Research Highlights: When examining the most-viewed YouTube videos of all time, “Baby Shark Dance” leads the ranking with over 17 billion views , making it the most-watched video in YouTube history. Children’s content dominates the top spots, showing extremely high replay value and long-term engagement.
- “Despacito” ranks second with approximately 9.04 billion views , making it the most-viewed music video on the platform.
- “Wheels on the Bus” by CoComelon holds third place with around 8.98 billion views , highlighting the global popularity of nursery rhymes.
- Several music videos remain among the top performers, including “See You Again,” “Shape of You,” and “Gangnam Style,” each surpassing 6 billion views.
Children’s and educational videos continue to appear frequently in the top 10, alongside globally viral music content. Overall, music and kids’ content account for the majority of the most-viewed YouTube videos, proving their unmatched ability to attract repeat views and sustain long-term popularity worldwide.
Top 20 Most Viewed YouTube Videos Ever
Here are the 20 most-viewed YouTube videos of all time, detailing their background, published date, context, and the reasons behind their massive viral success.
1. Baby Shark Dance – Pinkfong Kids Songs & Stories – 17 Billion Views
Published Date: June 17, 2016
The “Baby Shark Dance” is the most-viewed YouTube video for many reasons. It is popular among children in schools, nurseries, TV features, and even global memes because of its catchy and repetitive tune. Parents and teachers find it easy to get their kids glued to the screen once this video content is playing, making it the top performer on the platform.
2. Despacito – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee – 9.04 Billion Views
Published Date: January 12, 2017
“Despacito” is currently the most viewed song on YouTube due to its infectious reggaeton beat. It has also been played on the radio worldwide and has caught the attention of many music lovers and non-lovers.
From the quality production to dance-filled visuals and celebrity endorsements, including the remix by Justin Bieber, it was only a matter of time before it started topping charts and crossing over into English-speaking markets.
3. Wheels on the Bus – CoComelon Nursery Rhymes & Kids’ Songs – 8.98 Billion Views
Published Date: May 24, 2018
CoComelon’s “Wheels on the Bus” has gotten billions of viewers since its release 7 years ago. You can easily tell it has become one of the most-watched YouTube videos among preschoolers. It has a great rhythm, storytelling visuals, and a global familiarity, making it easier for parents to adapt to.
It’s also considered safe content to consume by kids and keeps getting more consistent watch time due to its level of entertainment and means of early learning.
4. Bath Song – CoComelon Nursery Rhymes – 7.49 Billion Views
Published Date: May 2, 2018
CoComelon’s “Bath Song” is another massive hit in the children’s content category, racking up billions of views thanks to its simple, engaging, and educational format. The video follows a cheerful routine of bath time, turning an everyday activity into a fun and musical experience for toddlers.
Its bright animations, relatable storyline, and repetitive lyrics make it highly appealing to young viewers. Parents also appreciate how the song promotes hygiene habits in an entertaining way, making it both fun and educational.
5. Johny Johny, Yes Papa – LooLoo Kids – 7.20 Billion Views
Published Date: October 8, 2016
This playful nursery rhyme, “Johny Johny, Yes Papa,” has become a viral sensation, thanks to its meme potential. LooLoo Kids used the repetitive structure of the popular rhyme to turn it into a short, engaging story that has now become one of the YouTube videos with the most views worldwide. The video is simple and colorful, allowing toddlers to enjoy the rhythm and generate even more views.
6. See You Again – Wiz Khalifa ft Charlie Puth – 7.01 Billion Views
Published Date: April 6, 2015
“See You Again” was the theme song for the film Furious 7 and also a heartfelt tribute to the late actor Paul Walker. This gave it massive popularity, engagement, and a strong promotional momentum since its release.
The song was also the second music video to surpass two billion views, following PSY’s “Gangnam Style”. This mainstream success, together with the emotional weight that resonated with global audiences, made it go viral.
7. Phonics Song with Two Words – ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes – 6.99 Billion Views
Published Date: March 6, 2014
The “Phonics Song with Two Words” by ChuChu TV is one of the most popular educational videos for young children on YouTube. Designed to help kids learn the alphabet and basic phonics, the video combines catchy music with simple word associations, making early learning both fun and effective.
Each letter is paired with easy-to-understand words and colorful animations, helping children quickly recognize sounds and build vocabulary. Its repetitive structure and upbeat tune make it highly engaging, encouraging kids to watch it multiple times.
8. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran – 6.74 Billion Views
Published Date: January 30, 2017
Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” is one of those music videos you can hardly get enough of. The track topped charts worldwide and was constantly played on radios and streaming platforms, leading its listeners to watch its official video on YouTube. The fun choreography and storytelling made it even more exciting to watch and share, making it one of the most viewed videos of all time.
9. Gangnam Style – PSY – 6.04 Billion Views
Published Date: July 15, 2012
PSY’s “Gangnam Style” gained global recognition shortly after it was produced, making it the first video to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube. The music video introduced K-pop to the global mainstream and gained success due to its beat, quirky humor, and globally recognized “horse-riding” dance. This made it beat language and cultural barriers while gaining worldwide recognition.
