<Tr> <Td> A proposal to define a best - selling single as 10 million copies or more sold is being discussed on this article's talk page . </Td> </Tr> <P> This article is a compendium of the best - selling music singles . The criterion for inclusion on the list is to have sold at least five million copies worldwide . The singles listed here were cited by reliable sources from various media, such as digital journalism, newspapers, magazines, and even books related or not with the subject of music . </P> <P> It is notable that, according to Guinness World Records, "White Christmas" (1942) by Bing Crosby is the best - selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies . The song recognized as "the best - selling single of all time" was released before the pop / rock singles - chart era and "was listed as the world's best - selling single in the first - ever Guinness Book of Records (published in 1955) and--remarkably--still retains the title more than 50 years later". Also, Guinness World Records states that double A-side charity single "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) by Elton John, a tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, is "the biggest - selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s, having accumulated worldwide sales of 33 million copies", making it the second - best - selling single of all time . </P> <P> The list is split between physical (mainly CD and vinyl) singles and digitally downloaded tracks which first became available to purchase in the early 2000s . </P>

Number one song of all time in the world