Here is a detailed deep dive into the Top 30 Most Viewed Music Videos on YouTube worldwide (as of early 2026).
1. Baby Shark Dance – Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories
- Views: ~15.5 Billion+
- Singer: Hope Segoine
- Release Date: June 17, 2016
- Origin: South Korea
- The Story: Originally a campfire chant, this version by the Korean education brand Pinkfong became the most-viewed video in YouTube history. Its simple "doo doo doo" lyrics and colorful animation made it a global phenomenon for children.
2. Despacito – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
- Views: ~8.5 Billion+
- Singer: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee
- Writers: Luis Fonsi, Erika Ender, Daddy Yankee
- Release Date: January 12, 2017
- Origin: Puerto Rico
- The Story: This song shattered records, becoming the first video to hit 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 billion views. It is credited with bringing Latin pop back into the global mainstream.
3. Johny Johny Yes Papa – LooLoo Kids
- Views: ~6.9 Billion+
- Origin: Romania/USA
- Release Date: October 8, 2016
- The Story: A nursery rhyme about a boy caught eating sugar. Its massive views come from the "autoplay" nature of toddler content worldwide.
4. Bath Song – Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes
- Views: ~6.8 Billion+
- Origin: USA
- Release Date: May 2, 2018
- The Story: Cocomelon is the king of toddler YouTube. This song teaches kids about hygiene using the melody of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Baby Shark."
5. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
- Views: ~6.3 Billion+
- Singer/Writer: Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac
- Release Date: January 30, 2017
- Origin: UK
- The Story: Initially written for Rihanna, Sheeran decided to keep it. The music video, featuring a boxing storyline, became the definitive pop hit of 2017.
6. See You Again – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
- Views: ~6.2 Billion+
- Writers: DJ Frank E, Charlie Puth, Wiz Khalifa, Andrew Cedar
- Release Date: April 6, 2015
- Origin: USA
- The Story: Created for the Furious 7 soundtrack as a tribute to the late actor Paul Walker. Its emotional weight made it an instant classic.
7. Wheels on the Bus – Cocomelon
- Views: ~6.1 Billion+
- Release Date: May 24, 2018
- The Story: Another entry for Cocomelon. It proves that kids' content is the most consistent driver of high view counts.
8. Phonics Song with Two Words – ChuChu TV
- Views: ~6.0 Billion+
- Origin: India
- Release Date: March 6, 2014
- The Story: This is the most-viewed YouTube video ever produced in India. It helps children learn the alphabet using simple word associations.
9. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Views: ~5.2 Billion+
- Writers: Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Jeff Bhasker
- Release Date: November 19, 2014
- Origin: UK/USA
- The Story: A throwback to 80s funk and disco. Bruno Mars’ high-energy performance made this a wedding and party staple for a decade.
10. Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm – Miroshka TV
- Views: ~5.1 Billion+
- Origin: Russia
- Release Date: February 27, 2018
- The Story: A simple educational video for kids. Despite being in Russian, its visual nature made it popular with toddlers globally.
11. Gangnam Style – PSY
- Views: ~5.1 Billion+
- Singer/Writer: PSY, Yoo Gun-hyung
- Release Date: July 15, 2012
- Origin: South Korea
- The Story: The video that "broke" the YouTube counter. It was the first video to reach 1 billion views and introduced the world to K-pop.
12. Masha and The Bear – Recipe for Disaster
- Views: ~4.6 Billion+
- Origin: Russia
- Release Date: January 31, 2012
- The Story: This is not a music video in the traditional sense, but an episode of a cartoon that features catchy songs and slapstick humor.
13. Dame Tu Cosita – El Chombo
- Views: ~4.6 Billion+
- Artist: El Chombo
- Release Date: April 5, 2018
- Origin: Panama
- The Story: An old song from 1997 that went viral 20 years later due to an animation of a green alien dancing. It became a massive TikTok and YouTube challenge.
14. Sugar – Maroon 5
- Views: ~4.1 Billion+
- Writers: Adam Levine, Joshua Coleman, Lukasz Gottwald
- Release Date: January 14, 2015
- Origin: USA
- The Story: The music video features the band "crashing" real weddings in Los Angeles. While some scenes were staged, the reactions captured hearts worldwide.
15. Axle F – Crazy Frog
- Views: ~4.1 Billion+
- Origin: Sweden/Germany
- Release Date: June 16, 2009
- The Story: Based on a ringtone character, this remix of the Beverly Hills Cop theme became a viral sensation long before the term "viral" was common.
