1,000,0001997
45CELINE DIONLET`S TALK ABOUT LOVE1x Diamond1,000,0001997
46OUR LADY PEACECLUMSY1x Diamond1,000,0001997
47SARAH MCLACHLANSURFACING1x Diamond1,000,0001997
48SAVAGE GARDENSAVAGE GARDEN1x Diamond1,000,0001997
49SOUNDTRACKTITANIC 1x Diamond1,000,0001997
50SPICE GIRLSSPICEWORLD1x Diamond1,000,0001997
51BACKSTREET BOYSBACKSTREET BOYS1x Diamond1,000,0001996
52CELINE DIONFALLING INTO YOU1x Diamond1,000,0001996
53SPICE GIRLSSPICE1x Diamond1,000,0001996
54AMANDA MARSHALLAMANDA MARSHALL1x Diamond1,000,0001995
55NO DOUBTTRAGIC KINGDOM1x Diamond1,000,0001995
56BON JOVICROSS ROAD1x Diamond1,000,0001994
57GARTH BROOKSTHE HITS1x Diamond1,000,0001994
58HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISHCRACKED REAR VIEW1x Diamond1,000,0001994
59SOUNDTRACKTHE LION KING1x Diamond1,000,0001994
60ACE OF BASEHAPPY NATION/THE SIGN1x Diamond1,000,0001993
61AEROSMITHGET A GRIP1x Diamond1,000,0001993
62CELINE DIONTHE COLOUR OF MY LOVE1x Diamond1,000,0001993
63BARENAKED LADIESGORDON1x Diamond1,000,0001992
64BILLY RAY CYRUSSOME GAVE ALL1x Diamond1,000,0001992
65CELINE DIONCELINE DION1x Diamond1,000,0001992
66THE TRAGICALLY HIPFULLY COMPLETELY1x Diamond1,000,0001992
67WHITNEY HOUSTONTHE BODYGUARD (SOUNDTRACK)1x Diamond1,000,0001992
68BRYAN ADAMSWAKING UP THE NEIGHBOURS1x Diamond1,000,0001991
69GUNS N` ROSESUSE YOUR ILLUSION I1x Diamond1,000,0001991
70THE TRAGICALLY HIPROAD APPLES1x Diamond1,000,0001991
71TOM COCHRANEMAD MAD WORLD1x Diamond1,000,0001991
72U2ACHTUNG BABY1x Diamond1,000,0001991
73ALANNAH MYLESALANNAH MYLES1x Diamond1,000,0001990
74MILLI VANILLIGIRL YOU KNOW IT`S TRUE1x Diamond1,000,0001989
75NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCKHANGIN` TOUGH1x Diamond1,000,0001988
76SOUNDTRACKCOCKTAIL1x Diamond1,000,0001988
77DEF LEPPARDHYSTERIA1x Diamond1,000,0001987
78GEORGE MICHAELFAITH1x Diamond1,000,0001987
79INXSKICK1x Diamond1,000,0001987
80BON JOVISLIPPERY WHEN WET1x Diamond1,000,0001986
81MADONNATRUE BLUE1x Diamond1,000,0001986
82COREY HARTBOY IN THE BOX1x Diamond1,000,0001985
83PHIL COLLINSNO JACKET REQUIRED1x Diamond1,000,0001985
84WHITNEY HOUSTONWHITNEY HOUSTON1x Diamond1,000,0001985
85MADONNALIKE A VIRGIN1x Diamond1,000,0001984
86CULTURE CLUBCOLOUR BY NUMBERS1x Diamond1,000,0001983
87HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWSSPORTS1x Diamond1,000,0001983
88LIONEL RICHIECAN`T SLOW DOWN1x Diamond1,000,0001983
89ZZ TOPELIMINATOR1x Diamond1,000,0001983
90PHIL COLLINSFACE VALUE1x Diamond1,000,0001981
91KENNY ROGERSKENNY ROGERS` GREATEST HITS1x Diamond1,000,0001980
92SOUNDTRACKGREASE1x Diamond1,000,0001978
93STEVE MILLER BANDGREATEST HITS 1974-19781x Diamond1,000,0001978
94BEE GEESSATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (SOUNDTRACK)1x Diamond1,000,0001977
95BOSTONBOSTON1x Diamond1,000,0001976
96EAGLESHOTEL CALIFORNIA1x Diamond1,000,0001976
97ELTON JOHNELTON JOHN`S GREATEST HITS (1974)1x Diamond1,000,0001974
98LED ZEPPELINLED ZEPPELIN I1x Diamond1,000,0001969
99MICHAEL BUBLÉCHRISTMAS1x Diamond / Soundcan decade-end list968,0002011
100EMINEMTHE MARSHALL MATHERS LP8x Platinum / Soundscan941,0002000
101NIRVANAMTV UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK9x Platinum900,0001994
102MEAT LOAFBAT OUT OF HELL II: BACK INTO HELL9x Platinum900,0001993
103GUNS N` ROSESUSE YOUR ILLUSION II9x Platinum900,0001991
104SOUNDTRACKFLASHDANCE9x Platinum900,0001983
105LED ZEPPELINLED ZEPPELIN II9x Platinum900,0001969
106QUEENGREATEST HITS I3x Platinum + Soundscan862,0001981
107COUNTING CROWSAUGUST & EVERYTHING AFTER7x Platinum / Soundscan831,0001993
108MICHAEL BUBLÉIT`S TIME6x Platinum / Soundscan823,0002005
109ED SHEERANDIVIDE1x Diamond800,0002017
110ED SHEERANX1x Diamond800,0002014
111NICKELBACKSILVER SIDE UP8x Platinum800,0002001
112ENYAA DAY WITHOUT RAIN8x Platinum800,0002000
113BIG SHINY TUNES SERIESBIG SHINY TUNES 48x Platinum800,0001999
114BIG SHINY TUNES SERIESBIG SHINY TUNES 38x Platinum800,0001998
115THE OFFSPRINGAMERICANA8x Platinum800,0001998
116MATCHBOX TWENTYYOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU8x Platinum800,0001996
117COLLECTIVE SOULCOLLECTIVE SOUL8x Platinum800,0001995
118JEWELPIECES OF YOU8x Platinum800,0001995
119OASIS(WHAT`S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY?8x Platinum800,0001995
120AEROSMITHBIG ONES8x Platinum800,0001994
121TLCCRAZYSEXYCOOL8x Platinum800,0001994
122MC HAMMERPLEASE HAMMER DON`T HURT `EM8x Platinum800,0001990
123ANDREW LLOYD WEBBERTHE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – HIGHLIGHTS (CANADIAN CAST)8x Platinum800,0001989
124ANDREW LLOYD WEBBERTHE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (CANADIAN CAST)8x Platinum800,0001989
125CYNDI LAUPERSHE`S SO UNUSUAL8x Platinum800,0001983

Best-selling albums in Canada of the Nielsen SoundScan era

Sales from 1995 to December 2014

ArtistAlbumSales
1 SHANIA TWAIN COME ON OVER 1,948,000
2 CELINE DION LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE 1,492,000
3 ADELE 21 1,489,000
4 VARIOUS ARTISTS BIG SHINY TUNES 2 1,233,000
5 THE BEATLES 1 1,231,000
6 SHANIA TWAIN UP! 1,134,000
7 ANDREA BOCELLI ROMANZA 1,133,000
8 AQUA AQUARIUM 1,093,000
9 SARAH MCLACHLAN SURFACING 1,078,000
10 BACKSTREET BOYS MILLENNIUM 1,075,000

See also. Best selling albums by country: