In the history of popular music, a select group of women have achieved extraordinary global commercial success. Their influence extends beyond charts, shaping culture while selling hundreds of millions of records across formats. Using reliable data from Guinness World Records, RIAA, IFPI, ChartMasters, and other industry sources, this article ranks the top six best-selling female recording artists of all time based on worldwide sales.
1. Madonna – 300–400 Million Records Sold
Madonna remains the undisputed best-selling female artist in music history, with an estimated 300 to 400 million records sold globally (source). Recognized officially by Guinness World Records, she has maintained her dominance for over four decades.
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Albums: Landmark releases such as Like a Virgin, True Blue, Ray of Light, and Confessions on a Dance Floor shaped generations of pop music.
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Certifications: Over 200 million album sales reported by IFPI alone.
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Legacy: Reinvention and trendsetting artistry have kept her relevant longer than almost any other pop figure.
Madonna’s ability to blend reinvention with commercial mass appeal makes her the global benchmark for female pop icons.
2. Rihanna – 250+ Million Records Sold
Since debuting in 2005, Rihanna has sold more than 250 million records worldwide (source), cementing her as one of the most successful artists of the 21st century.
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Singles Powerhouse: With more than 100 million digital singles certified in the U.S., Rihanna is one of the best-selling digital artists in history.
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Awards & Records: She holds six Guinness World Records and has 14 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Crossover Success: Beyond music, her Fenty Beauty empire expanded her cultural reach, making her a billionaire entrepreneur.
Her commercial impact is amplified by her dominance in the streaming era, and even without releasing an album since 2016, her catalog continues to thrive globally.
3. Taylor Swift – ~238 Million Equivalent Album Sales
Taylor Swift has rapidly risen into the all-time elite. According to ChartMasters, her career total stands at ~238 million equivalent album sales (EAS) (source), making her one of the fastest-selling artists in history.
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Touring: The Eras Tour broke records, grossing over $2 billion to become the highest-grossing tour of all time (source).
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Streaming Dominance: Swift consistently tops global charts, commanding massive streaming numbers that boost her EAS totals.
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Versatility: Transitioning from country roots to global pop superstardom, she continues to reinvent her sound while retaining an enormous fan base.
With her ongoing momentum, Swift is widely expected to climb even higher in the coming years.
4. Mariah Carey – 220–240 Million Records Sold
Mariah Carey has sold an estimated 220 to 240 million records worldwide (source), placing her firmly among the most commercially successful female artists of all time.
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RIAA Certifications: With over 76.5 million albums certified in the U.S., she is the highest-certified female artist in America (source).
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Billboard Records: Mariah holds 19 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100—the most for any solo artist.
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Timeless Hit: All I Want for Christmas Is You is one of the best-selling and most streamed holiday songs ever, with over 16 million copies sold worldwide.
Mariah’s combination of vocal virtuosity, songwriting, and chart dominance has secured her legendary status.
5. Whitney Houston – 230+ Million Records Sold
Whitney Houston remains one of the greatest vocalists and one of the best-selling artists ever, with 220 million records sold globally (source).
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Soundtrack Success: The Bodyguard soundtrack sold more than 47 million copies, making it the best-selling soundtrack and female album in history.
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Diamond Records: Houston is the only Black female artist with three diamond-certified albums in the U.S.
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Signature Single: “I Will Always Love You” has sold more than 27 million copies worldwide.
Her extraordinary vocal power and emotional performances made her a global icon whose music remains timeless.
6. Céline Dion – 200+ Million Records Sold
With over 200 million records sold worldwide, Céline Dion ranks among the most successful artists in history (source).
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Blockbuster Albums: Falling into You and Let’s Talk About Love are among the highest-selling albums ever released by a female artist.
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Global Reach: Dion is one of the few artists with consistent success in both English and French markets.
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Signature Single: “My Heart Will Go On” became a cultural phenomenon, selling over 18 million copies.
Her career has been defined by vocal brilliance and an ability to connect deeply with audiences across continents.
***The article takes into account streaming as well as physical sales from various sources and is updated as of September 2025, based on claimed sales of each of these artists from various sources.