16. Roar – Katy Perry
- Views: ~4.0 Billion+
- Writers: Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin
- Release Date: September 5, 2013
- Origin: USA
- The Story: A powerful "self-empowerment" anthem. The jungle-themed music video made Katy Perry the first female artist to have two videos with over 3 billion views.
17. Counting Stars – OneRepublic
- Views: ~4.0 Billion+
- Writer: Ryan Tedder
- Release Date: May 31, 2013
- Origin: USA
- The Story: Ryan Tedder wrote this while waiting for Beyoncé to show up for a session. It combines folk, pop, and dance elements perfectly.
18. Sorry – Justin Bieber
- Views: ~3.8 Billion+
- Writers: Justin Bieber, Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter
- Release Date: October 22, 2015
- Origin: Canada
- The Story: Interestingly, Justin Bieber does not appear in the video. It features the ReQuest Dance Crew, whose choreography made the song a visual hit.
19. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- Views: ~3.8 Billion+
- Writer: Ed Sheeran, Amy Wadge
- Release Date: October 7, 2014
- Origin: UK
- The Story: A classic romantic ballad. Sheeran spent weeks learning ballroom dance for the music video, which paid off as it became a go-to "first dance" song for weddings.
20. Dark Horse – Katy Perry ft. Juicy J
- Views: ~3.7 Billion+
- Release Date: February 20, 2014
- The Story: Set in Ancient Egypt ("Katy Pätra"), this video was praised for its high production value and catchy trap-pop beat.
21. Faded – Alan Walker
- Views: ~3.6 Billion+
- Singer: Iselin Solheim (uncredited vocals)
- Release Date: December 3, 2015
- Origin: Norway
- The Story: A massive EDM hit. The mysterious vibe of Alan Walker (wearing a mask) helped create a dedicated global fanbase called "Walkers."
22. Let Her Go – Passenger
- Views: ~3.6 Billion+
- Singer/Writer: Mike Rosenberg (Passenger)
- Release Date: July 25, 2012
- Origin: UK
- The Story: A simple folk song that took a long time to go viral. It is a testament to the power of emotional lyrics.
23. Girls Like You – Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B
- Views: ~3.6 Billion+
- Release Date: May 31, 2018
- The Story: The video features a rotating camera showing various famous women (Gal Gadot, Ellen DeGeneres, etc.), making it a star-studded tribute to women.
24. Lean On – Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ
- Views: ~3.5 Billion+
- Release Date: March 23, 2015
- Origin: USA/France/Denmark
- The Story: Filmed in India (Maharashtra), this song blends international EDM with Bollywood-style dance moves. It remains one of the most successful independent releases.
25. Bailando – Enrique Iglesias ft. Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona
- Views: ~3.5 Billion+
- Release Date: April 11, 2014
- Origin: Spain/Cuba
- The Story: Before "Despacito," there was "Bailando." It was the first Spanish-language video to cross 1 billion views on YouTube.
26. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
- Views: ~3.4 Billion+
- Writer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
- Release Date: August 18, 2014
- Origin: USA
- The Story: Taylor's full transition into pop music. The video features her trying (and failing) various dance styles, encouraging fans to just be themselves.
27. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Views: ~3.4 Billion+
- Release Date: November 9, 2017
- The Story: A winter-themed romantic video filmed in the Austrian Alps. It solidified Sheeran’s reputation as the modern king of love songs.
28. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) – Shakira
- Views: ~3.4 Billion+
- Release Date: June 4, 2010
- Origin: Colombia
- The Story: The official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Its infectious energy and dance moves make it the most-viewed sports-related video ever.
29. Mi Gente – J Balvin & Willy William
- Views: ~3.3 Billion+
- Release Date: June 29, 2017
- Origin: Colombia/France
- The Story: A remix of Willy William's "Voodoo Song." Its heavy bass and colorful video made it a staple in clubs worldwide.
30. Hello – Adele
- Views: ~3.2 Billion+
- Release Date: October 22, 2015
- Origin: UK
- The Story: Adele's big comeback. The video, filmed with IMAX cameras, broke the Vevo record for most views in 24 hours (27.7 million at the time).
These Top 30 songs represent a massive shift in global culture. From "Baby Shark’s" Fun in kids' content to the record-breaking rhythms of "Despacito," they prove that music language, creating a universal digital language shared by billions of viewers worldwide and you can also share your story in comment section.