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 19 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. “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic (4.1bn views)

To start things off, we have a 2013 video from American pop-rock band OneRepublic. 

19. "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira (4.1bn views)

“Waka Waka” by Colombian singer Shakira, featuring the South African band Freshlyground, has moved up one place since last year. “Waka Waka” was released on May 7, 2010 as the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was held in South Africa.

18. “Sugar” by Maroon 5 (4.15bn views)

Next up, we have Maroon 5.

17. “Shree Hanuman Chalisa” by T-Series Bhakti Sagar (4.26bn views)

The "Shree Hanuman Chalisa" is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman, a Hindu god who is half-monkey and half-human, celebrated for his strength, devotion, and courage.  

The version by T-Series Bhakti Sagar is widely popular in prayers and spiritual gatherings. 

16. "Lakdi ki kathi" by JingleToons (4.3bn views)

A popular Hindi children's song about the bliss of childhood. 

The publisher of this video has disabled playback on other sites. You can find the video here.

15. “Baa Baa Black Sheep” by Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes (4.32bn views)

A classic nursery rhyme, showing just how influential child viewership is on this list.

14. “Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster” by Get Movies (4.6bn 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.

13. “Dame Tu Cosita” by El Chombo, featuring Cutty Ranks (4.91bn 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 almost five billion views. 

12. "Crazy Frog" by Axel F (4.94bn views)

A blast from the past for people of a certain age, this song has inexplicably made a comeback in recent years.

11. “Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm” by Miroshka TV (5.2bn views)

This is a great educational video for kids, an animation that uses anthropomorphized eggs to teach them about colors.

10. “Gangnam Style” by Psy (5.41bn views)

The archetype of viral YouTube videos, one of the oldest ones on this list, is the K-pop megastar Psy with “Gangnam Style.”

While it’s been usurped since it was released, it spent 1,689 days as the most viewed video on YouTube (that’s 4.6 years!). No one else has yet come close to that record.

9. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson, featuring Bruno Mars (5.43bn views)

Although from 2017, it’s one of the newer videos on this list. Here we have Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars with their global hit “Uptown Funk.”

8. “Phonics Song with Two Words” by ChuChu TV (6.2bn views)

Yet another educational one aimed at kids (and not the last one on our list). In this video, the song is used to help children understand words and the alphabet.

7. “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran (6.39bn views)

Ed Sheeran has remained #7 on our list of the top 20 most viewed YouTube videos.  

6. “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa, featuring Charlie Puth (6.52bn views)

At #6 is Wiz Khalifa’s 2015 hit, “See You Again.” 

5. “Wheels on the Bus” by Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes (6.94bn views)

Another video on our list aimed at children.

4. “Bath Song” by Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes (6.95bn 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 Bieber. 

3. “Johny Johny Yes Papa” by LooLoo Kids (6.99bn views)

An animation set to an old nursery rhyme, this video also went viral after it was endlessly memed on Twitter due to its slightly surreal and bizarre nature. 

2. “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, featuring Daddy Yankee (8.62bn 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 (15.46bn 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 worldwide 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.

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