Top 30 Most Viewed YouTube Videos of All Time

YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, has become an integral part of our daily lives. From entertainment to education, YouTube has something for everyone. Currently, there are almost 4 billion videos on YouTube, and 3.7 million videos are uploaded every day. YouTube has more than 2.70 billion monthly active users as of 2024, so it’s hard to keep track of what’s popular. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 30 most-viewed YouTube videos of all time.

The most viewed YouTube videos of all time are a testament to the power of the platform and its ability to connect people from all over the world. These videos have captured our attention, sparked conversations, and even spawned viral challenges.

From the colorful and upbeat “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong to the emotionally charged “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, these videos showcase the diverse range of content available on YouTube. The sheer number of views these videos have amassed is a testament to their widespread popularity and enduring appeal.

In November 2005, a Nike advertisement featuring Brazilian football player Ronaldinho became the first video to reach 1,000,000 views. The billion-view mark was first passed by Gangnam Style in December 2012. On January 13, 2022, Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark” became the first video to hit 10,000,000,000 views.

What’s interesting about this list is that it’s not just about the music, but also the storytelling and creativity behind the videos. Many of the videos on this list have compelling narratives that resonate with viewers and have helped propel them to the top of the charts.

List of the Most Viewed Videos on YouTube of All Time

Rank	Video Name	Uploader	Views (billions)	Date
1	“Baby Shark Dance“	Pinkfong Baby Shark – Kids’ Songs & Stories	14.66	June 17, 2016
2	“Despacito“	Luis Fonsi	8.47	January 12, 2017
3	“Johny Johny Yes Papa”	LooLoo Kids – Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs	6.92	October 8, 2016
4	“Bath Song“	Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes	6.75	May 2, 2018
5	“See You Again“	Wiz Khalifa	6.30	April 6, 2015
6	“Shape of You“	Ed Sheeran	6.28	January 30, 2017
7	“Wheels on the Bus“	Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes	6.22	May 24, 2018
8	“Phonics Song with Two Words“	ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs	5.84	March 6, 2014
9	“Uptown Funk“	Mark Ronson	5.25	November 19, 2014
10	“Gangnam Style“	Psy	5.20	July 15, 2012
11	“Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm“	Miroshka TV	5.13	February 27, 2018
12	“Dame Tu Cosita“	Ultra Records	4.68	April 5, 2018
13	“Axel F“	Crazy Frog	4.60	June 16, 2009
14	“Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster“	Get Movies	4.60	January 31, 2012
15	“Baa Baa Black Sheep“	Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes	4.10	June 25, 2018
16	“Lakdi Ki Kathi“	Jingle Toons	4.07	June 14, 2018
17	“Sugar“	Maroon 5	4.06	January 14, 2015
18	“Counting Stars“	OneRepublic	4.03	May 31, 2013
19	“Roar“	Katy Perry	4.01	September 5, 2013
20	“Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)“	Shakira	3.96	June 4, 2010
21	“Shree Hanuman Chalisa“	T-Series Bhakti Sagar	3.90	May 10, 2011
22	“Humpty the train on a fruits ride“	Kiddiestv Hindi – Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs	3.84	January 26, 2018
23	“Sorry“	Justin Bieber	3.82	October 22, 2015
24	“Thinking Out Loud“	Ed Sheeran	3.78	October 7, 2014
25	“Perfect“	Ed Sheeran	3.75	November 9, 2017
26	“Dark Horse“	Katy Perry	3.74	February 20, 2014
27	“Let Her Go“	Passenger	3.68	July 25, 2012
28	“Faded“	Alan Walker	3.65	December 3, 2015
29	“Girls Like You“	Maroon 5	3.62	May 31, 2018
30	“Lean On“	Major Lazer Official	3.62	March 22, 2015

Top 10 Most Viewed Videos on YouTube

10. Gangnam Style

‘Gangnam Style’ by South Korean rapper Psy is one of the most iconic and influential music videos on YouTube. Released on July 15, 2012, the song’s music video became the first to reach a billion views on the platform, a milestone it achieved in just five months. The video’s popularity was fueled by its catchy tune, quirky dance moves, and the growing international interest in Korean pop music. Endorsements from prominent figures further propelled the song’s viral spread, with the video averaging over six million views per day at its peak.

The impact of “Gangnam Style” went beyond just its views. It played a significant role in popularizing K-pop globally, paving the way for other K-Pop artists to break into the international market. The song’s success also led to an influx of parodies and cultural references, with the dance being performed by people from all walks of life. In 2014, “Gangnam Style” became the first video to exceed YouTube’s view counter limit, forcing the platform to upgrade its system. As of 2022, the video has garnered an impressive 5.20 billion views, cementing its place as one of the most viewed and influential videos in YouTube’s history.

• Video Title: Gangnam Style
• Channel Name: officialpsy
• Views: 5.20 billion
• Release Date: July 15, 2012

9. Uptown Funk

‘Uptown Funk‘ is a song performed by British record producer Mark Ronson, featuring American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released as a single on 10 November 2014 and gathering more than 5.25 billion views to date.

Interesting facts about the song is it spent 14 consecutive weeks at Number 1 on the US Billboard 100, and also reached Number 1 in the charts in several other countries. Also, it became the second best-selling single of 2015. It won two Grammy Awards, including the record of the Year.

• Video Title: Uptown Funk
• Channel Name: Mark Ronson
• Views: 5.25 billion
• Release Date: November 19, 2014

8. Phonics Song with Two Words

Phonics Song with TWO Words – A For Apple – ABC Alphabet Songs with Sounds for Children is one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time. It is an animated song for children which is created by ChuChu TV.

The video is published on March 6, 2014, while the video has been 5.84 billion times watched on YouTube.

• Video Title: Phonics Song with TWO Words – A For Apple – ABC Alphabet Songs with Sounds for Children
• Channel Name: ChuChu TV
• Views: 5.84 billion
• Release Date: March 6, 2014

7. Wheels on the Bus

“Wheels on the Bus” is a beautiful nursery rhymes & kid’s song released on 24 May 2018. The children’s rhymes were published via YouTube Channel “Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes”

Wheels on the Bus video has been 6.22 billion times watched on YouTube.

• Video Title: Wheels on the Bus
• Channel Name: Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes
• Views: 6.22 billion
• Release Date: May 24, 2018

6. Shape of You

‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran is one of the most-viewed YouTube videos of all time, with over 6.28 billion views. It was released on January 30, 2017, as part of Sheeran’s album “÷” (Divide) and quickly became a global phenomenon, topping charts around the world. The official music video for Shape of You has been viewed billions of times, making it the sixth most-viewed YouTube video ever, behind ‘See You Again’ performed by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth.

The success of Shape of You on YouTube is a testament to Sheeran’s widespread popularity and the video’s catchy, danceable nature. It has become one of the defining songs of the 2010s, cementing Sheeran’s status as one of the biggest pop stars of the decade. The video’s vibrant visuals and Sheeran’s charismatic performance have resonated with audiences worldwide, contributing to its record-breaking view count on the platform.

• Video Title: Shape of You
• Channel Name: Ed Sheeran
• Views: 6.28 billion
• Release Date: January 30, 2017

5. See You Again

At the fourth rank on this list is the hit song ‘See You Again’ performed by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth. The music video was published on April 7, 2015, and it currently has a whopping 6.30 billion views to its name.

There is no doubt the singer Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth, lyricists, and musicians have a huge role and effort in making this song so popular world-widely but also another main reason was commissioned as the theme for the movie, “Furious 7” as well as it was written as a tribute to the late actor Paul Walker.

