Last Updated: October 13, 2026 | Source: YouTube Charts & Official Record Label Registries
Historical Milestone Auditing Standards: This benchmark tracks the exact elapsed time between an official music video premiere and the moment its public counter crossed 1,000,000,000 views on YouTube worldwide. Unofficial fan uploads, audio rips, and promotional snippets are excluded. Data is verified using verified upload timestamps and distributor registry archives.
Tracking the fastest songs to reach 1 billion views on youtube measures all-time global streaming velocity. While total lifetime view counters favor catalog videos that have accumulated plays across more than a decade, this stopwatch leaderboard ranks releases by how rapidly they crossed the nine-figure to ten-figure boundary from premiere hour.
Top 50 Fastest Songs to Reach 1 Billion Views on YouTube — Rankings Table
The table below presents the audited Top 50 fastest music releases to reach 1 billion views on YouTube, ranked from shortest to longest elapsed time. Clicking any video thumbnail opens the official release directly on YouTube.
| Rank | Thumbnail | Song | Artist | Year | Language | Time to 1B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Hello | Adele | 2015 | English | 87d 9h |
| 2 |  | Despacito | Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee | 2017 | Spanish | 96d 12h |
| 3 |  | Shape of You | Ed Sheeran | 2017 | English | 97d 9h |
| 4 |  | Mi Gente | J Balvin, Willy William | 2017 | Spanish | 102d 16h |
| 5 |  | APT. | ROSÉ & Bruno Mars | 2024 | English / Korean | 105d 0h |
| 6 |  | Dai Dai | Shakira, Burna Boy | 2026 | Spanish / English | 105d 2h |
| 7 |  | Échame La Culpa | Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato | 2017 | Spanish / English | 110d 16h |
| 8 |  | Taki Taki | DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna, Cardi B | 2018 | Spanish / English | 115d 2h |
| 9 |  | Te Bote Remix | Casper, Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny, Ozuna | 2018 | Spanish | 119d 0h |
| 10 |  | X EQUIS | Nicky Jam x J. Balvin | 2018 | Spanish | 124d 21h |
| 11 |  | Girls Like You | Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B | 2018 | English | 129d 0h |
| 12 |  | Sorry | Justin Bieber | 2015 | English | 136d 4h |
| 13 |  | Chantaje | Shakira ft. Maluma | 2016 | Spanish | 139d 16h |
| 14 |  | Con Calma | Daddy Yankee & Snow | 2019 | Spanish | 139d 21h |
| 15 |  | Corazón | Maluma ft. Nego do Borel | 2017 | Spanish / Portuguese | 153d 2h |
| 16 |  | Gangnam Style | PSY | 2012 | Korean | 158d 19h |
| 17 |  | Felices los 4 | Maluma | 2017 | Spanish | 160d 7h |
| 18 |  | Closer Lyric Video | The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey | 2016 | English | 165d 0h |
| 19 |  | This Is What You Came For | Calvin Harris, Rihanna | 2016 | English | 165d 12h |
| 20 |  | Perfect | Ed Sheeran | 2017 | English | 167d 2h |
| 21 |  | China | Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna, J Balvin | 2019 | Spanish | 175d 4h |
| 22 |  | See You Again | Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth | 2015 | English | 181d 19h |
| 23 |  | Sin Pijama | Becky G, Natti Natasha | 2018 | Spanish | 187d 9h |
| 24 |  | Golden | EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI | 2025 | English / Korean | 199d 2h |
| 25 |  | Dura | Daddy Yankee | 2018 | Spanish | 200d 4h |
| 26 |  | Con Altura | ROSALÍA, J Balvin ft. El Guincho | 2019 | Spanish | 201d 2h |
| 27 |  | Calma Remix | Pedro Capó, Farruko | 2018 | Spanish | 202d 7h |
| 28 |  | Mayores | Becky G, Bad Bunny | 2017 | Spanish | 209d 7h |
| 29 |  | Starboy | The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk | 2016 | English | 221d 0h |
| 30 |  | New Rules | Dua Lipa | 2017 | English | 221d 12h |
| 31 |  | Work from Home | Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign | 2016 | English | 221d 19h |
| 32 |  | Rockabye | Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie | 2016 | English | 223d 19h |
