Most Viewed YouTube Videos of All Time [Updated Daily]

With over 2.3 billion active users, YouTube is undoubtedly one of the most popular video platforms out there. It’s a source of video content of all kinds. From music videos, short films, and online course videos to unboxing videos and comic clips, you will find a great collection of it all on YouTube.

While we have all accessed YouTube for some purpose or the other, have you ever wondered which is the most viewed YouTube video of all time?

If you are a viewer whose go-to video platform is YouTube, you might be curious about this question. If you are a YouTuber, such facts might excite you. So, whichever category you belong to, we are here with the answer. From us at Graphy, here is a list of the top 14 most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

Go through this list and see how many of these videos you’ve watched. If you are a creator, try to find inspiration from this collection and make it to the top.

Let’s begin.

Table of Contents

Which was the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views?

Before we get started with the list, let’s have a look at an interesting fact. While today, billions of views on a YouTube video are a common occurrence, it wasn’t till a few years back. So, do you know which was the first video to cross this milestone?

That trendsetter was none other than PSY’s Gangnam Style, which was released in 2012, a song that the global audience grooved to. It was a monster hit that crossed 1 billion views within 6 months of its release. That’s huge, right?

The South Korean singer PSY claimed a world record even before K-Pop became a worldwide phenomenon. That’s huge, right?

Now, let’s get started with the list.

Pinkfong: Baby Shark Dance

Release date: June 17, 2016

The name that tops our list is none other than the Pinkfong version of the children’s song Baby Shark. It’s a song that we all heard as kids and love to hear as adults.

While the Baby Shark song has always been there, it reached a global audience with Pinkfong’s version. And since then, “baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo” is something that we are unable to take out of our minds.

It is not just the most viewed YouTube video of all time, but also the first YouTube video to reach 10 billion views.

Luis Fonsi: Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee

Release date: January 12, 2017

With over 7.8 billion views, the YouTube video that comes second on our list is the music video for Despacito. It was a song by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and featured the rapper/singer Daddy Yankee.

With a fusion of Latin and urban rhythms, this pop song was widely acclaimed by critics and ordinary audiences. Sung in Spanish, this song proved that music has no boundaries and topped the charts in 47 countries. While it’s been several years since the song was first released, its popularity keeps on increasing with each passing day.

Also read: Should you embed your YouTube videos on your site?

Ed Sheeran: Shape of You

Release date: January 30, 2017

The next name on our list is Shape of You by Ed Sheeran, with over 5.7 billion views. This is indeed the song that made Ed Sheeran, an English singer, and songwriter, into a global star.

In 2018, Billboard ranked “Shape of You” as the 9th most successful video of all time, and since then its popularity has been soaring high.

Wiz Khalifa: See You Again ft. Charlie Puth

Release date: April 7, 2015

See You Again by Wiz Khalifa, featuring Charlie Puth, is a song that is close to all our hearts and, with over 4.6 billion views, it is one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time. This song was written as a tribute to the late actor Paul Walker after his untimely death. It was the soundtrack for Furious 7.

A major part of this song’s popularity could be credited to the love that people have for Paul Walker and the Furious series, and the rest to its heart-touching lyrics and melodious music.

Also read: How to record videos on your iPHONE for your online course

Masha and The Bear: Recipe for Disaster

Release date: August 14. 2015

Masha and the Bear is a Russian animated series that follows the adventures of a little girl named Masha and her pet bear.

One episode from this series, titled “Recipe for Disaster”, was viewed over 4.3 billion times and is, therefore, on our list of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time. This animated series was loosely based on a children’s folk tale and was loved by children across the world.

Mark Ronson: Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars

Release date: November 19, 2014

You say, Bruno Mars, we hear Uptown Funk. Uptown Funk is a song by Mark Ranson, a British record producer, featuring Bruno Mars. This song belongs to the genre of funk-pop, and bougie songs, and within days of its release, became a song that the global audience grooved to.