• Video Title: See You Again
• Channel Name: Wiz Khalifa
• Views: 6.30 billion
• Release Date: April 6, 2015

4. Bath Song

Bath Song is nursery rhymes & kid’s songs published by Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes YouTube channel on May 2, 2018. The song has been 6.75 billion times watched on YouTube.

Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes is the most popular YouTube channel for babies and kids, they have 94.5 million subscribers on youtube only. Basically, they create beautiful 3D animation, educational lyrics, and toe-tapping music.

• Video Title: Bath Song
• Channel Name: Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes
• Views: 6.75 billion
• Release Date: May 2, 2018

3. Johny Johny Yes Papa

Johny Johny Yes Papa is the best song for Children. In particular, Johny Johny Yes Papa’s rhymes have been converted into a music video using perfect music and animation and there is no doubt this music video would be the best rhymes video for kids.

The song is published on October 8, 2016, via the “LooLoo Kids – Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs” YouTube account and crossed 6.92 billion views on YouTube.

• Video Title: Johny Johny Yes Papa
• Channel Name: LooLoo Kids – Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs
• Views: 6.92 billion
• Release Date: October 8, 2016

2. Despacito

‘Despacito‘ is the second most-viewed video on YouTube. The song is published on January 12, 2017, via the youtube channel “Luis Fonsi” which has been 8.47 billion times watched on YouTube and it became the first video on YouTube to achieve the milestones of both three and four billion views.

The song is performed by an American singer from Puerto Rico, and songwriter and actor Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero, known by his stage name Luis Fonsi featuring a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, and record producer Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, known professionally as Daddy Yankee.

• Video Title: Despacito
• Channel Name: Luis Fonsi
• Views: 8.47 billion
• Release Date: January 12, 2017

1. Baby Shark Dance

‘Baby Shark Dance‘ is the most viewed YouTube video as well as all the first videos that crossed 10 billion on YouTube. The children’s rhyme Baby Shark is published on June 18 2016 via the youtube channel “Pinkfong! Kids’ Songs & Stories” and crossed 14.66 billion views on youtube.

• Video Title: Baby Shark Dance
• Channel Name: Pinkfong Baby Shark – Kids’ Songs & Stories
• Views: 14.66 billion
• Release Date: June 17, 2016

Interesting facts about the most-watched video on YouTube ever

• The first video was uploaded on April 23, 2005. Titled Me at the zoo, it shows co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo and can still be viewed on the site.
• In May, the company launched a public beta and by November, a Nike ad featuring Ronaldinho became the first video to reach one million total views.
• In April 2010, Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” became the most viewed video, becoming the first video to reach 100 million and 200 million views on May 9, 2010.
• Justin Bieber’s “Baby” was the first video to reach 500 million views on YouTube.
• The billion-view mark was first passed by Gangnam Style sung by Psy in December 2012. On January 13, 2022. It subsequently surpassed 2 billion and 3 billion views in June 2014 and November 2017, respectively.
• Despacito by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee became the first video on the site to reach the milestones of three, four, five, six, and seven billion views.
• Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark” became the first video to hit eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve billion views. As of 2023, Pinkfong’s version became the most-viewed YouTube video of all time, with over 12 billion views.
• If excluding children’s content, then Despacito by Luis Fonsi became the most-watched video on YouTube ever.
• “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses became the first video made prior to YouTube’s creation to reach this threshold by July 2018.
• “Numb” by Linkin Park was the first 2000s video predating YouTube to reach 1 billion views in November 2018.
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen was the first 1970s video (and pre-1990s video) to reach 1 billion views in July 2019.
• “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses was the first 1980s video to reach 1 billion views in October 2019.
• On July 14, 2022, YouTube made a special playlist and video celebrating the 317 music videos to have hit 1 billion views and joined the “Billion Views Club”.
• As of June 2024, 19 videos have exceeded four billion views, 11 of which exceeded five billion views, 7 of which exceeded six billion views, two of which exceeded eight billion view and Baby Shark became the first (and currently only) video to surpass 10 billion views.

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