I found this fantastic thread on a UK music industry forum. There's lots of stats and points raised in the course of the thread.



Bowie Downunder

The following estimates were created by a user known as MJ Dangerous. Some of these seem a little off (I would have thought Heathen, for instance, would have sold twice as many copies as Hours because of it's longevity in European markets ... and it's initially high placing in the US chart). Still, it's an interesting starting point that is based on some confirmed figures:

The Man Who Sold The World (1970):
(Filed from end 72 only)
U.S.: 600,000
Japan: 1000

Europe: 700,000
- UK: 400,000

Global estimate: 1,700,000

Hunky Dory (1971):
(Filed from end 72 only)
U.S.: 900,000
Japan: 1800 (in a week 90 ...)

Europe: 2,100,000
- UK: 1300000
- France: 150,000
- Spain: 100,000
- Norway: # 33 (in 2002)

Global estimate: 3,600,000


Space Oddity (1972):
(Originally released as the Man of Words / Man of Music 69)
U.S.: 1300000
Japan: 6740

Europe: 1,100,000
- UK: 500,000
- Spain: 100,000

Global estimate: 3,000,000

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars (1972):
U.S.: 3000000
Japan: 100,000 +

Europe: 3,240,000
- UK: 1500000
- France: 300,000
- Italy: 250,000
- Spain: 200,000
- Netherlands: # 73 (4) (1990)
- Norway: # 27 (in 2002)

Global estimate: 7,500,000

Aladdin Sane (1973):
U.S.: 1400000
Japan: 17,384

Europe: 2,400,000
- UK: 1000000
- France: 300,000
- Italy: 200,000
- Spain: 150,000
- Netherlands: 100,000 (# 7 (10))
- Norway: # 11 (20)

Global estimate: 4,600,000

Pin Ups (1973):
U.S.: 1100000
Japan: /

Europe: 1,800,000
- UK: 800,000
- France: 150,000
- Italy: 150,000
- Spain: 75,000
- Netherlands: 50,000 (# 10 (6))
- Norway: # 8 (7)

Global estimate: 3,400,000

Diamond Dogs (1974):
U.S.: 1500000
Japan: 950 (in one week in 2004)

Europe: 1,700,000
- UK: 800,000
- Germany: 100,000 (# 40)
- France: 200,000
- Italy: 100,000
- Spain: 75,000
- Netherlands: 50,000 (# 12 (6))
- Norway: # 8 (12)

Global estimate: 3,800,000

David Live (1974):
U.S.: 1100000
Japan: /

Europe: 800,000
- UK: 400,000
- France: 50,000
- Italy: 75,000
- Netherlands: 20,000 (# 33 (5))
- Norway: # 12 (5)

Global estimate: 2,300,000

Young Americans (1975):
U.S.: 1800000
Canada: 100,000
Japan: 5000

Europe: 800,000
- UK: 400,000
- France: 75,000
- Italy: 50,000
- Netherlands: 25,000 (# 24 (7))
- Norway: # 13 (9)

Global estimate: 3,300,000


Station To Station (1976):
U.S.: 1800000
Canada: 100,000
Japan: 3000

Europe: 900,000
- UK: 300,000
- France: 150,000
- Italy: 75,000
- Netherlands: 50,000 (# 8 (15))
- Sweden: 75,000 (# 11 (16))
- Norway: # 8 (10)

Global estimate: 3,400,000

Changesonebowie (1976):
U.S.: 1400000
Canada: 200,000 +
Japan: /

Europe: 1,000,000
- UK: 600,000
- France: /
- Italy: 50,000
- Netherlands: 15,000 (# 35 (4))
- Sweden: 25,000 (# 29 (10))

Global estimate: 3,200,000

Low (1977):
U.S.: 800,000
Canada: 100,000
Japan: 15,000

Europe: 900,000
- UK: 400,000
- France: /
- Italy: 50,000
- Netherlands: 100,000 (# 5 (28))
- Sweden: 50,000 (# 12 (14))
- Austria: # 17 (8)
- Norway: # 10 (12)

Global estimate: 2,300,000

Heroes (1977):
U.S.: 600,000
Canada: 100,000
Japan: 3000

Europe: 1,100,000
- UK: 400,000
- France: 75,000
- Italy: 150,000
- Netherlands: 100,000 (# 5 (24))
- Sweden: 25,000 (# 13 (6))
- Austria: # 22 (8)
- Norway: # 13 (2)

Global estimate: 2,300,000

Stage (1978):
U.S.: 400,000
Canada: 50,000
Japan: 8000

Europe: 600,000
- UK: 200,000
- France: 75,000
- Italy: 75,000
- Netherlands: 75,000 (# 4 (18))
- Sweden: 20,000 (# 29 (4))
- Norway: # 18 (2)

