From VW website

[Tortaruga]

Is this a typo for the Mk3 or did they really shift this many??

Golf Mk1                           1974 to 1985
              Units Sold Worldwide 6.8 million

 
Golf Mk2                       1983 to 1991
         Units Sold worldwide 6.41 million

 
Golf Mk3                                      1991 to 1997
                       Units Sold Worldwide 49.6 million


Golf Mk4                          1997 to 2003
              Units Sold Worldwide 3.27 million

 
Golf Mk5                           2003 to 2008
               Units Sold Worldwide 3.27 million

 
Golf Mk6                           2008 to 2012
             Units Sold Worldwide 2.85 million

[Scottymon]

Surely 4.9M, seems to be getting a lot less each gen.

[xjay1337]

You forget though more people have cars now than they did before.

So cars were selling much more in previous generations.

[Eddie-NL]

It probably is 4.9 Million for the mk3

VW reached the 30 million mark this june for the golf

[Top Cat]

Defo a typo it should have been, 49.6 million Edition 30, limited editions. 

[phil1975]

Defo a typo it should have been, 49.6 million Edition 30, limited editions. 

  Imagine the size of the numbered plaque!!