The world's largest
recorded music
Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording te ...
markets are listed annually by the
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a non-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland and founded in Italy in 1 ...
(IFPI). The ranking is based on retail value (rather than units) each market generates respectively per year; retail value generated by each market varies from year to year. As all financial data is given in
US dollars
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
, annual rates of change for all countries other than the United States are heavily influenced by
exchange rate
In finance, an exchange rate is the rate at which one currency will be exchanged for another currency. Currencies are most commonly national currencies, but may be sub-national as in the case of Hong Kong or supra-national as in the case of t ...
fluctuations, as well as by actual changes in revenue in local currency terms.
It is important to note that the information presented in this page only accounts for revenue generated from the recorded music industry (recorded music and auxiliary revenues generated by these recordings), and is not reflective of the entirety of the
music industry
The music industry consists of the individuals and organizations that earn money by writing songs and musical compositions, creating and selling recorded music and sheet music, presenting concerts, as well as the organizations that aid, train, ...
, including sectors such as publishing, live music, etc.
The
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
has remained the biggest market for recorded music in IFPI history, except in 2010 when
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...
topped the list. The largest Asian music market, Japan has always stayed within the top two. The other largest music markets by region include the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
in Europe,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
in Oceania, and
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
in South America. Meanwhile,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, and
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
have consistently appeared among the top ten music markets in IFPI history. Other countries historically having made into the top ten include
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
,
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
,
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
, and
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...
.
IFPI annual data
2021
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI Global Music Report 2022.
2020
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI Global Music Report 2021.
2019
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI Global music report 2020.
2018
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI Global music report 2019.
2017
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI Global music report 2018.
2016
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI Grobal music report 2017.
2015
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI Grobal music report 2016.
2014
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2014 annual report.
2013
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2013 annual report.
2012
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2012 annual report.
2011
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2011 annual report.
2010
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2010 annual report.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
2009
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2009 annual report.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
2008
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2008 annual report, except where noted below.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
Notes
* Ireland's population figure is based on the CIA's 2010 estimation due to the missing information on the IFPI 2008 report.
* Iceland's population figure is based on the CIA's 2010 estimation due to the missing information on the IFPI 2008 report.
2007
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2007 annual report, except where noted below.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
Notes
* Croatia's, Venezuela's, Bulgaria's, Iceland's, Uruguay's, Ecuador's and Peru's population figures are based on IFPI 2008 annual report due to the missing information on the IFPI 2007 report.
2006
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2006 annual report, except where noted below.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
Notes
* Venezuela's, Central America's population figures are based on the IFPI 2004 report due to not having the information on IFPI 2006 report.
* Slovakia's population figure is based on the CIA's 2010 estimation due to not having the information on the IFPI 2008 report.
* Uruguay's, Ecuador's and Peru's population figures are based on IFPI 2008 report due to not having the information on IFPI 2006 report.
2005
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2005 annual report, except where noted below.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
Notes
* Ukraine's, Colombia's, Venezuela's, Central America's population figures are based on IFPI 2004 annual report due to the missing information on the IFPI 2005 report.
* Slovakia's population figure is based on the CIA's 2010 estimation due to not having the information on the IFPI 2005 report.
* Paraguay's population figure is based on the CIA's 2010 estimation due to not having the information on the IFPI 2005 report.
* Uruguay's, Ecuador's population figures are based on IFPI 2008 annual report due to the missing information on the IFPI 2005 report.
* Egypt's population figure is based on the CIA's 2010 estimation due to not having the information on the IFPI 2005 report.
2004
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2004 annual report, except where noted below.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
Notes
* Note that the figures in the column of ''Total units'' for some markets may be higher than what the combined total from the columns of Singles, CDs, DVD might represent. This is due to the missing sales of Digital Downloads, Cassette Albums and VHS Cassettes which are not included on IFPI 2004 report provided by RIAJ.
* Note that the figures posted in the column of ''Total units'' for some markets may be lower than what the combined total from the columns of Singles, CDs, DVDs might represent. This is because the columns of Singles, CDs, DVDs represent shipped units, whereas the column of ''Total units'' represent sold units.
2003
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2004 annual report, except where noted below.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
2002
Source: Figures within the table are based on IFPI 2004 annual report, except where noted below.
Total units figures are derived by addition of figures reported by referenced sources.
1998
Source: Figures within the table are based on the IFPI annual report and reported by ''Billboard''.
1997
Source: Figures within the table are based on the IFPI annual report and reported by ''Billboard''.
1996
Source: Figures within the table are based on the IFPI annual report and reported by ''Billboard''.
1991
Source: Figures within the table are based on the IFPI annual report and reported by ''Billboard''.
Statistics
See also
* ''
''
References
{{Music industry
Largest recorded music markets
Largest recorded music markets
Largest recorded music markets
Recorded music