It topped the charts in 19 countries and topped the Billboard Hot 100 list for 14 weeks straight. And with over 3.88 billion views, it also became one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

Also read: Best video recording software in 2022 & how to select the best one

PSY: Gangnam Style

Release date: July 15, 2012

We have already mentioned PSY and Gangnam Style. PSY’s Gangnam Style was the first YouTube video to cross 1 billion views and is also amongst the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

At the time of its release in 2012, it was given the Guinness World Record for the most liked video at the time. It was released during a period when the world was not yet familiar with K-Pop but still reached almost all corners of the world.

Loo Loo Kids: Johny Johny Yes Papa

Release date: January 15, 2017

Johny Johny “Yes Papa” is a nursery rhyme we all learned as kids. But the digital wave brought it to us in different forms, with several YouTube channels featuring this rhyme.

The one that went viral was Loo Loo Kids’ version of the song. It gathered over 3.5 billion views on YouTube and is still one of the songs that kids listen to while growing up.

Also read: How to Combine Videos into One (8 Quick and Easy Ways)

Justin Bieber: Sorry

Release date: Oct 23, 2015

Next on our list of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time is the song “Sorry” by Grammy-winning hitmaker Justin Beiber. This song was a part of his fourth album, Purpose, and was a commercial success.

“Sorry” topped the Canadian Hot 100 chart for three consecutive weeks and also topped the charts in 13 countries. It has gathered over 3.30 billion views on YouTube and this number is still rising steadily.

Maroon 5: Sugar

Release date: January 14, 2015

Sugar was a single recorded by the American band Maroon 5 for their fifth studio album V. This song belongs to the genres of disco, funk, pop, and soul and showcases a melodious play of different instruments like guitar, percussion, and keyboard.

The theme for this video was taken from the 2005 romantic comedy Wedding Crashers, and the fun and vibrant video made it into one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time.

Also read: The 9 best places to find free music for video editing

Katy Perry: Roar

Release date: September 6, 2013

Roar is a single from pop superstar Katy Perry’s fourth studio album, Prism. This music video gathered over 3 billion views and made Katy Perry the first female artist to cross that milestone.

It topped the charts in several countries and was a commercial success, which took the singer to new heights. With the theme of self-empowerment at its core, this song is trending even today.

Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud

Release date: October 7, 2014

A classic love song, that is how one can describe Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” With beautiful lyrics sung in Sheeran’s soulful voice, this song was quick to gather global reception.

This song reached the top spot in different countries across the world, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and South Africa. It is also one of the most-viewed YouTube videos of all time, with an ever-increasing view count.

One Republic: Counting Stars

Release date: May 31, 2013

Counting Stars, sung by the American pop-rock band OneRepublic, is indeed a classic. With over 1 million copies sold in the UK, it was a hit even on YouTube.

Counting stars is about disappointment but also about hope for a better future and, therefore, resonated with the modern audience. It became a youth anthem and a song that was loved by people of all generations.

Also read: 10 reasons to use video for education in 2022

Taylor Swift: Shake It Off

Release date: Aug 19, 2014

Released as the lead single from her fifth studio album, 1989, this song by Taylor Swift was quick to gain worldwide acclaim. This song marked Swift’s shift from country to pop music and received three Grammy nominations in 2005.

With this song, Swift’s popularity doubled, and, with over 2.9 billion views, became one of the most viewed YouTube videos of all time. This song was criticized for “weak lyrics”, but that didn’t stop it from becoming a trendsetter.

Summary

Artist	Video	Views
Pinkfong	Baby Shark Dance	10 Billion
Luis Fonsi	Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee	7.8 Billion
Ed Sheeran	Shape of You	5.7 Billion
Wiz Khalifa	See You Again ft. Charlie Puth	4.61 Billion
Masha and The Bear	Recipe for Disaster	4.30 Billion
Mark Ronson	Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars	3.88 Billion
PSY	Gangnam Style	3.67 Billion
Loo Loo Kids	Johny Johny Yes Papa	3.50 Billion
Justin Bieber	Sorry	3.30 Billion
Maroon 5	Sugar	3.22 Billion
Katy Perry	Roar	3.10 Billion
Ed Sheeran	Thinking Out Loud	3.02 Billion
One Republic	Counting Stars	2.99 Billion
Taylor Swift	Shake It Off	2.93 Billion

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Most Viewed YouTube Videos of All Time [Updated Daily]