Tracking Mariah Carey album sales has always been a complex task due to the lack of a standardized accounting system in many countries. This challenge makes it difficult to gather accurate numbers. Moreover, certifications often lag behind actual sales, as they require artists or labels to request updates, usually for a fee. Recently, the integration of streaming data into certifications has further complicated the distinction between physical and digital sales versus streaming equivalents.

The most reliable estimate currently places Mariah Carey’s total at 215,525,892 equivalent album sales and counting. Compilations with no new tracks are automatically proportioned into the original album