YouTube has revolutionized how music becomes popular. In the past, radio and television decided which songs would become hits. Now, a music video on YouTube can instantly reach billions of people worldwide, making view counts a reflection of global reach, cultural influence, and enduring popularity.
As of December 2025, only a small number of music videos have crossed the four-billion-view mark. These songs come from different countries, languages, and music styles, yet they all managed to connect with audiences across the world.
Below is the updated list of the most viewed music videos on YouTube, followed by a short explanation of each song.
Top 10 Most Viewed Music Videos Ever on YouTube
| Rank | Artist and Song | Views |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luis Fonsi – Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee | 8.8 billion |
| 2 | Wiz Khalifa – See You Again ft. Charlie Puth | 6.8 billion |
| 3 | Ed Sheeran – Shape of You | 6.6 billion |
| 4 | PSY – Gangnam Style | 5.7 billion |
| 5 | Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars | 5.7 billion |
| 6 | Crazy Frog – Axel F | 5.6 billion |
| 7 | El Chombo – Dame Tu Cosita | 5.2 billion |
| 8 | Shakira – Waka Waka | 4.3 billion |
| 9 | Maroon 5 – Sugar | 4.3 billion |
| 10 | OneRepublic – Counting Stars | 4.3 billion |
1. Despacito – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
Released in 2017, Despacito became a global hit almost overnight. The song’s rhythm, visuals, and summer feel helped it spread across countries and cultures. Even listeners who do not speak Spanish continue to watch and replay it. Years later, it remains the most viewed music video on YouTube.
2. See You Again – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
See You Again was released as a tribute to actor Paul Walker for the Fast and Furious movie series. The song’s emotional lyrics and connection to the film touched millions of people. Because of its strong emotional impact, viewers continue returning to the video, helping it stay near the top for many years.
3. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
Shape of You gained popularity because of its simple beat and catchy melody. It became a favorite for workouts, travel, and everyday listening. The song’s replay value is one of the main reasons it crossed more than six billion views, making it the most-watched video by a solo artist.
4. Gangnam Style – PSY
Gangnam Style was released in 2012 and quickly became a worldwide sensation. The dance moves, humor, and catchy music helped it spread rapidly online. It was the first YouTube video to reach one billion views and showed the world that non-English songs could dominate global platforms.
5. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Uptown Funk became popular because of its energetic beat and retro style. The song is still widely played at parties, events, and celebrations. Its fun visuals and dance-friendly rhythm continue to attract new viewers, helping it maintain its position among YouTube’s most-watched videos.
6. Axel F – Crazy Frog
Axel F by Crazy Frog stands out due to its animated style and appeal to younger audiences. Children often replay videos many times, which helped the song gain views steadily over the years. Its simple tune and animation played a major role in its long-term success.
7. Dame Tu Cosita – El Chombo
Dame Tu Cosita became famous because of its viral dance and animated alien character. The song spread quickly on social media and short video platforms. Its playful nature and strong meme culture presence helped it reach billions of views in a relatively short time.
Waka Waka – Shakira
Waka Waka gained worldwide attention during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The song became closely linked with football celebrations and international sports events. Even today, it continues to gain views during tournaments and festive occasions around the world.
Sugar – Maroon 5
Sugar became popular largely because of its music video concept, where the band surprises real couples at their weddings. The happy reactions and joyful atmosphere made the video highly shareable. Many people continue to watch it because of its positive and feel-good energy.
Counting Stars – OneRepublic
Counting Stars remains popular because of its uplifting lyrics and easy-to-listen melody. The song is often played in playlists, public places, and background videos. Its steady daily views helped it secure a place among the most viewed music videos on YouTube.
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This list is based on total lifetime views of official music videos available on YouTube. Children’s nursery videos were not included, even though some have higher view counts. Since YouTube updates view numbers regularly, rankings may change slightly over time.