Global estimate: 1,300,000

Lodger (1979):
U.S.: 700,000
Canada: /
Japan: 50,000

Europe: 1,000,000
- UK: 350,000
- France: 150,000
- Italy: 50,000
- Netherlands: 75,000 (# 5 (12))
- Sweden: 50,000 (# 9 (10))
- Austria: # 13 (4)
- Norway: # 11 (3)

Global estimate: 2,200,000

Scary Monsters (1980):
U.S.: 1400000
Canada: 150,000
Japan: 100,000

Europe: 2,100,000
- UK: 700,000
- France: 500,000 (# 1 x6)
- Germany: 200,000 (# 8 (1))
- Italy: 50,000
- Spain: 50,000
- Netherlands: 75,000 (# 7 (11))
- Sweden: 100,000 (# 4 (30))
- Austria: # 20 (2)
- Norway: # 3 (23)

Global estimate: 4,300,000

The Very Best of David Bowie (1981):
Europe: 900,000
- UK: 500,000
- Sweden: 30,000 (# 25 (10))
- Norway: # 10 (16)
- Netherlands: 75,000 (# 7 (10))

Global estimate: 1,000,000

Changestwobowie (1981):
U.S.: 400,000
Canada: 50,000
Japan: /

Europe: 400,000
- UK: 300,000
- Sweden: 5,000 (# 35 (2))

Global estimate: 1,100,000

Let's Dance (1983):
U.S.: 3500000
Canada: 600,000
Japan: 600,000

Europe: 4,550,000
- UK: 1200000
- France: 1,000,000 (# 1 x12)
- Germany: 600,000 (# 2 (20))
- Italy: 250,000
- Spain: 250,000
- Netherlands: 150,000 (# 2 (32))
- Sweden: 175,000 (# 1 x6 (18))
- Finland: 45,201
- Austria: # 2 (30)
- Norway: # 1 x4 (24)

Global estimate: 10,700,000

Golden Years (1983):
U.S.: 300,000
Japan: 50,000

Europe: 300,000
- UK: 100,000
- Sweden: # 33 (4)
- Germany: 50,000 (# 50)

Global estimate: 800,000

Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture (1983):
U.S.: 300,000
Japan: 3110

Europe: 300,000
- UK: 100,000
- Sweden: # 42 (2)

Global estimate: 800,000

Fame & Fashion (Greatest Hits) (1984):
U.S.: 500,000
UK: 100,000

Global estimate: 800,000

Tonight (1984):
U.S.: 1300000
Canada: 250,000
Japan: 300,000

Europe: 1,300,000
- UK: 400,000
- France: 150,000
- Germany: 150,000 (# 8 (1))
- Italy: 125,000
- Spain: 125,000
- Netherlands: 50,000 (# 7 (10))
- Sweden: 30,000 (# 4 (8))
- Austria: # 8 (17)
- Switzerland: # 8 (6)
- Norway: # 3 (6)

Global estimate: 3,600,000

Never Let Me Down (1987):
U.S.: 800,000
Canada: 150,000
Japan: 50,000

Europe: 1,300,000
- UK: 250,000
- France: 175,000
- Germany: 150,000 (# 11)
- Italy: 250,000
- Spain: 75,000
- Netherlands: 50,000 (# 9 (14))
- Sweden: 75,000 (# 2 (14))
- Austria: # 3 (17)
- Switzerland: # 18 (3)
- Norway: # 3 (8)

Global estimate: 2,600,000

Changesbowie (1990):
U.S.: 1200000
Canada: 150,000
Australia: 150,000
Japan: 100,000

Europe: 2,300,000
- UK: 550,000
- France: 500,000
- Germany: 300,000 (# 7 (4))
- Italy: 200,000
- Spain: 125,000
- Netherlands: 100,000 (# 3 (24))
- Sweden: 30,000 (# 14 (8))
- Austria: 30,000 (# 5 (18))
- Switzerland: # 18 (9)
- Norway: # 16 (8)

Global estimate: 4,300,000

Black Tie White Noise (1993):
U.S.: 200,000
Canada: 75,000
Japan: 200,000

Europe: 900,000
- UK: 225,000
- France: 100,000
- Italy: 125,000
- Germany: 100,000 (# 15 (13))
- Spain: 40,000
- Netherlands: 25,000 (# 8 (9))
- Sweden: 20,000 (# 18 (8))
- Austria: # 18 (11)
- Switzerland: # 18 (8)
- Norway: # 8 (5)

