Taylor Swift has once again closed the global sales race at No. 1. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has confirmed that The Life of a Showgirl is the best-selling album worldwide in 2025, giving Swift her second consecutive year atop the organization’s flagship Global Album Chart.
The achievement carries historic weight. Swift becomes the first artist to secure back-to-back IFPI Global No. 1 albums in consecutive years, following 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department. With this latest honor, she also joins Adele as the only artists to have topped the IFPI Global Album Chart twice, thanks to Adele’s previous wins with 25 and 30.
Released on October 3, 2025, through Republic Records, The Life of a Showgirl is Swift’s 12th studio album. Despite arriving in the final quarter of the year — with roughly three months of eligibility — the record reportedly moved around 6 million units globally. IFPI’s methodology measures physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming equivalents across international markets, making the No. 1 ranking a comprehensive reflection of worldwide consumption.
Commercially, the numbers tell a clear story. Lead single “The Fate of Ophelia” dominated charts for weeks, while physical formats — including multiple vinyl editions — fueled robust sales. IFPI reports that the album topped global rankings not only in total consumption but also in pure sales and vinyl performance, outperforming projects that had a full 12 months in market.
The IFPI recognition arrives alongside another milestone: Swift has been named IFPI Global Artist of the Year for 2025, marking her sixth career win and fourth consecutive year holding the title. No other artist has claimed the award as many times.
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