List of most-viewed YouTube videos
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:04:45 PM Wikipedia source
YouTube is an American video-sharing service provider headquartered in San Bruno, California. The site indicates view counts of each uploaded video, making it possible to keep track of the most viewed, many of which continue to exist while others are no longer available on the site. Although the most-viewed were initially viral videos uploaded by amateur content creators, such as "Evolution of Dance" and "Charlie Bit My Finger", they have increasingly become music videos produced on behalf of professional recording artists. Since Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" in 2009, every video that has reached the top of the "most-viewed YouTube videos" list has been a music video. 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. Views represent how many times a video is watched. To ensure that traffic is coming from actual humans and not scripts or other deceptive methods, YouTube has a secret algorithm to separate legitimate views from illegitimate ones, and only legitimate views are included in the view count. Specifically, to count as a legitimate view, a user must intentionally initiate the playback of the video and play at least 30 seconds of the video (or the entire video for shorter videos). Additionally, while replays count as views, there is a limit of 4 or 5 views per IP address during a 24-hour period, after which point, no further views from that IP are counted until the 24-hour period expires.
Tables
· Top videos
Baby Shark Dance
Baby Shark Dance
Video name
Baby Shark Dance
Uploader
Pinkfong Baby Shark - Kids' Songs & Stories
Views (billions)
16
Date
June 17, 2016
Despacito
Despacito
Video name
Despacito
Uploader
Luis Fonsi
Views (billions)
9
Date
January 12, 2017
Wheels on the Bus
Wheels on the Bus
Video name
Wheels on the Bus
Uploader
Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes
Views (billions)
8
Date
May 24, 2018
Bath Song
Bath Song
Video name
Bath Song
Uploader
Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes
Views (billions)
7
Date
May 2, 2018
Johny Johny Yes Papa
Johny Johny Yes Papa
Video name
Johny Johny Yes Papa
Uploader
LooLoo Kids - Nursery Rhymes and Children's Songs
Views (billions)
7
Date
October 8, 2016
See You Again
See You Again
Video name
See You Again
Uploader
Wiz Khalifa
Views (billions)
6
Date
April 6, 2015
Phonics Song with Two Words
Phonics Song with Two Words
Video name
Phonics Song with Two Words
Uploader
ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs
Views (billions)
6
Date
March 6, 2014
Shape of You
Shape of You
Video name
Shape of You
Uploader
Ed Sheeran
Views (billions)
6
Date
January 30, 2017
Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Video name
Gangnam Style
Uploader
Psy
Views (billions)
5
Date
July 15, 2012
Axel F
Axel F
Video name
Axel F
Uploader
Crazy Frog
Views (billions)
5
Date
June 16, 2009
Uptown Funk
Uptown Funk
Video name
Uptown Funk
Uploader
Mark Ronson
Views (billions)
5
Date
November 19, 2014
Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm
Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm
Video name
Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm
Uploader
Miroshka TV
Views (billions)
5
Date
February 27, 2018
Dame Tu Cosita
Dame Tu Cosita
Video name
Dame Tu Cosita
Uploader
Ultra Records
Views (billions)
5
Date
April 5, 2018
Shree Hanuman Chalisa
Shree Hanuman Chalisa
Video name
Shree Hanuman Chalisa
Uploader
T-Series Bhakti Sagar
Views (billions)
5
Date
May 10, 2011
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Video name
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Uploader
Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes
Views (billions)
