The
UK Albums Chart is a music chart compiled by the
Official Charts Company (OCC) that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Initially based solely on the sales of albums in the
vinyl and CD formats,
digital albums began being included from April 2006.[2] Since March 2015, the chart has also been based on
audio streaming figures,[3] however the OCC still compiles a 'sales' (only) chart and still quotes these traditional sales figures in its features and articles.[4]
This is a list of the 50 best-selling albums in the UK from 1 January 2000 onwards, as compiled by the OCC (sales that occurred before 2000 are not included). Of these, only two were originally released before the year 2000: White Ladder (1998) by
David Gray and Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) by
ABBA.[4]
Back to Bedlam by
James Blunt, which was
the best-selling album of the 2000s decade,[5] was also the best-selling album of the 21st century until August 2011 when it was passed in sales by
Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, following Winehouse's death the previous month.[6] Less than four months later, however, Back to Black was itself overtaken by
Adele's 21.[7] As of 2024, 21 remains the biggest-selling album in the UK since 2000 (and second best-selling ever), having sold 6 million copies.[8][9]
Sales figures from the OCC on the date given in the reference. The OCC differentiate 'chart sales' (which include streaming) from 'sales' (which are downloads and physical purchases and are quoted below).[3]
The
UK Albums Chart is a music chart compiled by the
Official Charts Company (OCC) that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Initially based solely on the sales of albums in the
vinyl and CD formats,
digital albums began being included from April 2006.[2] Since March 2015, the chart has also been based on
audio streaming figures,[3] however the OCC still compiles a 'sales' (only) chart and still quotes these traditional sales figures in its features and articles.[4]
This is a list of the 50 best-selling albums in the UK from 1 January 2000 onwards, as compiled by the OCC (sales that occurred before 2000 are not included). Of these, only two were originally released before the year 2000: White Ladder (1998) by
David Gray and Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) by
ABBA.[4]
Back to Bedlam by
James Blunt, which was
the best-selling album of the 2000s decade,[5] was also the best-selling album of the 21st century until August 2011 when it was passed in sales by
Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, following Winehouse's death the previous month.[6] Less than four months later, however, Back to Black was itself overtaken by
Adele's 21.[7] As of 2024, 21 remains the biggest-selling album in the UK since 2000 (and second best-selling ever), having sold 6 million copies.[8][9]
Sales figures from the OCC on the date given in the reference. The OCC differentiate 'chart sales' (which include streaming) from 'sales' (which are downloads and physical purchases and are quoted below).[3]