From humble beginnings, YouTube now boasts billions of users, videos on every topic imaginable, and can take credit for a slew of careers that took their first steps on the platform.
It is now a media giant in its own right, and if a video goes viral, there’s a big chance you watched it on YouTube.
In its near 16 years of existence many different videos have held the coveted “most viewed” title, but which ones currently hold the crown?
Below we’ve listed the 20 most watched YouTube videos on the platform so you can find out.
20. “Baa Baa Black Sheep” by Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes (3.47bn views)
To start things off, we have a classic nursery rhyme, showing just how influential child viewership will be on this list.
19. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran (3.51bn views)
Now it’s Ed Sheeran’s turn, with his “Thinking Out Loud” video racking up a huge amount of views over the years.
18. "Crazy Frog" by Axel F (3.55bn views)
A blast from the past for people of a certain age, this song inexplicable has had a comeback in recent years.
17. “Sorry” by Justin Bieber (3.59bn views)
Justin Bieber was literally discovered on YouTube, so it’s perfectly natural for him to make the list. While his 2010 track “Baby” was itself a huge hit on YouTube way back when, his more recent track “Sorry” has vastly surpassed it.
16. “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic (3.66bn views)
In case you were wondering, yes, most of these are going to be music videos. Next it’s this 2013 video from OneRepublic.
15. “Roar” by Katy Perry (3.67bn views)
Katy Perry is the only female musician to make this list - and she makes it twice. Great for her, but not so great for gender representation.
14. “Sugar” by Maroon 5 (3.77bn views)
Next up we have Maroon 5.
13. “Dame Tu Cosita” by El Chombo, featuring Cutty Ranks (4.10bn views)
This strange and short video is up next. Depicting an alien-type creature dancing to “Dame Tu Cosita” by El Chombo, you would never guess it has over three billion views.
12. “Wheels on the Bus” by Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes (4.48bn views)
Our first video aimed at children on the list (and there are many), we have a video for this famous tune.
11. “Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster” by Get Movies (4.51bn views)
Now we have some kids entertainment again. This Russian video is from the Masha and the Bear series, all about a fatherly bear who looks after said Masha.
10. “Gangnam Style” by Psy (4.58bn views)
The archetype of viral YouTube videos, and one of the oldest ones on this list, it’s the K-pop megastar Psy with “Gangnam Style”.
While it’s been usurped since, it spent 1,689 days as the most viewed video on YouTube. No one else has yet come close to that record.
9. “Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm” by Miroshka TV (4.69bn views)
Next up is another educational video for kids. This is an animation that uses anthropomorphised eggs to teach them about colours. Not terrifying at all.
8. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson, featuring Bruno Mars (4.72bn views)
Although from 2017, it’s one of the newer videos on this list. Here we have Mark Ronson, with his global hit “Uptown Funk”.
7. “Phonics Song with Two Words” by ChuChu TV (4.95bn views)
We’ve reached our first non-music video on the list. This time it’s an educational one aimed at kids (and this is by no means the last one). In this video, the song is used to help children understand words and the alphabet.
6. “Bath Song” by Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes (5.67bn views)
Here’s another video aimed at children. This one is simply a kids song about taking a bath, with accompanying animation. We suppose this technically makes it a music video. Watch out K.Pez and Bieber.
5. “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa, featuring Charlie Puth (5.67bn views)
It’s back to music videos for the final stretch now, with Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again”. Have a watch to transport yourself back to 2015.
4. “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran (5.83bn views)
Ed Sheeran makes the list again, making him one of a select group that have two videos in the top 20 most viewed YouTube videos. Impressive stuff.
3. “Johny Johny Yes Papa” by LooLoo Kids (6.5bn views)
An animation set to an old nursery rhyme, this video also went viral after it was endlessly memed on Twitter due to it’s slightly surreal and bizarre nature.
2. “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, featuring Daddy Yankee (7.99bn views)
This huge track once held the top spot for 1,186 days, and has likely been put on at millions upon millions of parties since it was uploaded.
1. “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories (11.54bn views)
We reach our journey’s end, and what else could it be, but a music video and a video for children? The combo that generates views with ease.
You’ve probably already heard this incredibly catchy song, since it went viral around the world a few years ago. It’s continued to rack up the views since.
Be warned – if you watch you'll have the song stuck in your head for at least 72 hours.