The Top 10 Highest-Selling Iron Maiden Albums Until 2023
Iron Maiden has been pioneering heavy metal since its formation in 1975. Formed by the band’s bassist and frontman Steve Harris in East London, Iron Maiden is continuing to inspire young and new artists that are at the beginning of their careers.
Nearly 5-decade career, Iron Maiden has released huge things that made them one of the best in the world of heavy metal. At press time, Iron Maiden‘s discography includes 17 studio albums, 4 extended plays, 5 box sets, 7 compilation albums, 13 live albums, and many more things. Day by day, they are working hard to grow up their catalog.
Debuted in 1980 with its self-titled album, the band followed the first one with 1981’s Killers. Even though those two albums made a big noise in heavy metal, there is still no any album as same as their third one, The Number Of The Beast. Thanks to their massive success all over the world, Iron Maiden was certified 22-time Platinum in the music industry.
As of March 2023, all audio-visual releases of Iron Maiden have sold more than 200 million copies all over the world. So, among those releases, what is the highest-selling Iron Maiden album until 2023? What is Iron Maiden’s most sold album? Keep scrolling to learn the best-selling Iron Maiden album of all time.
The Top 10 Highest-Selling Iron Maiden Albums Until 2023
10. Brave New World
Number Of Sales: 3.02 Million
Brave New World is the May 29, 2000 release of Iron Maiden. The album was the first album that marked the return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith since their departure in 1993 and 1990, respectively.
The album consisted of 10 tracks in total, including The Wicker Man, Brave New World, The Mercenary, Out of the Silent Planet, The Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Blood Brothers, and Ghost of the Navigator. The longevity of the album is over 67-min.
As of 2023, Brave New World has sold 3.02 million copies worldwide. It means that the album is the tenth highest-selling Iron Maiden album of all time.
9. No Prayer For The Dying
Number Of Sales: 3.40 Million
The 1990 release of Iron Maiden, No Prayer Fo The Dying, is the ninth highest-selling Iron Maiden album until 2023. The album marked the first album to feature Janick Gers on guitar, who replaced Adrian Smith.
The album has 10 tracks in its original release. In 1995’s reissue, it was included Stray cover of All In Your Mind, Golden Earning cover Kill Me Ce Soir, Free cover I’m A Mover, and Led Zeppelin cover Communication Breakdown. The album’s original release’s listening time is over 44 minutes.
Also, the certifications of the album includes Platinum by Music Canada, and Gold certification by FIMI, BPI, and RIAA.
8. Killers
Number Of Sales: 5.70 Million
Killers is the second studio album of Iron Maiden released on 2 February 1981 in the United Kingdom and on 6 June in the United States. It was the first album featured Adrian Smith on guitars and the last that featured Paul Di’Anno on vocals.
The album was peaked at number 1 on the French Albums chart in 1981. It was also the number 4 of UK Albums chart. Billboard’s US 200 chart numbered the album 78 in the same year of its release. The album was certified Platinum by Music Canada.
As of 2023, Iron Maiden‘s Killers has sold 5.70 million copies worldwide, which means it is the eighth highest-selling Iron Maiden album.
7. Iron Maiden
Number Of Sales: 6.30 Million
The band’s self-titled Iron Maiden was released on April 14, 1980. It is the band’s debut studio album in their catalog.
The album has two different Platinum certifications that came from Music Canada and United Kingdom’s BPI. In 1980, the album was also numbered 4 on the UK Albums chart.
The band’s beloved songs Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Phantom of the Opera, Running Free, Iron Maiden, and Strange World are featuring in this album.
With 6.30 million sales, the album Iron Maiden’s seventh highest-selling album.
6. Iron Maiden – Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
Number Of Sales: 6.46 Million
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son is the seventh studio album of Iron Maiden. The album was released on April 11, 1988.
Thanks to its huge success, the album was peaked at number one on Finland’s The Official Finnish Charts and United Kingdom’s UK Albums chart. It was also the number 12 of US Billboard 200.
Until 2023, the album has sold 6.46 million copies worldwide. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son is marking the sixth highest-selling Iron Maiden album with its number of sale.
5. Somewhere In Time
Number Of Sales: 6.52 Million
1986’s Somewhere in Time is the band’s sixth studio album released just before Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son.
Consisting of 8 tracks in total, the songs such as Wasted Years, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Alexander the Great, Caught Somewhere in Time, and Heaven Can Wait in this album.
The album was certified Platinum by RIAA and Music Canada separately. Also, the album was peaked at Finland’s The Official Finnish Charts. It was also the number 2 on the Dutch Albums’ Album Top 100.
As of 2023, Somewhere In Time has sold 6.52 million worldwide. It is the fifth of the list.
4. Iron Maiden – Fear Of The Dark
Number Of Sales: 7.50 Million
Fear Of The Dark is the fourth highest-selling Iron Maiden album as of 2023, with 7.50 million sales.
The ninth studio album of Iron Maiden, Fear Of The Dark, was released on May 11, 1992. The album was the last one featured Bruce Dickinson on vocals until his reunion in 1999.
Consists of 12 tracks in total, the band’s some of hits songs Fear Of The Dark, Childhood’s End, Wasting Love, Be Quick or Be Dead, From Here to Eternity, and Judas Be My Guide are in this album.
In 1992, the album was peaked at number 1 UK Albums chart. It was also the number 12 on the US Billboard 200. The album has three Gold certifications from Music Canada, SNEP, and BPI, separately.
3. Powerslave
Number Of Sales: 9.01 Million
Powerslave is the 1984 release that marked the fifth studio album of Iron Maiden. With 8 songs in total, the album is the third of the list with 9.01 million sales.
Aces High, 2 Minutes to Midnight, Flash of the Blade, The Duellists, Powerslave, and Back in the Village are in this album. Moreover, the album has more than 51-min listening time.
2. Piece Of Mind
Number of Sales: 12.45 Million
Piece of Mind is the fourth studio album of Iron Maiden released on May 16, 1983. Being the follow-up to The Number Of The Beast, the album marked the first one of the drummer Nicko McBrain.
Piece of Mind was a critical and commercial success, achieving 2x Platinum by Music Canada, Platinum by RIAA, and Platinum by BPI. The album also had reached number 2 on Finland chart and number 3 on UK Albums chart.
The band’s hit songs The Trooper, Where Eagles Dare, Revelations, Flight of Icarus, Sun and Steel, and Still Life are in this album.
With 12.45 million copy sales, Piece Of Mind is the second highest-selling Iron Maiden album as of 2023.
1. Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast
Number Of Sales: 18.82 Million
The Number Of The Beast is the highest-selling Iron Maiden album as of March 2023. Released on March 22, 1982, the album is the third studio album of the band.
It was the first album reached number 1 on UK Albums chart in 1982. It also has 6-time Platinum certifications. While 3x Platinum came from Music Canada, the others came from ARIA, BPI, and RIAA one by one.
The album features the band’s huge songs such as Run To The Hills, The Number of the Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Children of the Damned, The Prisoner, and 22 Acacia Avenue.
[via ChartMasters]
