We Are the World
Updated: 12/10/2025, 11:07:21 AM Wikipedia source
"We Are the World" is a charity single recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones for the album We Are the World to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. With sales in excess of 20 million physical copies, it is the eighth-best-selling single of all time. After the British group Band Aid released the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984, the musician and activist Harry Belafonte decided to create an American single for African famine relief. The agent Ken Kragen enlisted several musicians for the project. Jackson and Richie completed the writing the night before the first recording session, on January 28, 1985. The event brought together some of the era's best-known recording artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, and Tina Turner. "We Are the World" was released on March 7, 1985, by Columbia Records. It topped music charts throughout the world, became the fastest-selling US pop single in history, became the first single to be certified multi-platinum and was certified quadruple platinum. Its awards include four Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award. "We Are the World" was promoted with a music video, a VHS, a special edition magazine, a simulcast, and books, posters and shirts. It raised more than $80 million (equivalent to $229 million in 2024) for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States. Another cast of singers recorded a new version, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Infobox
B-side
"Grace"
Released
March 7, 1985 (1985-03-07)
Recorded
January 28, 1985 (1985-01-28)
Studio
A&M (Hollywood) Lion Share (Los Angeles)
Genre
Pop gospel
Length
7:02 (album version) 6:22 (single version)
Label
Columbia CBS
Songwriters
Michael Jackson Lionel Richie
Producer
Quincy Jones
Tables
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1985–1986)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Chart (1985–1986)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Peakposition
2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Chart (1985–1986)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Peakposition
1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Chart (1985–1986)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Peakposition
1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Chart (1985–1986)
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Peakposition
1
Chile (UPI)
Chile (UPI)
Chart (1985–1986)
Chile (UPI)
Peakposition
1
Denmark (Hitlisten)
Denmark (Hitlisten)
Chart (1985–1986)
Denmark (Hitlisten)
Peakposition
3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1985–1986)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
1
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Chart (1985–1986)
France (SNEP)
Peakposition
1
Ireland (IRMA)
Ireland (IRMA)
Chart (1985–1986)
Ireland (IRMA)
Peakposition
1
Italy (Musica e dischi)
Italy (Musica e dischi)
Chart (1985–1986)
Italy (Musica e dischi)
Peakposition
1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Chart (1985–1986)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Peakposition
1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Chart (1985–1986)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Peakposition
1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Chart (1985–1986)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Peakposition
1
Norway (VG-lista)
Norway (VG-lista)
Chart (1985–1986)
Norway (VG-lista)
Peakposition
1
Panama (UPI)
Panama (UPI)
Chart (1985–1986)
Panama (UPI)
Peakposition
1
Paraguay (UPI)
Paraguay (UPI)
Chart (1985–1986)
Paraguay (UPI)
Peakposition
1
Portugal (AFP)
Portugal (AFP)
Chart (1985–1986)
Portugal (AFP)
Peakposition
1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)
South Africa (Springbok Radio)
Chart (1985–1986)
South Africa (Springbok Radio)
Peakposition
1
Spain (AFYVE)
Spain (AFYVE)
Chart (1985–1986)
Spain (AFYVE)
Peakposition
1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1985–1986)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1985–1986)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
1
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (1985–1986)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peakposition
1
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1985–1986)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
Chart (1985–1986)
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
Peakposition
1
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)
Chart (1985–1986)
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)
Peakposition
1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)
Chart (1985–1986)
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)
Peakposition
76
US Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales (Billboard)
US Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales (Billboard)
Chart (1985–1986)
US Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales (Billboard)
Peakposition
1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)
Chart (1985–1986)
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)
Peakposition
27
US Cash Box Top Singles
US Cash Box Top Singles
Chart (1985–1986)
US Cash Box Top Singles
Peakposition
1
Venezuela (UPI)
Venezuela (UPI)
Chart (1985–1986)
Venezuela (UPI)
Peakposition
1
West Germany (GfK)
West Germany (GfK)
Chart (1985–1986)
West Germany (GfK)
Peakposition
2
| Chart (1985–1986) | Peakposition |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 1 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 2 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 1 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 1 |
| Chile (UPI) | 1 |
| Denmark (Hitlisten) | 3 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 1 |
| France (SNEP) | 1 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 1 |
| Italy (Musica e dischi) | 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 1 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 1 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 1 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 1 |
| Panama (UPI) | 1 |
| Paraguay (UPI) | 1 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 1 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio) | 1 |
| Spain (AFYVE) | 1 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 1 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 1 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Hot Black Singles (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) | 76 |
| US Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) | 27 |
| US Cash Box Top Singles | 1 |
| Venezuela (UPI) | 1 |
| West Germany (GfK) | 2 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1985)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Position
1
Brazil (ABPD)
Brazil (ABPD)
Chart (1985)
Brazil (ABPD)
Position
1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Chart (1985)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Position
23
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Chart (1985)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Position
1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)
South Africa (Springbok Radio)
Chart (1985)
South Africa (Springbok Radio)
Position
8
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (1985)
UK Singles (OCC)
Position
35
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1985)
US Billboard Hot 100
Position
20
US Black Singles Chart (Billboard)
US Black Singles Chart (Billboard)
Chart (1985)
US Black Singles Chart (Billboard)
Position
37
US Cash Box Top Singles
US Cash Box Top Singles
Chart (1985)
US Cash Box Top Singles
Position
1
| Chart (1985) | Position |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 1 |
| Brazil (ABPD) | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 23 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 1 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio) | 8 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 35 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
| US Black Singles Chart (Billboard) | 37 |
| US Cash Box Top Singles | 1 |
· Certifications and sales
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
3× Platinum
Certified units/sales
300,000^
Finland
Finland
Region
Finland
Certification
—
Certified units/sales
7,750
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Region
France (SNEP)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
1,000,000*
Italy (FIMI) Sales since 2009
Italy (FIMI) Sales since 2009
Region
Italy (FIMI) Sales since 2009
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
15,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
20,000*
Portugal
Portugal
Region
Portugal
Certification
—
Certified units/sales
200,000
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Silver
Certified units/sales
250,000^
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
4× Platinum
Certified units/sales
8,000,000
Summaries
Summaries
Region
Summaries
Worldwide Global Sales (as of 1995)
Worldwide Global Sales (as of 1995)
Region
Worldwide Global Sales (as of 1995)
Certification
—
Certified units/sales
14,000,000
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 3× Platinum | 300,000^ |
| Finland | — | 7,750 |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
| Italy (FIMI) Sales since 2009 | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 20,000* |
| Portugal | — | 200,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 250,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) | 4× Platinum | 8,000,000 |
| Summaries | ||
| Worldwide Global Sales (as of 1995) | — | 14,000,000 |
| Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
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