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YouTube has always had content that is fun, creative, and changes the way people think. Every day, millions of people upload videos to YouTube, but only a few of them can cut through the noise and become the most popular video. But what is it that makes these videos so great? Are they there because they deserve to be, or is it just luck? Let's talk about how we made this list, which categories were the most popular, and which videos got billions of views because they were good.
We did this before we got to the list: As of May 24, 2025, our team looked into reliable sites like YouTube analytics, Wikipedia, and entertainment news. Every item on the list of record-breaking YouTube videos was verified to be accurate and current.
We didn't have to guess; we only picked the videos that had the most views on YouTube and were backed up by good data. There is a reason why these videos made history, whether they are animated baby videos, global music hits, or once-in-a-lifetime viral moments.
You might think that the top songs on the charts are only music videos on YouTube, but that's not true. Our research shows that the most popular YouTube video titles come from a variety of groups:
This proves that things can go viral in more than one place. Anything that makes people feel something, like baby videos or serious tributes, can go viral on the internet.
Yes, in a nutshell. Each of the top 10 most popular YouTube videos has something unique to offer:
All of these videos, whether they are animated, pop, or a tribute, got their views on their own, which shows how important they are to culture and feelings.
Based on our research, this is the current list of the most popular videos on YouTube:
These are the biggest names in streaming, from Cocomelon on YouTube to songs that are popular all over the world.
Some of these songs have become some of the greatest music videos of all time, including "Shape of You," "Despacito," and "Uptown Funk." They became famous not just for the music, but also for the whole experience the choreography, the visuals, and the fact that you could listen to them over and over again.
Some of them are even in the running for the most played song of all time, and they still get views every day, years after they came out.
As trends in content change, new creators and ideas come up all the time. But it's not enough to just be lucky to make a YouTube video that gets a lot of views. It should be something that people can relate to, that makes them feel something, and that everyone will like.
Will a new Cocomelon YouTube video take the top spot or will the next Hollywood song rule the charts? Time and clicks will tell.
Will the next Hollywood song be number one on the charts, or will a new Cocomelon YouTube video take the top spot? We'll see with time and clicks.
This list is still a celebration of digital entertainment and how video can change lives all over the world for now.
The "Baby Shark Dance" video by Pinkfong is the most popular video on YouTube right now, with over 14 billion views.
Some of the most popular videos are baby videos, music videos on YouTube, and viral animations. The best choices are kids' shows that teach something and pop music from all over the world.
"Baby Shark Dance" is the most popular song on YouTube right now. "Despacito" was the name of the song.
Jawed Karim, one of the co-founders, uploaded the first YouTube video, "Me at the Zoo," in 2005. The start of the YouTube age.
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