Sailor Moon manga sales: the 46 million-copy worldwide figure
Press materials give a single worldwide total for Naoko Takeuchi's series, and the older figures in circulation are lower and out of date.
Published: 2026-10-13. Updated: 2026-10-13.
Short answer: Realsound, reporting on the Sailor Moon Cosmos film in January 2023, states that the Sailor Moon tankobon have reached 46 million copies worldwide in cumulative circulation, print and digital combined. Publishers Weekly reported a lower figure of more than 35 million copies in July 2012. We found no newer public total and no volume-by-volume data.
The most recent worldwide total we could verify
A Realsound article dated January 31, 2023, written around the release of the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos film, says the series' tankobon have a worldwide cumulative circulation of 46 million copies, counting both paper and digital.
This is a cumulative circulation figure for the whole series across all markets. It is not annual sales, and it is not a Japan-only number. The article does not name Kodansha as the source of the figure, so we treat it as a press-reported total.
How the figure has moved over time
In July 2012, Publishers Weekly reported that the Sailor Moon manga had sold more than 35 million copies, in its coverage of Kodansha's plans for a new anime. The article states the figure that way, with a missing word in the sentence, and does not say whether it means circulation or retail sales.
The 2012 and 2023 numbers come from different outlets and may use different counting methods, so the gap between 35 million and 46 million should not be read as a measured growth rate.
Reprints and the North American market
Kodansha USA's early re-release drove a measurable print run in North America. ICv2 reported in October 2011 that the first printing of volume 1 sold out in four weeks, that a second printing of 50,000 copies was ordered, and that 100,000 copies of the new edition were then on the market.
That is a single-volume, single-market data point from 2011. It shows the series sold well on re-release, but it cannot be extended to a series total.
How to use these figures
The 46 million total is the latest figure on a page we opened, dated January 31, 2023. Treat it as a dated milestone and cite the date whenever it is used.
Where public evidence stops: We found no Oricon annual ranking, no volume-by-volume circulation data, and no publisher statement of the current total after January 2023. The 46 million figure is the latest number we could confirm on a page, and it is press-reported rather than taken from a Kodansha release.
Frequently asked questions
How many copies of the Sailor Moon manga have been sold?
Realsound reported in January 2023 that the tankobon have a worldwide cumulative circulation of 46 million copies, print and digital combined.
Is 46 million sales or circulation?
The source describes it as cumulative worldwide circulation (print and digital). It is not annual retail sales.
Was the figure lower in the past?
Yes. Publishers Weekly reported more than 35 million copies in July 2012. The two figures come from different outlets and may not be directly comparable.
Sources and methodology
- Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos trailer and key visual released (Japanese), Realsound. Dated January 31, 2023. States worldwide cumulative tankobon circulation of 46 million copies, print and digital combined.
- Kodansha plans new Sailor Moon anime, Publishers Weekly. Dated July 6, 2012. States the manga has sold more than 35 million copies.
- Sailor Moon reprint coverage, ICv2. Dated October 14, 2011. Reports volume 1 sold out in four weeks, a 50,000 copy second printing, and 100,000 copies of the new edition in North America.