10. Axel F – Crazy Frog – 5.96 Billion Views
Published Date: June 6, 2009
Crazy Frog’s cover of “Axel F” is one of the highest-viewed YouTube videos, despite starting as a popular ringtone. The sound has a nostalgic appeal to many, and when paired with the Crazy Frog’s animation, many people were happy to watch it. Kids and adults shared the videos across several channels, increasing its view count over time.
11. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – 5.83 Billion Views
Published Date: November 19, 2014
If you blend retro style with modern pop energy, you get professionally produced content like “Uptown Funk” , which is now a highly viewed video. The track has been used in schools and viral dance challenges, making it even more popular. It also has a high-energy, feel-good atmosphere, allowing users to vibe to it wherever they are and enjoy the moment.
12. Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm – Miroshka TV – 5.45 Billion Views
Published Date: February 27, 2018
This video by Miroshka TV on Learning Colors has become a favorite for most toddlers today. It’s the perfect example of successful educational content for preschoolers, thanks to its bright visuals, slow pacing, and simple educational format.
It also has a minimalist style and universal subject matter, allowing users from diverse regions to repeatedly enjoy the content. The high rewatchability from the target audience is the main driver of its billions of views.
13. Dame Tu Cosita – El Chombo – 5.44 Billion Views
Published Date: April 5, 2018
This is one of those videos that make you want to take a second look. “Dame Tu Cosita” went viral on several social media platforms due to its alien dance meme, from TikTok to Instagram Reels, and even YouTube compilations. It has a catchy beat and quirky animation, which many users find funny, making them want to watch it multiple times and also share it with a wider audience while they try to recreate the dance.
14. Shree Hanuman Chalisa (Hariharan) – T-Series Bhakti Sagar– 5.35 Billion Views
Published Date : May 10, 2011
“Shree Hanuman Chalisa” is a devotional video that gained billions of views globally. This can be traced to its spiritual significance in Hindu communities worldwide. Many play the video during their prayers or chant the hymn daily while it plays in the background; it also helps them focus during a spiritual journey. This consistently contributes to its long-term watch time in households, temples, and cultural gatherings.
15. Baa Baa Black Sheep – CoComelon – 4.79 Billion Views
Published Date: June 25, 2018
Another nursery rhyme by CoComelon , has stayed popular among kids over the years. It has soothing music, soft animation, and a universally familiar sound. Many parents consider it safe for their kids’ entertainment, and also as a way for them to learn. This has led to an extremely high watch time and repeat views from children globally.
16. Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster – 4.67 Billion Views
Published Date: January 31, 2012
This episode of “Recipe for Disaster” is one of the most watched YouTube videos due to the universal storytelling and high-quality animation. There’s very minimal conversation in the entire video, which increases its universal appeal, as users can focus on watching the animation and enjoy the story.
It also has an appealing visual humor that makes people want to come back to rewatch, increasing its ranking among the top-viewed videos, overcoming language and cultural barriers.
17. Lakdi Ki Kathi – Jingle Toons – 4.58 Billion Views
Published Date: October 21, 2016
“Lakdi Ki Kathi” is one of the most popular Hindi Children’s Songs that gained popularity through nostalgia, playful animation, and strong cultural familiarity. It is often played among Indian families for kids’ entertainment.
It is simple and joyful, with calm animations that make children love it. It is also commonly used in schools and daycare centers for sing-along sessions, which have contributed to its millions of views over time.
18. Temu’s Big Game Ad – Temu – 4.53 Billion Views
Published Date: February 11, 2024
Temu’s “Big Game Ad” quickly became one of the most viewed YouTube videos, driven by its massive exposure during the Super Bowl—one of the most-watched television events globally. The ad’s catchy slogan, “Shop Like a Billionaire,” combined with vibrant visuals and repetitive messaging, made it instantly memorable.
19. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) – Shakira – 4.50 Billion Views
Published Date: June 4, 2010
Shakira’s “Waka Waka” song was the official 2010 FIFA World Cup song in South Africa, after which it gained global exposure and pulled in fans across continents. With an irresistible Afro-fusion beat and iconic choreography, it passes a message of unity. Over the years, it has become so popular that any random person would likely know the song, encouraging repeated plays and rewatches.
20. Sugar – Maroon 5 – 4.41 Billion Views
Published Date: January 14, 2015
“Sugar” became popular due to its memorable music video concept, a wedding surprise. The spontaneous reactions and joyful storytelling made it easier for viewers to love the post even more. The strategy was authentic, especially at the time of release. When combined with the song’s catchy melody and high production quality, it’s easy to see why many users will keep hitting the replay button for more.
Viral Content Shapes YouTube’s Record-Breaking Views
The most viewed YouTube videos of all time highlight the power of universal appeal, emotional connection, and repeatable content. From catchy music videos to kid-friendly and culturally impactful content, these videos prove that consistency, relatability, and global accessibility play a major role in attracting more views on videos.
As YouTube continues to grow, new creators and trends may challenge these records, but the videos on this list have already secured their place in YouTube history by shaping how content goes viral worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the #1 most viewed YouTube video?
The “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories is the most viewed YouTube video of all time, with over 17 billion views.
2. Which video has 1 trillion views?
There are currently no YouTube videos with 1 trillion views, as no single upload has ever reached that huge milestone on the platform.
3. What video has 1 billion views?
Many videos have crossed 1 billion views on YouTube, with PSY’s “Gangnam Style” being the first ever.