Whether you’re a fan of pop, hip-hop, R&B, Latin, country, dance, metal, K-pop or just a demon hunter in your spare time, there’s something for everyone on this year’s Billboard 200 leaders.
Since the beginning of 2025, 22 different albums have led the Billboard 200. Two of them, SZA’s SOS (a deluxe edition of her 2022 album) and Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, were released in prior years. Seven have spent more than one week at the summit: the aforementioned albums, plus Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Playboi Carti’s Music, Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem, the Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack and Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl.
As of the latest tracking week, dated Nov. 22, Wallen and Swift are the leaders in the category with 12 weeks and six weeks at No. 1, respectively. Benito’s latest release sits with four weeks, Playboy Carti and SZA each have three, while Lamar and the Kpop Demon Hunters have two. And of course, this was the year that Showgirl shattered the single-week record for equivalent albums sold with 4.002 million, besting the 2015 numbers put up by Adele’s 25 (3.482 million).
In addition, six of the albums boast a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Lady Gaga’s Mayhem has her duet with Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile” (five weeks on top); GNX features “Luther” with SZA (13 weeks); I’m the Problem boasts “What I Want” featuring Tate McRae (one week); Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend with “Manchild” (one week); Demon Hunters with “Golden” (eight weeks); and Showgirl with “The Fate of Ophelia” (six weeks).
Interestingly, two artists who climbed the Billboard 200 chart also have No. 1 Hot 100 hits–but not on their own release. SZA teamed up with Lamar on “Luther” and Tate McRae (So Close to What earned the singer-dancer her first Billboard 200 leader in March) joined Wallen on “What I Want.” Plus, Travis Scott – whose Jackboys 2 collaboration debuted at No. 1 on the 200 in July – led the Hot 100 with his single “4X4” back in February. K-dot also spent one week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 this year with his non-album track, the Grammy-winning “Not Like Us.”
See a list of all the No. 1 albums in the order that they first topped the Billboard 200 below and vote for your favorite now. The winner of this fan-voted poll will be revealed on Dec. 9.
