Wonderful Western Music Ranking

[2025] Best-selling Singles Worldwide: Western Music Physical Sales Ranking

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!

Suddenly, but do you know which is the best-selling single in the world?

Only those who are quite knowledgeable about music history and data could probably answer right away, but if you like music, you’ve likely wondered at least once how much those famous songs actually sold.

This article researches and introduces the world’s best-selling singles in a ranked format.

The ranking is limited strictly to physical sales, so digital sales and streaming play counts are excluded, which naturally makes the lineup centered around older music.

They’re all songs almost everyone has heard at least once, so take this opportunity to check them out!

Rankings 21st and below (11–20)

36th place

Chirpy Chirpy Cheep CheepMiddle of the Road

Middle of the Road – Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Totp 1971

Chirpy Chirpy Cheep CheepMiddle of the Road

A 1971 smash hit by the Scottish pop group Middle of the Road.

With its light, catchy melody and repetitive lyrics, the song leaves a deep impression on listeners.

Sung from the perspective of a child who has lost their mother, the lyrics carry a hidden poignancy that contrasts with the upbeat sound, capturing the hearts of many.

The track sold over five million copies worldwide and reached number one on the UK charts.

It has been featured on the soundtracks of films such as The Guard and The Power, and remains beloved across generations.

It’s the perfect song when you want a change of mood or to bask in nostalgia.

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37th place

I’m a BelieverThe Monkees

The Monkees – I’m a Believer HD

I'm a BelieverThe Monkees

The Monkees are a pop rock group formed in the United States in 1966.

Although they were created for a TV show, they went on to achieve remarkable success in the music scene.

One of their signature songs, released in 1967, became a massive hit worldwide.

With its light, breezy melody celebrating the wonder of love, it’s a classic that feels like pure youth.

The lyrics, written by Neil Diamond, are delivered with refreshing charm by the Monkees.

The song has continued to be loved for many years, even being featured on the soundtrack of the 2001 film Shrek.

It’s a number with truly universal appeal, one that resonates with people across generations.

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In conclusion

When I looked into the theme of “single sales rankings,” I found some interesting discoveries, like learning which songs by well-known artists in Japan such as the Beatles and ABBA have sold the most.

As mentioned at the beginning, these are rankings based on physical sales, so the rankings would be entirely different for digital sales or streaming.

If you’re interested, be sure to check those out too!