Here we make a list of best selling books of all time. This is an estimated list as it is hard to quantify the sales of Bible in all languages over hundreds of years and also there is no serious tab on the books authored by William Shakespeare.
10. The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Copies Sold - 100 million
It was first published in English and French in the US by Reynal & Hitchcock in April 1943. The sales jumped up after the liberation of France as it was banned by Vichy France. It is the world’s most translated non-religious book and has been translated into 301 languages. The book is usually used as a beginner’s book for French-language students.
9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J. K. Rowling
Copies Sold - 120 million
It is the British author, J. K. Rowling’s debut novel and the first novel in the Harry Potter series which was first published in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997 by Bloomsbury. It has been translated into 80 languages by 2017, and has been made into a feature-length film of the same name released in 2001. In 2012 it was ranked number 3 on a list of the top 100 children’s novels published by School Library Journal.
8. The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
Copies Sold - 140 million
It was first published in the United Kingdom on 21 September 1937 by George Allen & Unwin. The book is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings. The book has been translated into over sixty languages. In 2012 it was ranked number 14 on a list of the top 100 children’s novels published by School Library Journal.
7. The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
Copies Sold - 150 million
It was published over the course of a year from 29 July 1954 to 20 October 1955, in three volumes in United Kingdom by George Allen & Unwin. It began as a sequel to The Hobbit but later developed onto a much larger work. It has been reportedly translated to 70 languages. In 2019, the BBC News listed The Lord of the Rings on its list of the 100 most influential novels. It has been made into a highly acclaimed and successfull series of three epic fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson.
6. Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith
Copies Sold - 190 million
It is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith. The followers of the Latter Day Saints believe the book to be a record of real world history. It has been fully or partially translated into at least 112 languages. Grant Hardy, a professor of history and religious studies is of the opinion that the book is among the great achievements of American literature and has never been accorded the status it deserves.
5. A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Copies Sold - 200 million
It was first published in London in 1859 by Chapman & Hall. WorldCat has listed 1,529 editions of this work. In 2003, the novel was ranked 63rd on the BBC’s The Big Read poll. The novel has been adapted multiple times for film, television, radio, and the stage.
4. Selected Articles of Mao Zedong - Mao Zedong
Copies Sold - 252 million
It is a five volume collection of the written works of Mao Zedong ranging from the years 1926–1957 which was first published by the People’s Publishing House in 1951. The Communist Party of India (Maoist) has published a number of unauthorized volumes in India which is not accounted for. It has been translated in 14 different foreign languages.
3. Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
Copies Sold - 500 million
It is one of the foundational works of Western literature and is often labeled as the first modern novel. It was originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615 in Habsburg Spain by publisher, Francisco de Robles. It has been fully or partially translated into over 140 languages, making it one of the most translated books in the world.
2. Quran
Copies Sold - 800 million
It is the central religious text of Islam which is widely regarded as the finest work in classical Arabic literature. Muslims believe it to be the revelation from God. They also believe that the Quran was orally revealed by God to the final prophet, Muhammad, through the archangel Jibril incrementally over a period of some 23 years, beginning when Muhammad was 40 and concluded in 632, the year of his death. Translating the Quran has always been problematic and difficult or else the sales would have been even higher, still translations in 102 languages were known in 1936.
1. Bible
Copies Sold - 5 billion
It is the holy scripture of the Christian religion which contains both the Old Testament and The New Testament. According to the March 2007 edition of Time, this book “has done more to shape literature, history, entertainment, and culture than any book ever written. Its influence on world history is unparalleled, and shows no signs of abating.” As of the 2000s, it sells approximately 100 million copies annually. It has been translated into 704 languages, the New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,551 languages and Bible portions or stories into 1,160 other languages, hence at least some portions of the Bible have been translated into 3,415 languages.