4
Date
June 25, 2018
Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster
Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster
Video name
Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster
Uploader
Get Movies
Views (billions)
4
Date
January 31, 2012
Lakdi Ki Kathi
Lakdi Ki Kathi
Video name
Lakdi Ki Kathi
Uploader
Jingle Toons
Views (billions)
4
Date
June 14, 2018
Temu's Big Game Ad
Temu's Big Game Ad
Video name
Temu's Big Game Ad
Uploader
Temu
Views (billions)
4
Date
February 12, 2024
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
Video name
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
Uploader
Shakira
Views (billions)
4
Date
June 4, 2010
Humpty the train on a fruits ride
Humpty the train on a fruits ride
Video name
Humpty the train on a fruits ride
Uploader
Kiddiestv Hindi - Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs
Views (billions)
4
Date
January 26, 2018
Counting Stars
Counting Stars
Video name
Counting Stars
Uploader
OneRepublic
Views (billions)
4
Date
May 31, 2013
Sugar
Sugar
Video name
Sugar
Uploader
Maroon 5
Views (billions)
4
Date
January 14, 2015
Baby Shark
Baby Shark
Video name
Baby Shark
Uploader
Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes
Views (billions)
4
Date
November 21, 2017
Roar
Roar
Video name
Roar
Uploader
Katy Perry
Views (billions)
4
Date
September 5, 2013
Dark Horse
Dark Horse
Video name
Dark Horse
Uploader
Katy Perry
Views (billions)
4
Date
February 20, 2014
Perfect
Perfect
Video name
Perfect
Uploader
Ed Sheeran
Views (billions)
4
Date
November 9, 2017
Sorry
Sorry
Video name
Sorry
Uploader
Justin Bieber
Views (billions)
4
Date
October 22, 2015
Let Her Go
Let Her Go
Video name
Let Her Go
Uploader
Passenger
Views (billions)
4
Date
July 25, 2012
Girls Like You
Girls Like You
Video name
Girls Like You
Uploader
Maroon 5
Views (billions)
4
Date
May 31, 2018
Thinking Out Loud
Thinking Out Loud
Video name
Thinking Out Loud
Uploader
Ed Sheeran
Views (billions)
4
Date
October 7, 2014
As of April 19, 2026
As of April 19, 2026
Video name
As of April 19, 2026
| Video name | Uploader | Views (billions) | Date | Notes | |
| Baby Shark Dance | Pinkfong Baby Shark - Kids' Songs & Stories | 16 | June 17, 2016 | ||
| Despacito | Luis Fonsi | 9 | January 12, 2017 | ||
| Wheels on the Bus | Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes | 8 | May 24, 2018 | ||
| Bath Song | Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes | 7 | May 2, 2018 | ||
| Johny Johny Yes Papa | LooLoo Kids - Nursery Rhymes and Children's Songs | 7 | October 8, 2016 | ||
| See You Again | Wiz Khalifa | 6 | April 6, 2015 | ||
| Phonics Song with Two Words | ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs | 6 | March 6, 2014 | ||
| Shape of You | Ed Sheeran | 6 | January 30, 2017 | ||
| Gangnam Style | Psy | 5 | July 15, 2012 | ||
| Axel F | Crazy Frog | 5 | June 16, 2009 | ||
| Uptown Funk | Mark Ronson | 5 | November 19, 2014 | ||
| Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm | Miroshka TV | 5 | February 27, 2018 | ||
| Dame Tu Cosita | Ultra Records | 5 | April 5, 2018 | ||
| Shree Hanuman Chalisa | T-Series Bhakti Sagar | 5 | May 10, 2011 | ||
| Baa Baa Black Sheep | Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes | 4 | June 25, 2018 | ||
| Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster | Get Movies | 4 | January 31, 2012 | ||
| Lakdi Ki Kathi | Jingle Toons | 4 | June 14, 2018 | ||
| Temu's Big Game Ad | Temu | 4 | February 12, 2024 | ||
| Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) | Shakira | 4 | June 4, 2010 | ||
| Humpty the train on a fruits ride | Kiddiestv Hindi - Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs | 4 | January 26, 2018 | ||
| Counting Stars | OneRepublic | 4 | May 31, 2013 | ||
| Sugar | Maroon 5 | 4 | January 14, 2015 | ||
| Baby Shark | Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes | 4 | November 21, 2017 | ||
| Roar | Katy Perry | 4 | September 5, 2013 | ||
| Dark Horse | Katy Perry | 4 | February 20, 2014 | ||
| Perfect | Ed Sheeran | 4 | November 9, 2017 | ||
| Sorry | Justin Bieber | 4 | October 22, 2015 | ||
| Let Her Go | Passenger | 4 | July 25, 2012 | ||
| Girls Like You | Maroon 5 | 4 | May 31, 2018 | ||
| Thinking Out Loud | Ed Sheeran | 4 | October 7, 2014 | ||
| As of April 19, 2026 | |||||
Progression of the most-viewed video on YouTube · Historical most-viewed videos
"Baby Shark Dance"⁂
"Baby Shark Dance"⁂
Video name
"Baby Shark Dance"⁂
Uploader
Pinkfong Baby Shark - Kids' Songs & Stories
Views at
achievement*
7,046,700,000
Publication date
June 17, 2016
Date achieved
November 2, 2020
Days after
upload
1600
Days
held
2,025
"Despacito"
"Despacito"
Video name
"Despacito"
Uploader
Luis Fonsi
Views at
achievement*
2,993,700,000
Publication date
January 12, 2017
Date achieved
August 4, 2017
Days after
upload
206
Days
held
1,186
"See You Again"
"See You Again"
Video name
"See You Again"
Uploader
Wiz Khalifa
Views at
achievement*
2,894,000,000
Publication date
April 6, 2015
Date achieved
July 10, 2017
Days after
upload
826
Days
held
25
"Gangnam Style"*
"Gangnam Style"*
Video name
"Gangnam Style"*
Uploader
Psy
Views at
achievement*
803,700,000
Publication date
July 15, 2012
Date achieved
November 24, 2012
Days after
upload
134
Days
held
1,689
"Baby"*
"Baby"*
Video name
"Baby"*
Uploader
Justin Bieber
Views at
achievement*
245,400,000
Publication date
February 19, 2010
Date achieved
July 16, 2010
Days after
upload
149
Days
held
862
"Bad Romance"
"Bad Romance"
Video name
"Bad Romance"
Uploader
Lady Gaga
Views at
achievement*
178,400,000
Publication date
November 24, 2009
Date achieved
April 14, 2010
Days after
upload
143
Days
held
93
"Charlie Bit My Finger"
"Charlie Bit My Finger"
Video name
"Charlie Bit My Finger"
Uploader
HDCYT
Views at
achievement*
128,900,000
Publication date
May 22, 2007
Date achieved
October 25, 2009
Days after
upload
887
Days
held
171
Takedown date
July 2021 (made available again January 2024)
"Evolution of Dance" (3rd time as most viewed video)
"Evolution of Dance" (3rd time as most viewed video)
Video name
"Evolution of Dance" (3rd time as most viewed video)
Uploader
Judson Laipply
Views at
achievement*
118,900,000
Publication date
April 6, 2006
Date achieved
May 2, 2009
Days after
upload
1062
Days
held
176
"Girlfriend"‡
"Girlfriend"‡
Video name
"Girlfriend"‡
Uploader
RCA Records
Views at
achievement*
92,600,000
Publication date
February 27, 2007
Date achieved
July 17, 2008
Days after
upload
508
Days
held
289
Takedown date
November 2009
"Evolution of Dance" (2nd time as most viewed video)
"Evolution of Dance" (2nd time as most viewed video)
Video name
"Evolution of Dance" (2nd time as most viewed video)
Uploader
Judson Laipply
Views at
achievement*
78,400,000
Publication date
April 6, 2006
Date achieved
March 15, 2008
Days after
upload
651
Days
held
124
"Music Is My Hot Hot Sex"‡
"Music Is My Hot Hot Sex"‡
Video name
"Music Is My Hot Hot Sex"‡
Uploader
CLARUSBARTEL72
Views at
achievement*
76,600,000
Publication date
April 9, 2007
Date achieved
March 1, 2008
Days after
upload
327
Days
held
14
Takedown date
March 15, 2008
"Evolution of Dance"*
"Evolution of Dance"*
Video name
"Evolution of Dance"*
Uploader
Judson Laipply
Views at
achievement*
10,600,000
Publication date
April 6, 2006
Date achieved
May 19, 2006
Days after
upload
16
Days
held
652
"Dancing in the Dark"‡
"Dancing in the Dark"‡
Video name
"Dancing in the Dark"‡
Uploader
Cosmotastic
Views at
achievement*
5,500,000
Publication date
November 25, 2005
Date achieved
Mar 23, 2006
Days after
upload
118
Days
held
52
Takedown date
May 2006
"Pokemon Theme Music Video"‡
"Pokemon Theme Music Video"‡
Video name
"Pokemon Theme Music Video"‡
Uploader
Smosh
Views at
achievement*
4,300,000
Publication date
November 28, 2005
Date achieved
March 12, 2006
Days after
upload
105
Days
held
11
Takedown date
June 2007
"Myspace – The Movie"‡
"Myspace – The Movie"‡
Video name
"Myspace – The Movie"‡
Uploader
eggtea
Views at
achievement*
2,700,000
Publication date
January 31, 2006
Date achieved
February 18, 2006
Days after
upload
18
Days
held
22
Takedown date
mid-2006
"Phony Photo Booth"‡
"Phony Photo Booth"‡
Video name
"Phony Photo Booth"‡
Uploader
mugenized
Views at
achievement*
3,400,000
Publication date
December 1, 2005
Date achieved
January 21, 2006
Days after
upload
50
Days
held
28
Takedown date
February 14 to 18, 2006
"The Chronic of Narnia Rap"‡
"The Chronic of Narnia Rap"‡
Video name
"The Chronic of Narnia Rap"‡
Uploader
youtubedude
Views at
achievement*
2,300,000
Publication date
December 18, 2005
Date achieved
January 9, 2006
Days after
upload
22
Days
held
12
Takedown date
February 14 to 17, 2006
"Ronaldinho: Touch of Gold"‡*
"Ronaldinho: Touch of Gold"‡*
Video name
"Ronaldinho: Touch of Gold"‡*
Uploader
Nikesoccer
Views at
achievement*
255,000
Publication date
October 21, 2005
Date achieved
October 31, 2005
Days after
upload
10
Days
held
70
Takedown date
July to August 2009
"I/O Brush"‡*
"I/O Brush"‡*
Video name
"I/O Brush"‡*
Uploader
larfus
Views at
achievement*
247,000
Publication date
October 5, 2005
Date achieved
October 27, 2005
Days after
upload
24
Days
held
4
Takedown date
January to April 2007
"tow chinese boys:i want it that way"
"tow chinese boys:i want it that way"
Video name
"tow chinese boys:i want it that way"
Uploader
cow
Views at
achievement*
142,000
Publication date
June 26, 2005
Date achieved
August 28, 2005
Days after
upload
63
Days
held
60
"Money, get a way!"‡
"Money, get a way!"‡
Video name
"Money, get a way!"‡
Uploader
DekKu
Views at
achievement*
27,400
Publication date
July 16, 2005
Date achieved
July 21, 2005
Days after
upload
5
Days
held
38
Takedown date
June 2006
"Under the Bridge!"‡
"Under the Bridge!"‡
Video name
"Under the Bridge!"‡
Uploader
jawed
Views at
achievement*
700
Publication date
June 11, 2005
Date achieved
June 14, 2005
Days after
upload
3
Days
held
37
Takedown date
February - June 2006
As of May 20, 2026
As of May 20, 2026
Video name
As of May 20, 2026
| Video name | Uploader | Views at achievement* | Publication date | Date achieved | Days after upload | Days held | Takedown date | Ref | Notes |
| "Baby Shark Dance"⁂ | Pinkfong Baby Shark - Kids' Songs & Stories | 7,046,700,000 | June 17, 2016 | November 2, 2020 | 1600 | 2,025 | |||
| "Despacito" | Luis Fonsi | 2,993,700,000 | January 12, 2017 | August 4, 2017 | 206 | 1,186 | |||
| "See You Again" | Wiz Khalifa | 2,894,000,000 | April 6, 2015 | July 10, 2017 | 826 | 25 | |||
| "Gangnam Style"* | Psy | 803,700,000 | July 15, 2012 | November 24, 2012 | 134 | 1,689 | |||
| "Baby"* | Justin Bieber | 245,400,000 | February 19, 2010 | July 16, 2010 | 149 | 862 | |||
| "Bad Romance" | Lady Gaga | 178,400,000 | November 24, 2009 | April 14, 2010 | 143 | 93 | |||
| "Charlie Bit My Finger" | HDCYT | 128,900,000 | May 22, 2007 | October 25, 2009 | 887 | 171 | July 2021 (made available again January 2024) | ||
| "Evolution of Dance" (3rd time as most viewed video) | Judson Laipply | 118,900,000 | April 6, 2006 | May 2, 2009 | 1062 | 176 | |||
| "Girlfriend"‡ | RCA Records | 92,600,000 | February 27, 2007 | July 17, 2008 | 508 | 289 | November 2009 | ||
| "Evolution of Dance" (2nd time as most viewed video) | Judson Laipply | 78,400,000 | April 6, 2006 | March 15, 2008 | 651 | 124 | |||
