The R&B superstar's fifth studio effort, "Loud," came in at No. 1 based on sales of 27,000, according to numbers compiled by Neilsen SoundScan.
It easily surpassed the first week sales of last year's "Rated R" (17,000), and her mega-popular third disc "Good Girl Gone Bad," which also rang up 17,000 in June of 2007.
Rihanna bumped last week's top disc, Bon Jovi's "Greatest Hits," down to No. 2 with sales of 17,000.
The "Glee Christmas Album" (16,000) checked in at No. 3, while Josh Groban's "Illuminations" spent its first week at No. 4.
Susan Boyle's "The Gift" slipped from No. 3 to No. 5, Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" dropped four rungs to No. 6, and "MuchDance 2011" came down three to No. 7.
In the U.S., Susan Boyle came in first once again with 335,000 in sales, followed by Jackie Evancho in second, Rihanna in third, Josh Groban in fourth, and Kid Rock's "Born Free" in fifth.