Home News The 25 Best-Selling Books Of All Time

The 25 Best-Selling Books Of All Time

Author : Christopher Mar 17,2025

Compiling a list of the 25 best-selling books of all time is surprisingly challenging. Factors like varying editions, translations, abridged versions, serializations, and even bulk distributions complicate accurate sales tracking. Inaccurate record-keeping and publisher-inflated figures further obscure the truth, making a definitive list impossible. Therefore, this list presents estimates based on several self-imposed criteria.

This list focuses solely on literary fiction, excluding religious texts, self-help books, political works, and other non-fiction. Notable omissions like *The Lord of the Rings* (due to its complex serialization) and *The Count of Monte Cristo* (due to unreliable historical sales data) are also noted.

Did your favorite cozy read make the cut? Does the sales success reflect the book's literary merit? Share your thoughts in the comments! Also, check out the best-selling books of 2024 below for some fresh reading material.

**25. Anne of Green Gables**

Anne of Green GablesSee it at Amazon

Author: L.M. Montgomery

Country: Canada

Publication Date: 1908

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

This classic children's story follows the spirited orphan Anne Shirley as she finds a home in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. Her endearing relationship with her foster parents, who initially expected a boy, propelled the book to success, leading to seven sequels (eight including a posthumous novel).

**24. Heidi**

HeidiSee it at Amazon

Author: Johanna Spyri

Country: Switzerland

Publication Date: 1880-1881

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

This children's novel tells the story of Heidi, an orphan raised by her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Her friendship with Klara, a wealthy girl confined to a wheelchair, forms the heart of the story, showcasing their mutual growth and support.

**23. Lolita**

LolitaSee it at Amazon

Author: Vladimir Nabokov

Country: United States

Publication Date: 1955

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

Initially shunned by publishers, Nabokov's controversial novel about an English professor's obsession with a 12-year-old girl has since become a literary landmark, adapted into plays, operas, and films (including one directed by Stanley Kubrick).

**22. One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad)**

One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad)See it at Amazon

Author: Gabriel García Márquez

Country: Colombia

Publication Date: 1967

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

Márquez's masterpiece is a sweeping, magical realism novel chronicling the rise and fall of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. The epic saga spans seven generations, exploring themes of cyclical fate and karmic consequences.

**21. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ**

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the ChristSee it at Amazon

Author: Lew Wallace

Country: United States

Publication Date: 1880

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

This novel follows Judah Ben-Hur's life during the time of Jesus Christ, culminating in his witnessing of the Crucifixion. The book is best known for its iconic film adaptation starring Charlton Heston, famous for its thrilling chariot race.

**20. The Bridges of Madison County**

The Bridges of Madison CountySee it at Amazon

Author: Robert James Waller

Country: United States

Publication Date: 1992

Estimated Sales: 60 million copies

This romance novel depicts a passionate affair between an Italian-American war bride and a traveling photographer. The story was adapted into a successful film starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep and later into a Tony-nominated Broadway musical.

**19. The Catcher in the Rye**

The Catcher in the RyeSee it at Amazon

Author: J.D. Salinger

Country: United States

Publication Date: 1951

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

Salinger's only novel introduced the iconic Holden Caulfield, an expelled prep school student navigating adolescence and railing against "phoniness." The book remains a seminal coming-of-age story.

**18. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows**

Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsSee it at Amazon

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 2007

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

The final installment in the Harry Potter series finds Harry, Ron, and Hermione on the run, determined to defeat Lord Voldemort. The book's release was marked by a massive anti-spoiler campaign and widespread speculation about character loyalties.

**17. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince**

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceSee it at Amazon

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 2005

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This penultimate book sets the stage for the final confrontation, providing crucial background information on Voldemort and building suspense for the series' climax.

**16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix**

Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixSee it at Amazon

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 2003

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

The longest book in the series, it expands the wizarding world and Harry's circle of friends, laying the groundwork for the later books' conflicts.

**15. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire**

Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireSee it at Amazon

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 2000

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

Often considered the strongest in the series, Goblet of Fire introduces the Triwizard Tournament, marking a significant shift in tone and raising the stakes for future installments.

**14. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban**

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanSee it at Amazon

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1999

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This installment marks a noticeable increase in narrative maturity, introducing new challenges and mysteries surrounding Harry's parents' deaths.

**13. The Alchemist (O Alquimista)**

The Alchemist (O Alquimista)See it at Amazon

Author: Paulo Coelho

Country: Brazil

Publication Date: 1988

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This novel follows a Spanish shepherd's journey to Egypt in search of treasure. Initially unsuccessful, the book's eventual success is a testament to Coelho's perseverance. Original language: Portuguese.

