Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. November 7, 1992. p.46. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2021 . Retrieved March 26, 2018.

The RPM Top 100 Albums of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol.56, no.25. December 19, 1992. p.13. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 25, 2021 . Retrieved June 3, 2021. Across Europe, Erotica sold 1.5 million copies in the first-week and topped the European Top 100 Albums chart. [74] [75] In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart on October 24, 1992. It remained at its peak at number two for three weeks, being held off the top spot by Simple Minds' greatest hits collection Glittering Prize 81/92, [36] and a total of 38 weeks on the chart. [76] The album was certified two times platinum on June 1, 1993, by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 600,000 copies. [77] In France, the album debuted at number one on the French Albums Chart on October 28, 1992, staying there for two weeks, then descending down the chart, selling a total of 250,000 copies by May 1993. [78] [79] In Germany, the album reached the top five on the Media Control Charts and was certified gold for shipments of 250,000 copies. [80] [81] In Italy, Erotica sold 250,000 copies in its presales. [82] In Sweden, the album debuted in its peak of number six and spent only seven weeks on the chart. [83] Similarly in Switzerland, Erotica peaked number five and was certified gold by IFPI Switzerland. [84] It also received a platinum certification in Spain and sold 150,000 units there as of 1993. [85] [86] The album sold 350 copies in Iceland during November 1992. [87] a b Trust, Gary (December 12, 2016). "Ask Billboard: Madonna's Career Album Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 12, 2016 . Retrieved December 12, 2016.Another 'Bad Girl' Rips Up a Photograph on 'SNL' ". Deseret News. January 18, 1993. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021 . Retrieved December 23, 2012. Producer Shep Pettibone, in an article to Interview Magazine, talked about the making of the record:

In the United States, Erotica debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 on November 7, 1992, with first week sales of 167,000 copies. [62] It was held off from reaching the top spot by Garth Brooks's fourth studio album, The Chase, which that same week sold 4,000 copies more than Erotica. [63] The next week, the album dropped to number four on the chart. [33] It was eventually certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of two million units. [64] According to Nielsen SoundScan, Erotica has sold 1.91million copies in the United States as of December 2016, along with 79,000 sold through BMG Music Clubs. [65] [66] In Canada, the album debuted at number seven on the RPM Albums Chart on November 7, 1992. [67] It reached a peak of number four on November 21, 1992. [68] The album was present for a total of 38 weeks on the chart, and was certified two times platinum by Music Canada (MC) for shipments of 200,000 copies. [69] UK Charts– End Of Year Charts– Top 100 Albums 1992" (PDF). Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 13, 2012. [ permanent dead link] Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Combined) Week: 29/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023 . Retrieved July 27, 2023. Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4-87131-077-9. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Tous les Albums de l'Artiste choisi– search with artist name". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016 . Retrieved December 26, 2016.Smith, Giles (October 14, 1992). "REVIEW / Stripped down to basics: Giles Smith takes a peek at Erotica, Madonna's new album – Plus the rest of the week's new albums". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017 . Retrieved November 4, 2017. Corliss, Richard (July 21, 2008). "Madonna Goes to Camp". Time. Archived from the original on November 29, 2008 . Retrieved December 23, 2012.