| 33 |  | Dynamite | BTS | 2020 | English | 234d 2h |
| 34 |  | That’s What I Like | Bruno Mars | 2017 | English | 234d 12h |
| 35 |  | Blank Space | Taylor Swift | 2014 | English | 239d 0h |
| 36 |  | El Farsante Remix | Ozuna x Romeo Santos | 2018 | Spanish | 241d 4h |
| 37 |  | Lut Gaye | Jubin Nautiyal | 2021 | Hindi | 250d 12h |
| 38 |  | Life Is Good | Future ft. Drake | 2020 | English | 250d 16h |
| 39 |  | What Do You Mean? | Justin Bieber | 2015 | English | 251d 9h |
| 40 |  | 52 GAJ KA DAMAN | Renuka Panwar | 2020 | Haryanvi | 254d 12h |
| 41 |  | Ahora Dice | Chris Jedi ft. J. Balvin, Ozuna, Arcángel | 2017 | Spanish | 254d 19h |
| 42 |  | Die With A Smile | Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars | 2024 | English | 256d 7h |
| 43 |  | Havana | Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug | 2017 | English | 259d 16h |
| 44 |  | Vente Pa’ Ca | Ricky Martin ft. Maluma | 2016 | Spanish | 265d 9h |
| 45 |  | Dame Tu Cosita | El Chombo ft. Cutty Ranks | 2018 | Spanish | 270d 19h |
| 46 |  | We Don’t Talk Anymore | Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez | 2016 | English | 277d 0h |
| 47 |  | Lean On | Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ | 2015 | English | 290d 9h |
| 48 |  | Déjala Que Vuelva | Piso 21 & Manuel Turizo | 2017 | Spanish | 292d 19h |
| 49 |  | Uptown Funk | Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars | 2014 | English | 299d 9h |
| 50 |  | Side To Side | Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj | 2016 | English | 303d 0h |
what is the fastest song to reach 1 billion views on youtube?
Hello by Adele is the #1 title among the fastest songs to reach 1 billion views on youtube, completing the milestone in 87 days and 9 hours. It is followed by Latin crossover Despacito at 96 days 12 hours, Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You at 97 days 9 hours, J Balvin’s Mi Gente at 102 days 16 hours, ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’s APT. at 105 days, and Shakira and Burna Boy’s Dai Dai at 105 days 2 hours.
note: elapsed times are historical measurements calculated between video public premiere and audited crossing of 1,000,000,000 views.
Table of Contents
Methodology and Verification
This historical milestone ranking tracks the elapsed speed from public premiere to reaching 1,000,000,000 views on YouTube across all official releases:
- Milestone Calculation: Measured as the exact elapsed time from an eligible music video public YouTube premiere until its official platform counter registered 1 billion views.
- Official Sources Only: Validated exclusively from verified record labels and primary distributor channels including XL Recordings, Universal Music Latino, Atlantic Records, Sony Music, THEBLACKLABEL, HYBE LABELS, and T-Series.
- Eligible Visuals: Includes primary official music videos, studio choreography performance releases, and official high-production lyric visuals. Unofficial fan edits and non-musical clips are excluded.
- Historical Record: Once a video achieves 1 billion views, its recorded time-to-milestone remains permanently fixed.
Key Highlights and Streaming Insights
Key velocity trends and milestones among the fastest songs to reach 1 billion views on youtube:
- Adele Holds the All-Time Record: Hello remains the only music video in digital history to break 1 billion views in under 90 days, crossing the threshold in 87 days and 9 hours.
- Sub-100 Day Club: Only three tracks in history have cleared 1 billion views in double-digit days: Hello at 87.4 days, Despacito at 96.5 days, and Shape of You at 97.4 days.
- Latin Pop Dominance: Spanish-language releases occupy a major share of the upper echelon, including Despacito, Mi Gente, Dai Dai, Échame La Culpa, Taki Taki, and Te Bote Remix.
- Modern Velocity Leaders: ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’s smash APT. at 105 days along with Shakira and Burna Boy’s Dai Dai at 105.1 days lead the fastest crossovers of the mid-2020s.
