This lists songs that hit number one on the charts in the US during 1972. If a song spent nonconsecutive weeks at number one, the number of weeks for each occurrence at the top is shown in parenthesis.
| Date | Artist - Title | Weeks at #1 |
| December 19 1971 – January 8 1972 | Melanie - Brand New Key | 3 |
| January 9 – February 5 1972 | Don McLean - American Pie | 4 |
| February 6 – 12 1972 | Al Green - Let's Stay Together | 1 |
| February 13 – March 11 1972 | Nilsson - Without You | 4 |
| March 12 – 18 1972 | Neil Young - Heart Of Gold | 1 |
| March 19 – April 8 1972 | America - A Horse With No Name | 3 |
| April 9 – May 20 1972 | Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face | 6 |
| May 21 – 27 1972 | Chi-Lites - Oh Girl | 1 |
| May 28 – June 3 1972 | Staple Singers - I'll Take You There | 1 |
| June 4 – 24 1972 | Sammy Davis Jr. - The Candy Man | 3 |
| June 25 – July 1 1972 | Neil Diamond - Song Sung Blue | 1 |
| July 2 – 22 1972 | Bill Withers - Lean On Me | 3 |
| July 23 – August 19 1972 | Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally) | 6 (4) |
| August 20 – 26 1972 | Looking Glass - Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) | 1 |
| August 27 – September 9 1972 | Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally) | 6 (2) |
| September 10 – 16 1972 | Three Dog Night - Black and White | 1 |
| September 17 – October 7 1972 | Mac Davis - Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me | 3 |
| October 8 – 14 1972 | Michael Jackson - Ben | 1 |
| October 15 – 28 1972 | Chuck Berry - My Ding-A-Ling | 2 |
| October 29 – November 25 1972 | Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now | 4 |
| November 26 – December 2 1972 | Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone | 1 |
| December 3 – 9 1972 | Helen Reddy - I Am Woman | 1 |
| December 10 – 30 1972 | Billy Paul - Me And Mrs Jones | 3 |
| December 31 1972 – January 20 1973 | Carly Simon - You're So Vain | 3 |
23 different songs hit number one in the US during 1972.
Top 5 Songs of 1972
1: Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
2: Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)
3: Don McLean - American Pie
4: Nilsson - Without You
5: Sammy Davis Jr. - Candy Man
2: Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)
3: Don McLean - American Pie
4: Nilsson - Without You
5: Sammy Davis Jr. - Candy Man