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The 25 Best-Selling Books Of All Time

Author：Kristen Update：Mar 18,2025

Compiling a definitive list of the 25 best-selling books of all time is surprisingly challenging. Factors like varying editions, translations, abridged versions, serializations, and inconsistent record-keeping make precise sales figures nearly impossible to obtain. Publishers' promotional exaggerations further complicate matters. Therefore, this list presents estimated sales figures, based on available data, with some self-imposed limitations.

This list focuses exclusively on literary fiction. Religious texts, self-help books, political treatises, and other non-fiction works are excluded (titles like *The Bible* and *Mao Tse-tung's Little Red Book* would otherwise likely feature). Notable works such as *The Lord of the Rings* and *The Count of Monte Cristo* are omitted due to complexities in quantifying their original serialized forms and the difficulty in finding reliable sales data for older titles.

Did your favorite cozy read make the cut? Do you think sales figures accurately reflect literary merit? Share your thoughts in the comments! Also, be sure to check out the best-selling books of 2024 below for some fresh reading material.

**25. Anne of Green Gables**

Author: L.M. Montgomery
Country: Canada
Publication Date: 1908
Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

This classic children's story follows the spirited orphan Anne as she adjusts to life in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. Her bond with her foster parents, who unexpectedly grow to love her, propelled the book to success, leading to seven sequels (eight including a posthumous novel).

**24. Heidi**

Author: Johanna Spyri
Country: Switzerland
Publication Date: 1880-1881
Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

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

**23. Lolita**

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 achieved widespread recognition, inspiring adaptations for stage, opera, and film.

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

Author: Gabriel García Márquez
Country: Colombia
Publication Date: 1967
Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

Márquez's masterpiece, a sweeping saga of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo, masterfully blends magical realism with a multi-generational epic narrative.

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

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 story is perhaps best known for its iconic film adaptation starring Charlton Heston.

**20. The Bridges of Madison County**

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 has been adapted into a successful film and a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.

**19. The Catcher in the Rye**

Author: J.D. Salinger
Country: United States
Publication Date: 1951
Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

Salinger's only novel, a coming-of-age story featuring the iconic and controversial Holden Caulfield, has cemented its place in literary history.

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

Author: J.K. Rowling
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 2007
Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

The climactic finale of the Harry Potter series finds Harry, Ron, and Hermione on a perilous quest to defeat Lord Voldemort.

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

Author: J.K. Rowling
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 2005
Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This installment lays the groundwork for the final confrontation with Voldemort, providing crucial information and raising the stakes.

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

Author: J.K. Rowling
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 2003
Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

The longest book in the series, it expands the world and characters, building towards the final conflict.

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

Author: J.K. Rowling
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 2000
Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

Often considered the strongest in the series, it introduces the Triwizard Tournament and marks a significant shift in tone and intensity.

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

Author: J.K. Rowling
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1999
Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

A significant leap in maturity and storytelling, this installment introduces new challenges and mysteries surrounding Harry's parents.

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

Author: Paulo Coelho
Country: Brazil
Publication Date: 1988
Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This novel about a shepherd's journey to Egypt in search of treasure has become a global phenomenon.

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

Author: J.K. Rowling
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1998
Estimated Sales: 77 million copies

While perhaps the weakest in the series, it expands the wizarding world and introduces key elements.

**11. The Da Vinci Code**

Author: Dan Brown
Country: United States
Publication Date: 2003
Estimated Sales: 80 million copies

This controversial thriller sparked widespread debate with its exploration of religious conspiracies.

**10. Vardi Wala Gunda**

Author: Ved Prakash Sharma
Country: India
Publication Date: 1992
Estimated Sales: 80 million copies

A popular Hindi mystery thriller about corrupt police and assassination plots.

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

Author: H. Rider Haggard
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1886
Estimated Sales: 83 million copies

A pioneering work of fantasy literature, influencing numerous adventure stories and franchises.

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

Author: C.S. Lewis
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1950
Estimated Sales: 85 million copies

A cornerstone of children's literature, this fantasy classic launched *The Chronicles of Narnia* series.

**7. The Hobbit**

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1937
Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

This children's book about Bilbo Baggins's adventure paved the way for *The Lord of the Rings*.

**6. Dream of the Red Chamber**

Author: Cao Xueqin
Country: China
Publication Date: 1791
Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

A classic of Chinese literature, renowned for its portrayal of a noble family's rise and fall.

**5. And Then There Were None**

Author: Agatha Christie
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1939
Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

A masterfully crafted murder mystery with a compelling plot and suspenseful atmosphere.

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

Author: J.K. Rowling
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1997
Estimated Sales: 120 million copies

The enchanting beginning of the Harry Potter saga, capturing the wonder and magic of the wizarding world.

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

Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Country: France
Publication Date: 1943
Estimated Sales: 140 million copies

A timeless tale of childhood, adulthood, and the power of imagination.

**2. A Tale of Two Cities**

Author: Charles Dickens
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1859
Estimated Sales: 200 million copies

Dickens' classic historical fiction set during the French Revolution.

**1. Don Quixote**

Author: Miguel de Cervantes
Country: Spain
Publication Date: 1605 (Part One), 1615 (Part Two)
Estimated Sales: 500 million copies

This epic tragicomedy about a delusional knight-errant remains a cornerstone of world literature.

**Best Selling Books in 2024**

Determining the best-selling books of the current year is comparatively easier. Amazon's best-selling list provides a good indication of sales trends, although it doesn't represent the entire market. Here are the top 10 according to Amazon's 2024 list: