What video on YouTube has the most views is a question that continues to interest me as the platform dominates the global online entertainment.
I still remember staying up late in 2012 watching “Gangnam Style” with friends, amazed as it became the first video to hit one billion views.
We refreshed the page obsessively, watching the counter climb higher by thousands every minute.
That experience showed me firsthand how YouTube videos can unite people across continents through shared cultural moments that transcend language barriers.
Key Takeaways
- Children’s content dominates the rankings when looking at what video on YouTube has the most views, accounting for 60% of the top ten.
- “Baby Shark Dance” leads all videos with 15.47 billion views, nearly double its closest competitor.
- Latin music has tremendous cross-cultural appeal, with “Despacito” holding the #2 position.
- No video has yet reached 1 trillion views, but several have surpassed 5 billion.
- The rate at which videos accumulate views has accelerated dramatically since YouTube’s early years.
- Despite YouTube’s vast content library, only a tiny fraction of videos ever surpass 1 billion views.
- Music and children’s songs represent nearly all entries in the all-time top viewed YouTube videos.
Table of Contents
What Video on YouTube has the Most Views: The Top 10 List
Let’s explore what video on YouTube has the most views and which others have captured the world’s attention to earn their place in YouTube history.
Finding the videos of all time with the highest metrics reveals fascinating patterns about social media consumption.
The following list represents the current champions of viewed YouTube videos.
1. “Baby Shark Dance” – Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories
Released in 2016, this children’s video has amassed an astonishing 15.47 billion views, making it the undisputed champion when considering what video on YouTube has the most views.
- Views: 15.47 billion
- Daily growth: 5.8 million views
- Target audience: Children under 8
2. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee
This Latin crossover hit holds 8.63 billion views, demonstrating the global appeal of Spanish-language music videos.
The artist achieved unprecedented social media dominance.
- Views: 8.63 billion
- Release date: January 2017
- Notable achievement: First video to reach 5 billion views
3. “Johny Johny Yes Papa” – LooLoo Kids
With 6.99 billion views, this nursery rhyme shows the massive audience for animated children’s content on the platform.
- Views: 6.99 billion
- Channel subscribers: 48 million
- Average watch time: 2.8 minutes
4. “Bath Song” – Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes
This educational children’s song has accumulated 6.96 billion views, nearly tied with the next entry from the same creator.
- Views: 6.96 billion
- Daily views: 2.3 million
- Format: 3D animation with educational themes
5. “Wheels on the Bus” – Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes
Another Cocomelon creation with 6.95 billion views, proving the channel’s dominance in children’s content.
The artist behind the animations has built a social empire.
- Views: 6.95 billion
- Channel: Second appearance in top 5
- Average daily views: 2.2 million
6. “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
This tribute song from “Furious 7” has reached 6.52 billion views, driven by both its emotional appeal and film connection. Both artists have huge social media followings.
- Views: 6.52 billion
- Release year: 2015
- Notable: Former most-viewed video (2017)
7. “Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s hit single has garnered 6.39 billion views, showing the staying power of popular mainstream music on YouTube.
The British artist’s social presence amplified its reach.
- Views: 6.39 billion
- Charts: #1 in 34 countries
- Daily views: 1.3 million
8. “Phonics Song with Two Words” – ChuChu TV
This educational video has accumulated 6.21 billion views, further demonstrating children’s content dominance and the channel’s social media strategy.
- Views: 6.21 billion
- Purpose: Educational content
- Average watch time: 4.2 minutes
9. “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
The catchy pop hit holds 5.44 billion views, maintaining its popularity years after release. Both artists leveraged social dynamics for longevity.
- Views: 5.44 billion
- Release year: 2014
- Milestone: Oldest video in top 10 still gaining 900,000 views daily
10. “Gangnam Style” – PSY
The original YouTube view-count breaker sits at 5.41 billion views, still in the top ten despite its 2012 release.
The Korean artist created a social phenomenon.
- Views: 5.41 billion
- Historic significance: First video to break YouTube’s view counter
- Release date: July 2012
Comparison Table
The following table compares key metrics when exploring what video on YouTube has the most views, helping viewers find patterns among these videos of all time.
This full list of the most viewed YouTube videos reveals surprising trends:
| Rank | Video Title | Artist/Channel | Views (billions) | Release Year | Category | Daily Views (millions) |
| 1 | Baby Shark Dance | Pinkfong | 15.47 | 2016 | Children | 5.8 |
| 2 | Despacito | Luis Fonsi | 8.63 | 2017 | Music | 2.1 |
| 3 | Johny Johny Yes Papa | LooLoo Kids | 6.99 | 2016 | Children | 1.9 |
| 4 | Bath Song | Cocomelon | 6.96 | 2018 | Children | 2.3 |
| 5 | Wheels on the Bus | Cocomelon | 6.95 | 2018 | Children | 2.2 |
| 6 | See You Again | Wiz Khalifa | 6.52 | 2015 | Music | 1.4 |
| 7 | Shape of You | Ed Sheeran | 6.39 | 2017 | Music | 1.3 |
| 8 | Phonics Song | ChuChu TV | 6.21 | 2014 | Children | 1.5 |
| 9 | Uptown Funk | Mark Ronson | 5.44 | 2014 | Music | 0.9 |
| 10 | Gangnam Style | PSY | 5.41 | 2012 | Music | 0.7 |
This comparison reveals how children’s content dominates when analyzing what video on YouTube has the most views, with music videos making up the rest.
The platform’s algorithm significantly impacts which artists achieve viral status.
Note how younger videos typically have higher daily view rates, showing the accelerating pace of view accumulation on the platform.
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Understanding these patterns is valuable for content creators looking to get more views on YouTube by targeting high-performing categories.
Fun Fact: YouTube processes over 1 billion hours of video watched daily worldwide, equivalent to 114,000 years of continuous viewing!
Baby Shark: The Ultimate YouTube Champion
When asking what video on YouTube has the most views, ‘Baby Shark Dance’ stands far above all others. If you’re looking to replicate similar viral success, learning how to get more views on YouTube can help you grow your content’s exposure.
With 15.47 billion views, it has nearly doubled its closest competitor. Released by Pinkfong in 2016, this simple animated children’s song benefits from young children who often watch it dozens of times daily.
Its simple dance moves, bright colors, and earworm melody transcend language barriers, making it a global phenomenon across diverse cultures.
The artist behind this creation grew his social media presence significantly.
The video continues gaining approximately 5.8 million views daily, suggesting it could become the first video to reach 20 billion views by 2027.
No other content on YouTube comes close to challenging its dominant position on any most-viewed YouTube chart.
While viral sensations like this generate millions in revenue, most creators focus on reaching more modest views on YouTube to make money that can still provide a sustainable income.
Analysis: What Makes Videos Go Viral Globally
Understanding what video on YouTube has the most views requires examining the patterns behind viral success.
Several distinct factors consistently appear across the most-viewed YouTube videos, creating a formula that goes beyond language, culture, and content type.
Key Factors in Viral YouTube Success
Videos that achieve billion views typically feature vibrant visuals, memorable hooks, and emotional resonance that transcends cultural differences.
The artists who create viral hits understand social psychology intuitively.
The Children’s Content Phenomenon
Children’s content dominates because young viewers watch videos repeatedly, often daily, for months. Parents also appreciate a safe material, contributing to these entries in the list of viewed YouTube videos.
Cross-Cultural Music Appeal
Music tracks with universal appeal like “Despacito” break language barriers through infectious rhythms and catchy melodies, allowing them to reach global audiences regardless of linguistic understanding.
The Algorithm’s Role in View Counts
Algorithmic promotion plays an important role, with YouTube’s recommendation system growing the already popular content. Social media cross-promotion helps viewers find resonant content.
Many creators choose to buy YouTube views as a strategy to improve their exposure, while also working to build authentic interactions.
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Conclusion
When answering what video on YouTube has the most views, we gain fascinating insights into global digital entertainment preferences.
From the children’s sensation “Baby Shark” to cross-cultural music hits like “Despacito,” these videos have transcended boundaries to captivate billions worldwide.
The artists behind these phenomenal successes have mastered social interaction strategies.
The dominance of children’s content and music videos in the top spots reflects a universal appeal that crosses language barriers.
As YouTube continues evolving, these astronomical view counts serve as milestones in our collective digital history, showing how shared cultural moments can unite viewers across continents through the power of video.
Frequently Asked Questions
What YouTube video has the most views ever?
When asking what video on YouTube has the most views ever, “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories currently holds the title with 15.47 billion views as of April 2025.
The artist created a social phenomenon unlike any other.
Which video has 1 trillion views on YouTube?
No video has reached 1 trillion views on YouTube yet.
The current record holder is “Baby Shark Dance” with approximately 15.47 billion views, which is still far from the trillion mark. Social media experts predict this milestone remains decades away.
What is the fastest YouTube video to get 1 million views?
BTS’s music video “Butter” holds the record for the fastest video to reach 1 million views, achieving this milestone in just 3 minutes and 54 seconds after its release in May 2021.
The K-pop artists have a massive social following.
What was the fastest YouTube video to reach 1 billion views?
Adele’s “Hello” was the fastest video to reach 1 billion views, achieving this milestone in just 87 days after its release in October 2015.
However, more recent videos like “Butter” by BTS and “Dynamite” have challenged this record.
The English artist’s social impact had huge viewing rates.
