This is a list of the albums ranked number one in the United States during 2021. The top-performing albums and EPs in the U.S. are ranked on the Billboard 200 chart, which is published by Billboard magazine. The data is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan based on multi-metric consumption as measured in album-equivalent units, which comprise album sales, track sales, and streams on digital music platforms. Each unit equals one album sold, or 10 individual digital tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.
30, the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Adele, was the best-selling album of 2021, with 1.464 million copies sold.[1] It garnered the biggest opening week of 2021 with 839,000 album-equivalent units, and topped the chart for the final four weeks of the year.[2] Dangerous: The Double Album by American country singer Morgan Wallen was the best-performing album of 2021 and the longest running number-one album of the year, having topped the Billboard 200 for 10 consecutive weeks.[3] It became the first country album since The Chase (1992) by American singer Garth Brooks to reign the Billboard 200 for six or more weeks,[4] and the first album since Whitney (1987) by American singer Whitney Houston, to spend its first 10 weeks at the top spot.[5]
American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift charted three number one albums this year—the most for any artist: her 2020 studio album Evermore and 2021 re-recordings Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version); they collectively spent six weeks atop the Billboard 200.[6] Fearless (Taylor's Version) became the first re-recorded album in history to top the chart.[7] American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo's debut studio album, Sour, is the year's second longest reigning number-one album of the Billboard 200 and the longest-reigning by a female artist, with five non-consecutive weeks spent atop the chart.
Chart history
edit† | Indicates best-performing album of 2021[3] |
Issue date | Album | Artist(s) | Album- equivalent units |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 2 | Evermore | Taylor Swift | 169,000 | [8][9] |
January 9 | Whole Lotta Red | Playboi Carti | 100,000 | [10][11] |
January 16 | Evermore | Taylor Swift | 56,000 | [12][13] |
January 23 | Dangerous: The Double Album † | Morgan Wallen | 265,000 | [14][15] |
January 30 | 159,000 | [16][17] | ||
February 6 | 130,000 | [18][19] | ||
February 13 | 149,000 | [20][21] | ||
February 20 | 150,000 | [22][23] | ||
February 27 | 93,000 | [24][4] | ||
March 6 | 89,000 | [25][26] | ||
March 13 | 82,000 | [27][28] | ||
March 20 | 78,000 | [29][30] | ||
March 27 | 69,000 | [31][5] | ||
April 3 | Justice | Justin Bieber | 154,000 | [32][33] |
April 10 | SoulFly | Rod Wave | 130,000 | [34][35] |
April 17 | Justice | Justin Bieber | 75,000 | [36][37] |
April 24 | Fearless (Taylor's Version) | Taylor Swift | 291,000 | [38][7] |
May 1 | Slime Language 2 | Young Thug and various artists | 113,000 | [39][40] |
May 8 | A Gangsta's Pain | Moneybagg Yo | 110,000 | [41][42] |
May 15 | Khaled Khaled | DJ Khaled | 94,000 | [43][44] |
May 22 | A Gangsta's Pain | Moneybagg Yo | 61,000 | [45][46] |
May 29 | The Off-Season | J. Cole | 282,000 | [47][48] |
June 5 | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | 295,000 | [49][50] |
June 12 | Evermore | Taylor Swift | 202,000 | [51][52] |
June 19 | The Voice of the Heroes | Lil Baby and Lil Durk | 150,000 | [53][54] |
June 26 | Hall of Fame | Polo G | 143,000 | [55][56] |
July 3 | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | 105,000 | [57][58] |
July 10 | Call Me If You Get Lost | Tyler, the Creator | 169,000 | [59][60] |
July 17 | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | 88,000 | [61][62] |
July 24 | 83,000 | [63][64] | ||
July 31 | Faith | Pop Smoke | 88,000 | [65][66] |
August 7 | F*ck Love | The Kid Laroi | 85,000 | [67][68] |
August 14 | Happier Than Ever | Billie Eilish | 238,000 | [69][70] |
August 21 | 85,000 | [71][72] | ||
August 28 | 60,000 | [73][74] | ||
September 4 | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | 133,000 | [75][76] |
September 11 | Donda | Kanye West | 309,000 | [77][78] |
September 18 | Certified Lover Boy | Drake | 613,000 | [79][80] |
September 25 | 236,000 | [81][82] | ||
October 2 | 171,000 | [83][84] | ||
October 9 | Sincerely, Kentrell | YoungBoy Never Broke Again | 137,000 | [85][86] |
October 16 | Fearless (Taylor's Version) | Taylor Swift | 152,000 | [87][88] |
October 23 | Certified Lover Boy | Drake | 94,000 | [89][90] |
October 30 | Punk | Young Thug | 90,000 | [91][92] |
November 6 | Certified Lover Boy | Drake | 74,000 | [93][94] |
November 13 | = | Ed Sheeran | 118,000 | [95][96] |
November 20 | Still Over It | Summer Walker | 166,000 | [97][98] |
November 27 | Red (Taylor's Version) | Taylor Swift | 605,000 | [6][99] |
December 4 | 30 | Adele | 839,000 | [2][100] |
December 11 | 288,000 | [101][102] | ||
December 18 | 193,000 | [103][104] | ||
December 25 | 183,000 | [105][106] |
Number-one artists
editPosition | Country | Artist | Weeks at No. 1 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | USA | Morgan Wallen | 10 |
2 | USA | Taylor Swift | 6 |
3 | CAN | Drake | 5 |
US | Olivia Rodrigo | ||
5 | UK | Adele | 4 |
6 | US | Billie Eilish | 3 |
7 | CAN | Justin Bieber | 2 |
US | Moneybagg Yo | ||
US | Young Thug | ||
10 | US | Playboi Carti | 1 |
US | Rod Wave | ||
US | DJ Khaled | ||
US | J. Cole | ||
US | Lil Baby | ||
US | Lil Durk | ||
US | Polo G | ||
US | Tyler, the Creator | ||
US | Pop Smoke | ||
AUS | The Kid Laroi | ||
US | Kanye West | ||
US | YoungBoy Never Broke Again | ||
UK | Ed Sheeran | ||
US | Summer Walker |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Caulfield, Keith (6 January 2022). "Dua Lipa's 'Levitating' Is Most-Streamed Song of 2021 In U.S., Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous: The Double Album' Is MRC Data's Top Album". Billboard. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (November 28, 2021). "Adele's '30' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With Biggest Week of the Year". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "Year-End Charts, Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (February 21, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous' Hits Sixth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Most for a Male Artist Since Drake's 'Views'". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (March 21, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous' Spends 10th Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (November 21, 2021). "Taylor Swift Scores 10th No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 with 'Red (Taylor's Version)'". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (April 18, 2021). "Taylor Swift's Re-Recorded 'Fearless' Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With Year's Biggest Week". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "January 2, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 27, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Evermore' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "January 9, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 3, 2021). "Playboi Carti Lands First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Whole Lotta Red'". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ "January 16, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 10, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Evermore' Back at No. 1 for Third Week on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ "January 23, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 17, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous: The Double Album' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Breaks Country Streaming Record". