the best-selling female artists of all time involves looking at their global album sales, streaming numbers, and overall impact on the music industry. Here is a list of 30 of the best-selling female artists, based on available data and estimates:
1. Madonna
- Sales: Over 300 million records
- Notable Hits: “Like a Virgin,” “Vogue,” “Like a Prayer”
2. Rihanna
- Sales: Over 250 million records
- Notable Hits: “Umbrella,” “We Found Love,” “Diamonds”
3. Mariah Carey
- Sales: Over 200 million records
- Notable Hits: “Hero,” “We Belong Together,” “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
4. Celine Dion
- Sales: Over 200 million records
- Notable Hits: “My Heart Will Go On,” “Because You Loved Me,” “The Power of Love”
5. Whitney Houston
- Sales: Over 200 million records
- Notable Hits: “I Will Always Love You,” “Greatest Love of All,” “How Will I Know”
6. Taylor Swift
- Sales: Over 150 million records
- Notable Hits: “Love Story,” “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space”
7. Beyoncé
- Sales: Over 150 million records
- Notable Hits: “Single Ladies,” “Halo,” “Crazy in Love”
8. Barbra Streisand
- Sales: Over 150 million records
- Notable Hits: “The Way We Were,” “Evergreen,” “Woman in Love”
9. Adele
- Sales: Over 120 million records
- Notable Hits: “Rolling in the Deep,” “Someone Like You,” “Hello”
10. Katy Perry
- Sales: Over 100 million records
- Notable Hits: “Firework,” “Roar,” “Dark Horse”
11. Lady Gaga
- Sales: Over 100 million records
- Notable Hits: “Bad Romance,” “Poker Face,” “Shallow”
12. Britney Spears
- Sales: Over 100 million records
- Notable Hits: “…Baby One More Time,” “Toxic,” “Oops!… I Did It Again”
13. Shakira
- Sales: Over 80 million records
- Notable Hits: “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Whenever, Wherever,” “Waka Waka”
14. Janet Jackson
- Sales: Over 80 million records
- Notable Hits: “Together Again,” “Rhythm Nation,” “All for You”
15. Cher
- Sales: Over 75 million records
- Notable Hits: “Believe,” “If I Could Turn Back Time,” “Strong Enough”
16. Tina Turner
- Sales: Over 75 million records
- Notable Hits: “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “The Best,” “Private Dancer”
17. Diana Ross
- Sales: Over 70 million records
- Notable Hits: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Endless Love,” “Upside Down”
18. Ariana Grande
- Sales: Over 70 million records
- Notable Hits: “Thank U, Next,” “7 Rings,” “Problem”
19. Donna Summer
- Sales: Over 70 million records
- Notable Hits: “Hot Stuff,” “Last Dance,” “She Works Hard for the Money”
20. Christina Aguilera
- Sales: Over 70 million records
- Notable Hits: “Genie in a Bottle,” “Beautiful,” “Fighter”
21. P!nk
- Sales: Over 60 million records
- Notable Hits: “Just Give Me a Reason,” “So What,” “What About Us”
22. Olivia Newton-John
- Sales: Over 60 million records
- Notable Hits: “Physical,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Magic”
23. Jennifer Lopez
- Sales: Over 60 million records
- Notable Hits: “If You Had My Love,” “Jenny from the Block,” “On the Floor”
24. Cyndi Lauper
- Sales: Over 50 million records
- Notable Hits: “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” “True Colors”
25. Annie Lennox (and Eurythmics)
- Sales: Over 50 million records
- Notable Hits: “Sweet Dreams,” “Why,” “Walking on Broken Glass”
26. Gloria Estefan
- Sales: Over 50 million records
- Notable Hits: “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You”
27. Enya
- Sales: Over 50 million records
- Notable Hits: “Only Time,” “Orinoco Flow,” “May It Be”
28. Dido
- Sales: Over 50 million records
- Notable Hits: “Thank You,” “White Flag,” “Here with Me”
29. Sade
- Sales: Over 50 million records
- Notable Hits: “Smooth Operator,” “By Your Side,” “No Ordinary Love”
30. Alicia Keys
- Sales: Over 50 million records
- Notable Hits: “Fallin’,” “No One,” “If I Ain’t Got You”
These artists have made significant contributions to the music industry, each leaving an indelible mark with their unique talents and timeless hits. Their sales numbers reflect not just commercial success, but also the deep connection they’ve made with audiences worldwide.