The world's biggest albums of 2020 revealed

The biggest album globally in 2020 was BTS' Map Of The Soul: 7, the IFPI have announced.

The group's fourth studio album picked up the most sales across all consumption formats, spanning physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming platforms.

It means BTS claim the IFPI's first ever Global Album All Format Chart Award, having previously tracked sales alone for the biggest album of the year.

Map Of The Soul: 7 broke records and topped charts all over the world on its release in February 2020, including the world's five largest music markets: USA, Japan, UK, Germany, and France.

BTS make a second appearance in the Top 10 with Be (Deluxe Edition) at Number 4. The group were recently announced as the IFPI's biggest global recording act of 2020.

Finishing in second is The Weeknd's fourth studio album After Hours, which topped the charts in 20 countries last April, including the UK's Official Albums Chart. The record's second single Blinding Lights was recently named the IFPI's biggest global single of 2020.

Frances Moore, chief executive at IFPI, said: "We have introduced the Global Album All Format Chart to reflect the evolving landscape of the album format and to recognise how artists share their album projects in a variety of ways with their fans across multiple formats.

"It’s an honour to be able to hand BTS their second IFPI Global Chart Award, following their success as Global Recording Artists of the Year. Map Of The Soul: 7 broke chart records internationally and in Korea, and is yet another incredible body of work from a band that continues to delight music lovers globally."

Elsewhere, Harry Styles is the highest-ranked British artist in the Top 5 with Fine Line at Number 5, while Taylor Swift's Folklore - released in August - places at 9, and Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia rounds out the Top 10.

Top 10 global albums of 2020

1.   BTS – Map Of The Soul: 7

2.   The Weeknd – After Hours

3.   Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

4.   BTS – Be (Deluxe Edition)

5.   Harry Styles – Fine Line

6.   Post Malone – Hollywood’s Bleeding

7.   Kenshi Yonezu – Stray Sheep

8.   Justin Bieber – Changes

9.   Taylor Swift – Folklore

10.  Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia

The chart is based on global sales across all consumption formats, spanning physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming platforms.

Top 10 global best-selling albums of 2020

1. Map Of The Soul: 7

2. BTS - BE (Deluxe Edition)

3. Kenshi Yonezu - STRAY SHEEP

4. Taylor Swift - Folklore

5. Blackpink - The Album

6. AC/DC - Power Up

7. Justin Bieber - Changes

8. BTS - Map Of The Soul: 7 - The Journey

9. Arashi - This Is Arashi

10. King Gnu - Ceremony 

This chart is based on physical album sales and digital downloads only.