**12. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets**

Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsSee it at Amazon

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1998

Estimated Sales: 77 million copies

While arguably the weakest in the series, Chamber of Secrets expands the wizarding world beyond Hogwarts, introducing new elements and characters.

**11. The Da Vinci Code**

The Da Vinci CodeSee it at Amazon

Author: Dan Brown

Country: United States

Publication Date: 2003

Estimated Sales: 80 million copies

This controversial thriller, despite critical panning, became a cultural phenomenon due to its captivating plot, twists, and provocative claims about Jesus and the Catholic Church.

**10. Vardi Wala Gunda**

Vardi Wala GundaSee it at Amazon

Author: Ved Prakash Sharma

Country: India

Publication Date: 1992

Estimated Sales: 80 million copies

Written in Hindi, this mystery thriller explores themes of corruption and assassination conspiracies. It is the most successful work of prolific author Ved Prakash Sharma.

**9. She: A History of Adventure**

She: A History of AdventureSee it at Amazon

Author: H. Rider Haggard

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1886

Estimated Sales: 83 million copies

This adventure novel, about explorers discovering a lost kingdom in Africa, is a landmark work in the fantasy genre, influencing numerous subsequent stories featuring lost civilizations and mystical settings.

**8. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe**

The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeSee it at Amazon

Author: C.S. Lewis

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1950

Estimated Sales: 85 million copies

This classic children's fantasy follows four siblings who discover the magical world of Narnia, ruled by the evil White Witch and defended by the majestic lion Aslan. The book is the first in The Chronicles of Narnia series.

**7. The Hobbit**

The HobbitSee it at Amazon

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1937

Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

This precursor to The Lord of the Rings tells the story of Bilbo Baggins's adventure with a wizard and thirteen dwarves. Originally a standalone work, it was later integrated into Tolkien's larger Middle-earth mythology.

**6. Dream of the Red Chamber**

Dream of the Red ChamberSee it at Amazon

Author: Cao Xueqin

Country: China

Publication Date: 1791

Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

This classic Chinese novel, written during the Qing Dynasty, depicts the rise and fall of a noble family, known for its complex portrayal of female characters.

**5. And Then There Were None**

And Then There Were NoneSee it at Amazon

Author: Agatha Christie

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1939

Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

Considered by Christie herself as one of her best works, this murder mystery traps ten individuals on an island, where they are systematically killed off according to a nursery rhyme.

**4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone**

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneSee it at Amazon

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1997

Estimated Sales: 120 million copies

The first book in the series, introducing the magical world of Harry Potter and capturing the wonder and excitement of entering this new realm.

**3. The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince)**

The Little PrinceSee it at Amazon

Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Country: France

Publication Date: 1943

Estimated Sales: 140 million copies

This whimsical tale, open to various interpretations, explores themes of childhood, adulthood, and the limitations of conformity, told through the journey of a young prince across planets.

**2. A Tale of Two Cities**

A Tale of Two CitiesSee it at Amazon

Author: Charles Dickens

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1859

Estimated Sales: 200 million copies

Dickens' famous novel, set during the French Revolution, explores themes of class struggle, poverty, and the excesses of the wealthy.

**1. Don Quixote**

Don QuixoteSee it at Amazon

Author: Miguel de Cervantes

Country: Spain

Publication Date: 1605 (Part One), 1615 (Part Two)

Estimated Sales: 500 million copies

This epic tragicomedy follows the adventures of a delusional knight, Don Quixote, and his squire, whose misadventures and encounters with reality have become iconic in literature.

**Best Selling Books in 2024**

Determining best-sellers for a given year is more straightforward. Amazon's best-selling books list for 2024 provides a good indication, encompassing a significant portion of online book sales. Note that this list isn't exhaustive but represents a substantial segment of the market.

Top 10 Books of 2024 (according to Amazon):

  • The Women - Kristin Hannah
  • Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros
  • Atomic Habits - James Clear
  • Hillbilly Elegy - J.D. Vance
  • The Housemaid - Freida McFadden
  • Mom, I want to Hear Your Story - Jeffrey Mason
  • Dad, I want to Hear Your Story - Jeffrey Mason
  • The Anxious Generation - Jonathan Haidt
  • It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover
  • Good Energy - Casey Means M.D.

Looking for more reading suggestions? Check out our guides to the *Game of Thrones* books or our favorite horror novels.