Global estimate: 1,700,000

The Singles Collection (1993):
U.S.: 500,000?
Canada: 100,000
Japan: /

Europe: 1,600,000
- UK: 650,000
- France: 250,000
- Germany: 50,000 (# 64 (9))
- Italy: 50,000
- Spain: 75,000
- Netherlands: 150,000 (# 5 (45))
- Sweden: 20,000 (# 38 (9))
- Austria: # 37 (2)

Global estimate: 2,500,000

Outside (1995):
U.S.: 300,000
Japan: 100,000

Europe: 500,000
- UK: 100,000
- France: 125,000
- Germany: 50,000 (# 33 (9))
- Italy: 50,000
- Netherlands: 15,000 (# 38 (13))
- Sweden: 15,000 (# 13 (7))
- Austria: # 22 (18)
- Switzerland: # 22 (3)
- Norway: # 15 (2)

Global estimate: 1,100,000

Earthling (1997):
U.S.: 200,000
Japan: 100,000

Europe: 500,000
- UK: 100,000
- France: 70,000
- Germany: 60,000 (# 11 (8))
- Italy: 50,000
- Spain: 15,000
- Netherlands: 10,000 (# 19 (6))
- Sweden: 15,000 (# 5 (7))
- Austria: # 15 (11)
- Switzerland: # 20 (7)
- Norway: # 13 (3)

Global estimate: 1,000,000

The Best of 69/74 (1997):
UK: 450,000

Global estimate: 600,000

Hours (1999):
U.S.: 100,000
Japan: 100,000

Europe: 600,000
- UK: 100,000
- France: 120,000
- Germany: 125,000 (# 4 (2) (10))
- Italy: 90,000
- Spain: 20,000
- Netherlands: 10,000 (# 31 (7))
- Sweden: 15,000 (# 2 (6))
- Austria: # 2 (10)
- Switzerland: # 18 (6)
- Norway: # 4 (6)

Global estimate: 1,000,000

Heathen (2002):
U.S.: 300,000
Japan: 50,000

Europe: 800,000
- UK: 200,000
- Germany: 150,000 (# 4 (3) (19))
- France: 140,000
- Italy: 65,000
- Spain: 10,000
- Sweden: 25,000 (# 6 (11))
- Netherlands: 15,000 (# 19 (8))
- Austria: # 4 (16)
- Switzerland: # 7 (15)
- Norway: # 2 (10)

Global estimate: 1,400,000

Best Of Bowie (2002):
U.S.: 1200000
Canada: 100,000 +
Japan: 2870

Europe: 1,800,000
- UK: 825,000
- France: 250,000
- Germany: 150,000 (# 16 (10))
- Italy: 125,000
- Spain: 40,000
- Netherlands: 30,000 (# 19 (20))
- Sweden: 25,000 (# 9 (14))
- Austria: # 13 (6)
- Switzerland: # 15 (7)
- Finland: 15,006

Global estimate: 3,500,000

Reality (2003):
U.S.: 150,000
Japan: 20,000

Europe: 600,000
- UK: 125,000
- France: 130,000
- Germany: 100,000 (# 3 (1) (8))
- Italy: 60,000
- Spain: 10,000
- Netherlands: 10,000 (# 14 (8))
- Sweden: 15,000 (# 5 (5))
- Austria: # 3 (8)
- Switzerland: # 5 (8)
- Norway: # 2 (4)

Global estimate: 1,000,000

+ 4,000,000 for various and other best of albums.

Total sales worldwide: 95,700,000 albums sold.

Bowie Downunder

According to those figures, Outside outsold Let's Dance? WTF?

Earthling his second biggest seller behind Ziggy?

Am I missing something here?

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You must be missing a zero or two in there. It suggests that Outside sold only 1.1 million while Let's Dance 10.7 million. Earthling sold only 1 million and Ziggy 7.5 million.

Bowie Downunder

Actually, I see which list you're looking at.... the green numbers are only relevant for sales in the USA from 1991 onwards (soundscan data). This explains why the latter albums are showing comparatively high sales (they were new releases during these years as opposed to archival/re-releases).

Bowie Downunder

That makes a lot more sense.

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I'll never touch you...
...but I will prick you!

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Generally looks to be close, albiet some number don't ring true.

I'm surprised PINUPS was as high as other albums from the mid 70's. DB didn't play much of it live and there's no big single or concept.

I thought NLMD was higher, given the huge 1987 tour. There's an interview form that time saying the album was his 3rd/4th biggest seller. Maybe a decade ago Bowie said he was embarrased by the large sales of a couple of his albums.

"That's Numberwang!"