Record #00314Culture & Entertainment archive
Best-Selling Physical Single of All Time
Bing Crosby's recording of White Christmas is recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling physical single, with estimated global sales of 50 million copies.
ARCHIVE VISUAL / 01
NOT TO SCALE
Current Record
about50 millioncopies
Current record value
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- Record status
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Verification basis and limitations
VerifiedThe record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Verification explanation pending
- Last editorial review
- 2026-11-04
Current Entry identifies the current entry in this archive; it does not establish that the record is still held today.
Overview
Archive NoteWritten by Irving Berlin, the song was recorded by Bing Crosby on 29 May 1942 and featured in the movie Holiday Inn. Reissues over many decades sustained its popularity.
The Guinness figure of about 50 million copies is a historical estimate. Many sales occurred before national singles charts were developed, so its evidence must be distinguished from chart-era certified sales.
Record history
1 Milestones- about 50 million copiesWhite Christmas (Bing Crosby recording)Current Record
Sources
Evidence & ReferencesThe record value on this page is organized from the public sources above. Measurement methods may differ; JiLuDB follows the unified method described for each entry.
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