10 Most-Watched Videos on YouTube in 2024: 'Baby Shark' to 'Gangnam Style'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - "Me at the Zoo", a short video with no significant editing, remains historical for YouTube. Since the very first YouTube video uploaded on April 25, 2005, there have been countless videos on the platform.

Some videos stand out, amassing views in the millions, or even billions. With the vast variety of content available, what kind of videos have captured the most attention on YouTube?

In this article, we will look into the most-watched videos on YouTube for the year 2024.

List of the Most Viewed Videos on YouTube 2024

According to Forbes India and Statista's findings, music videos (MVs) seem to be the type of content generating a sheer amount of views, as well as fostering viewer's engagement.

MVs, including “Baby Shark” by Pinkfong and “Despacito”, have garnered a significant amount of views. Scroll down to read the full list.

1. ‘Baby Shark Dance’ - Pinkfong (14.9 billion)

Who would have thought that a children's song about a shark family would become the most viewed video on YouTube? As of August 2024, “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong has amassed an amazing amount of views equivalent to over 14.9 billion.

This catchy children's song has held the top spot for quite some time. With its repetitive and fun lyrics, "Baby Shark Dance" has become a global phenomenon, adored by most young viewers.

2. ‘Despacito’ - Luis Fonsi (8.5 billion)

Second on the list is Luis Fonsi's “Despacito”, which literally translates as ‘slowly’. Tempo finds that the Latin hit has reached over 8.5 billion views, as of August 2024.

It doesn't come to a surprise as its infectious rhythm and captivating visuals have kept it among the top, attracting viewers from all over the world.

3. ‘Johny Johny Yes Papa’ - LooLoo Kids (6.9 billion)

Besides “Baby Shark Dance”, “Johny Johny Yes Papa” is another all-time favorite among younger audiences all over the globe. Standing at over 6.9 billion view count, this LooLoo Kids’ content is consistent on being one of the most viewed songs on YouTube.

This simple yet engaging nursery rhyme is perfect for early learners. So, did Johny actually eat sugar?

4. ‘Bath Song’ - Cocomelon (6.8 billion)

Uploaded on May 2, 2018, “Bath Song” by Cocomelon follows after “Johny Johny Yes Papa”. The children's song has generated an estimated 16 million likes and more than 6.8 billion views.

Despite its simplicity, it is adored by childrens and parents and even helps make bath time fun. Moreover, Cocomelon's “Bath Song” continues to capture the interest of younger viewers.

5. ‘Wheels on the Bus’ - Cocomelon (6.4 billion)

Cocomelon seems to have specialized in creating highly-engaged content. This yet another children's favorite amassed a sheer amount of 6.4 billion views, surpassing “See You Again” and “Shape of You”.

6. ‘See You Again’ - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth (6.36 billion)

"See You Again" is more than just a song; it’s a tribute to the late actor Paul Walker. Its emotional lyrics have resonated with many, keeping it among the most viewed songs on YouTube.

7. ‘Shape of You’ - Ed Sheeran (6.31 billion)

Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" remains a favorite, consistently becoming one of the top YouTube videos. It comes close to that of Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” in terms of view count, standing at 6.32 billion.

Its catchy tune has become a universal appeal. Do you have this song on your playlist?

8. ‘Phonics Song with Two Words’ - ChuChu TV (5.9 billion)

Educational content for kids is consistently popular, and "Phonics Song with Two Words" by ChuChu TV is no exception. This video helps children learn phonics through repetition and song, contributing it to be one of the most-watched on YouTube.

9. ‘Uptown Funk’ - Mark Ronson (5.3 billion)

While Bruno Mars has produced numerous award-worthy songs, "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring him remains on the top videos on YouTube. Its upbeat and energetic rhythm continues to be a popular choice worldwide.

10. ‘Gangnam Style’ - PSY (5.2 billion)

It would be a crime to not include “Gangnam Style” by PSY on this list. The video was viral and even successfully topped music charts in more than 30 countries by August 2012, Forbes mentioned.

Following the success of “Gangnam Style”, the South Korean artist has also produced some other catchy songs, including “Gentleman” and “DADDY”, which both were, too, garnered a tremendous amount of views and likes. Even so, years after its release, "Gangnam Style" will always remain iconic.

Based on this list, one can conclude that music-related content has a higher possibility to be an internet sensation. To add, Statista informed that movie trailers, especially the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ones, are also another type of videos on YouTube to gain lots of views.

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