Sam Smith has become the only artist in the world to sell one million albums in both the UK and US during 2014.

His debut album In The Lonely Hour hit the million landmark in the UK this week, according to figures from the Official Charts Company, and he passed the milestone US 24 hours before, according to Nielsen Music.

"To say I am ecstatic is a huge understatement," Smith told OfficialCharts.com.

"Thank you so much to every single person who has purchased my album."

The 22-year-old is only the second artist to achieve the feat in the UK this year, after Ed Sheeran's X did the same in November, while in the US the only other albums to do so were 1989 by Taylor Swift and the Frozen soundtrack.

In The Lonely Hour has spent only one week outside the Top 5 since its release in May.

To date, tracks downloaded from his album total 2.48 million and have been streamed 87 million times.

The singer has had a strong year, after landing a Critics' Choice prize at the Brit Awards in February.

He was voted the best artist of 2014 by MTV US, and is in the running for next year's Grammy Awards, with nominations for best pop vocal album, best pop solo, and record of the year for Stay With Me.

He is also booked to perform at next year's Brit Awards ceremony alongside Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.