What Is the Best Selling Song All Time by Global Sales
The best selling song all time, based on worldwide equivalent units combining physical sales, downloads, and on-demand streams, is "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, according to the RIAA and IFPI. The track is estimated to have moved over 50 million equivalent units globally, making it the top certified single in history. This figure includes decades of holiday sales, reissues, and digital downloads across multiple markets.
Modern equivalents such as "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd and "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran rank among the highest certified singles in the streaming era, but they have not yet surpassed the cumulative unit total of "White Christmas." The RIAA lists "White Christmas" as the best selling single of all time in the United States, while IFPI data confirms its global lead when equivalent units are calculated consistently. You can view the RIAA Gold & Platinum database here RIAA Gold & Platinum.
How Streaming and Certification Data Define the Best Selling Song All Time
Streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music now convert billions of plays into certified units, but the all-time sales crown still belongs to "White Christmas" because its pre-streaming physical and download sales were exceptionally high. IFPI and national chart bodies use conversion ratios to compare on-demand audio streams with traditional unit sales, creating a unified metric for global rankings.
The IFPI Global Music Report provides the latest equivalent-unit figures for top singles, and those reports consistently place "White Christmas" at the top when historical and current data are combined. For deeper context on how certifications work across markets, the IFPI website explains the methodology IFPI Global Music Report. In the United States, the RIAA's digital singles awards program tracks equivalent units from sales and streams to update the all-time rankings RIAA Digital Single Awards.
Top Certified Singles and the Best Selling Song All Time in Key Markets
In the United States, "White Christmas" holds the record for best selling single of all time with multi-platinum certification, while global markets such as the United Kingdom and Germany also recognize it as the top-selling track in history. The BPI and BVMI certifications reflect decades of physical and digital sales that contribute to its worldwide leadership.
Among modern hits, "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd is one of the most certified singles globally, with billions of streams on Spotify and Apple Music pushing it into the highest tier of equivalent units. The Weeknd's label XO and Republic Records have leveraged playlist placements and radio play to sustain long-term consumption, but the cumulative unit total still trails "White Christmas." Spotify's official charts and streaming data are available Spotify Charts, and the IFPI's global report provides cross-market certification details IFPI Global Music Report.