IFPI unveils best-selling albums of 2021 – Adele, ABBA, SEVENTEEN, BTS, Snow Man, Olivia Rodrigo, and more

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IFPI unveils best-selling albums of 2021 – Adele, ABBA, SEVENTEEN, BTS, Snow Man, Olivia Rodrigo, and more

Six years after her GRAMMY-winning record, 25, Adele still reigns supreme with her latest album, 30.

Her most personal album yet, 30 dominates all three IFPI album charts, topping the Global Album All Format Chart, the Global Album Sales Chart, and the first-ever Global Vinyl Album Chart.

The album also topped charts in over 20 countries around the world, selling over 5 million copies in less than two months since its release in November 2021.

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From releases by BTS, ABBA, Snow Man, Olivia Rodrigo, SEVENTEEN, and more, here are the best-selling albums of 2021.

Global Vinyl Album Chart

For the inaugural edition of IFPI's Vinyl Album Chart, Adele shoots up straight to number 1 with her November 2021 release, 30. 500,000 vinyl copies were reportedly produced for this album, celebrating the award-winning singer-songwriter's much-anticipated return after six years.

Harry Styles' Fine Line and Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever prove there's no sophomore slump for them as their second studio albums in second and fifth, respectively.

Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo's critically acclaimed debut album, SOUR, is in fourth place.

Taylor Swift makes two appearances on the chart with RED (Taylor's Version) in sixth, and evermore rounding up the top 10.

Classics like Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, The Beatles' Abbey Road, Nirvana's Nevermind, and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon continue to be top sellers decades after their original release dates.

Global Album Sales Chart

For the Global Album Sales Chart, which takes global sales of physical albums and digital album downloads for the year, Adele stays on top. Pop legends ABBA return with their first full-length release in 40 years, VOYAGE, coming in right after Adele's 30. 

K-pop act SEVENTEEN makes two appearances with their best-selling EPs Attacca in third place – making them the highest-charting Asian act on the chart – and Your Choice in eighth. 

Korean global superstars BTS, who are the two-time consecutive IFPI Global Artist of the Year winners, are in fourth place with BTS, THE BEST. The record-breaking album is a compilation of the GRAMMY-nominated group's best original Japanese songs, plus Japanese versions of their biggest hits. Coming in fifth and sixth respectively are Ed Sheeran with = ('equals') and Justin Bieber with Justice. 

Pop icon Taylor Swift's re-recorded versions of RED and Fearless are in seventh and tenth place. 

Meanwhile, J-pop act Snow Man makes a statement as they debut on the chart in ninth place with their first album, Snow Mania S1. 

Global Album All Format Chart

Adele's 30 dominates 2021 album sales across all formats selling over 5 million copies globally, topping charts in multiple regions including the US and the UK.

Rising artists Olivia Rodrigo (2nd), The Kid LAROI (7th), and Doja Cat (10)make impressive debuts on the chart with their albums SOUR, F*CK Love (Mix Tape), and Planet Her

Named as one of the Best Albums of 2020, The Weeknd's After Hours stays strong in 2021, coming in at number five.

Pop stars also rule the chart with Justin Bieber's Justice, Ed Sheeran's = ('equals'), and Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia. Meanwhile, The Voice alum and country singer Morgan Wallen is in ninth place with Dangerous: The Double Album.