 E = MC ² entered the Australian Albums Chart on April 5 , 2008 , at number two . The album spent eight weeks in the albums chart , and was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association ( ARIA ) , denoting shipments of 35 @,@ 000 units . In France , the album debuted at its peak position of number six during the week dated April 19 , 2008 . E = MC ² spent twenty weeks on the albums chart , and ended its run on August 30 , 2008 . On the Dutch Albums Chart , it debuted at its peak position of number eleven on April 19 , 2008 . The album ended its eight @-@ week chart run on June 7 , 2008 . During the week dated April 28 , 2008 , E = MC ² debuted at number ten on the New Zealand Albums Chart , starting a ten @-@ week run on the chart . The album peaked within the top ten in several European countries , such as number five in Switzerland , seven in Germany and Ireland , eight in Austria and number nine in Italy . On the UK Albums Chart , the album debuted at number three , selling 34 @,@ 800 copies . This was her highest peak position in the United Kingdom since Butterfly ( 1997 ) , which peaked at number two . After thirteen weeks on the chart , the album was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry ( BPI ) , denoting shipments of 100 @,@ 000 copies . In Japan , the album peaked at number seven on the Oricon Overall Chart , and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan ( RIAJ ) for shipments of 100 @,@ 000 copies . After only eight days of release , E = MC ² was certified Gold in the Philippines , denoting shipments of 15 @,@ 000 units . The album was the 26th best @-@ selling album worldwide in 2008 , according to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry ( IFPI ) . As of September 19 , 2009 , the album has sold 2 @.@ 5 million copies worldwide . 