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "January 30, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 24, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous: The Double Album' No. 1 for Second Week on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ "February 6, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 31, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous' Makes It Three Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ "February 13, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (February 7, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous' Spends Fourth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "February 20, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (February 14, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous' No. 1 for Fifth Week on Billboard 200 While 'If I Know Me' Hits Top 10 for First Time". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "February 27, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ "March 6, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (February 28, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous' Becomes Only Country Album to Spend First Seven Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ "March 13, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 7, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous' Hits Eighth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ "March 20, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 14, 2021). "Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous' Spends Ninth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ "March 27, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ "April 3, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 28, 2021). "Justin Bieber Scores Eighth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Justice'". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ "April 10, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 4, 2021). "Rod Wave Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'SoulFly'". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "April 17, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 11, 2021). "Justin Bieber's 'Justice' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "April 24, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ "May 1, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 25, 2021). "'Slime Language 2' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ "May 8, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (May 2, 2021). "Moneybagg Yo Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'A Gangsta's Pain'". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
- ^ "May 15, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (May 9, 2021). "DJ Khaled Lands Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Khaled Khaled'". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ "May 22, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (May 16, 2021). "Moneybagg Yo Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ "May 29, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (May 23, 2021). "J. Cole Collects Sixth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'The Off-Season'". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "June 5, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (May 30, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 2021's Biggest Week". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "June 12, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (June 6, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Evermore' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "June 19, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (June 13, 2021). "Lil Baby & Lil Durk's 'The Voice of the Heroes' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- ^ "June 26, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (June 20, 2021). "Polo G Lands First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Hall of Fame'". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "July 3, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (June 27, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ "July 10, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (July 4, 2021). "Tyler, the Creator's 'Call Me If You Get Lost' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "July 17, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (July 11, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Jumps Back to No. 1 for Third Week Atop Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ "July 24, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (July 18, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Spends Fourth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
- ^ "July 31, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (July 25, 2021). "Pop Smoke's 'Faith' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ "August 7, 2021". Billboard 200.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 1, 2021). "The Kid LAROI's 'F**k Love' Jumps to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 8, 2021). "Billie Eilish Earns Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Happier Than Ever'". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- ^ "August 14, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 15, 2021). "Billie Eilish's 'Happier Than Ever' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ "August 21, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 22, 2021). "Billie Eilish's 'Happier Than Ever' Tops Billboard 200 Chart for Third Week". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ "August 28, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 29, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart After Vinyl Release". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
- ^ "September 4, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 5, 2021). "Kanye West Lands 10th No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Donda'". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ "September 11, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 12, 2021). "Drake's 'Certified Lover Boy' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With Biggest Week for an Album in Over a Year". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
- ^ "September 18, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 19, 2021). "Drake's 'Certified Lover Boy' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "September 25, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 26, 2021). "Drake's 'Certified Lover Boy' No. 1 for Third Week on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ "October 2, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 9, 2021). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Earns Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Sincerely, Kentrell'". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "October 9, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 10, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Fearless (Taylor's Version)' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "October 16, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 17, 2021). "Drake's 'Certified Lover Boy' Bounces Back to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "October 23, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 24, 2021). "Young Thug's 'Punk' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ^ "October 30, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 31, 2021). "Drake's 'Certified Lover Boy' Rebounds for Fifth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "November 6, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 7, 2021). "Ed Sheeran Scores Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 with '='". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ "November 13, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 14, 2021). "Summer Walker Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Still Over It'". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ "November 20, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "November 27, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ "December 4, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 5, 2021). "Adele's '30' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
- ^ "December 11, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 12, 2021). "Adele's '30' Hits Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "December 18, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 19, 2021). "Adele's '30' Spends Fourth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "December 25, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2022.