| "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex"‡ | CLARUSBARTEL72 | 76,600,000 | April 9, 2007 | March 1, 2008 | 327 | 14 | March 15, 2008 | ||
| "Evolution of Dance"* | Judson Laipply | 10,600,000 | April 6, 2006 | May 19, 2006 | 16 | 652 | |||
| "Dancing in the Dark"‡ | Cosmotastic | 5,500,000 | November 25, 2005 | Mar 23, 2006 | 118 | 52 | May 2006 | ||
| "Pokemon Theme Music Video"‡ | Smosh | 4,300,000 | November 28, 2005 | March 12, 2006 | 105 | 11 | June 2007 | ||
| "Myspace – The Movie"‡ | eggtea | 2,700,000 | January 31, 2006 | February 18, 2006 | 18 | 22 | mid-2006 | ||
| "Phony Photo Booth"‡ | mugenized | 3,400,000 | December 1, 2005 | January 21, 2006 | 50 | 28 | February 14 to 18, 2006 | ||
| "The Chronic of Narnia Rap"‡ | youtubedude | 2,300,000 | December 18, 2005 | January 9, 2006 | 22 | 12 | February 14 to 17, 2006 | ||
| "Ronaldinho: Touch of Gold"‡* | Nikesoccer | 255,000 | October 21, 2005 | October 31, 2005 | 10 | 70 | July to August 2009 | ||
| "I/O Brush"‡* | larfus | 247,000 | October 5, 2005 | October 27, 2005 | 24 | 4 | January to April 2007 | ||
| "tow chinese boys:i want it that way" | cow | 142,000 | June 26, 2005 | August 28, 2005 | 63 | 60 | |||
| "Money, get a way!"‡ | DekKu | 27,400 | July 16, 2005 | July 21, 2005 | 5 | 38 | June 2006 | ||
| "Under the Bridge!"‡ | jawed | 700 | June 11, 2005 | June 14, 2005 | 3 | 37 | February - June 2006 | ||
| As of May 20, 2026 | |||||||||
References
- "Baby Shark Dance" was the fifth video to reach 4 billion views on November 25, 2019, the second video to reach: 5 billi
- "Despacito" surpassed "See You Again" as the most viewed video on August 4, 2017. It was the first video to reach: 3 bilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_most-viewed_YouTube_videos&action=edit
- "See You Again" surpassed "Gangnam Style" as the most viewed video on July 10, 2017. It was the second video to reach 2https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_most-viewed_YouTube_videos&action=edit
- "Shape of You" was the second video to reach 4 billion views on January 7, 2019; the third to reach 5 billion views on O
- "Gangnam Style" surpassed "Baby" as the most viewed video on November 24, 2012. It was the first video to reach 1 billio
- "Baby" became to first video to reach 500 million views on March 28, 2011.
- "Bad Romance" became the first video to reach 200 million views on May 9, 2010.
- Approximately ten million views per month as of 2007.
- "Music is My Hot Hot Sex" became the first video to reach 100 million views on March 11, 2008. The uploader then deleted
- "Evolution of Dance" became the first video to reach 20 million views on June 5, 2006 and the first video to reach 50 mi
- "Pokémon Theme Music Video" became the first video to reach 10 million views on May 6, 2006. It was removed from YouTube
- "Phony Photo Booth" became the first video to reach 5 million views on February 8, 2006. It was removed from YouTube in
- "Ronaldinho: Touch of Gold" became the first video to reach 500,000 views on November 3, 2005; first video to reach 2 mi
- The Drumhttps://www.thedrum.com/news/2016/03/31/2005-nike-video-featuring-ronaldinho-becomes-first-youtube-film-reach-one-million
- CNNhttps://www.cnn.com/2022/01/13/entertainment/baby-shark-10-billion-views-youtube-cec/index.html
- "How engagement metrics are counted"https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2991785?hl=en
- "How to Get More Views on YouTube [REAL Ones]"https://blog.hootsuite.com/get-views-youtube/
- "How Does YouTube Count Views?"https://www.tubics.com/blog/what-counts-as-a-view-on-youtube/
- wwwhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLirAqAtl_h2r5g8xGajEwdXd3x1sZh8hC
- YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZsoesa55w