- Bruno Mars Multi-Entry Presence: Bruno Mars appears four separate times across the Top 50 with APT., That’s What I Like, Die With A Smile, and Uptown Funk.
- Indian Music Representation: Jubin Nautiyal’s Lut Gaye at roughly 250 days and Renuka Panwar’s 52 GAJ KA DAMAN at roughly 254 days represent the fastest Indian entries in the global Top 50.
Top 10 Fastest Songs to Reach 1 Billion Views In-Depth Breakdown
1. Hello – Adele
Origin: United Kingdom | Language: English
Milestone: #1 fastest song in YouTube history to cross 1 billion views: 87 days 9 hours.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Premiering in October 2015 as the lead single from 25, Adele’s “Hello” shattered all existing streaming metrics upon release. Driven by universal anticipation following a multi-year hiatus, Xavier Dolan’s cinematic sepia visual attracted historic repeat viewership worldwide, making it the only music release to eclipse 1 billion views in under 90 days.
2. Despacito – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
Origin: Puerto Rico | Language: Spanish
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 96 days 12 hours, fastest Latin release of all time.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: “Despacito” sparked an unprecedented global reggaeton revolution throughout early 2017. Filmed in the vibrant La Perla neighborhood of Old San Juan, its warm acoustic guitar riffs and magnetic rhythm broke cultural barriers across Latin America, Europe, and Asia, storming past 1 billion views in 96.5 days.
3. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
Origin: United Kingdom | Language: English
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 97 days 9 hours, ranking third all time.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Released as part of Ed Sheeran’s ÷ album rollout, “Shape of You” combined marimba-infused dancehall pop rhythms with an endearing boxing gym storyline. Its ubiquitous global radio support and massive gym and dance playlist adoption carried it to nine figures in roughly 97 days.
4. Mi Gente – J Balvin & Willy William
Origin: Colombia & France | Language: Spanish
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 102 days 16 hours.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Built on a hypnotic vocal chop hook by French producer Willy William, “Mi Gente” was designed as an inclusive anthem uniting people through rhythm. Its colorful visual aesthetics and explosive club momentum across multiple continents made it one of the fastest global dance videos to cross ten figures.
5. APT. – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
Origin: South Korea & United States | Language: English / Korean
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 105 days 0 hours, fastest Asian-led release of all time.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Taking inspiration from the popular Korean apartment drinking game, “APT.” paired BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ with Bruno Mars in a playful, garage-punk pop setting. The ultra-catchy intro chant sparked an uncontrollable viral trend across Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, carrying it past 1 billion in exactly 105 days.
6. Dai Dai – Shakira & Burna Boy
Origin: Colombia & Nigeria | Language: Spanish / English
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 105 days 2 hours, fastest Afro-Latin collaboration in history.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Uniting Colombian superstar Shakira with Nigerian Afrobeats pioneer Burna Boy, “Dai Dai” delivered a world-class summer anthem celebrating resilience, celebration, and intercultural solidarity. Powered by major soccer tournament anticipation and dynamic choreography, the release surged across both African and Latin American fanbases simultaneously.
7. Échame La Culpa – Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato
Origin: Puerto Rico & United States | Language: Spanish / English
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 110 days 16 hours.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Following up directly on the astronomical momentum of “Despacito”, Luis Fonsi teamed up with Demi Lovato for an energetic bilingual breakup dance track. Premiering in late 2017, the visual commanded heavy international television and playlist presence, crossing ten figures in roughly 110 days.
8. Taki Taki – DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B
Origin: France, United States & Puerto Rico | Language: Spanish / English
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 115 days 2 hours.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Bringing together Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B on a sinister, hard-hitting moombahton bassline crafted by DJ Snake, “Taki Taki” was an engineered global blockbuster. Its dark volcano-set visual achieved massive initial day velocity, cruising to 1 billion views in 115 days.
9. Te Bote Remix – Casper, Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny & Ozuna
Origin: Puerto Rico | Language: Spanish
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 119 days 0 hours.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Despite running nearly seven minutes long, this star-studded Latin trap remix defined the summer of 2018. Combining verses from Bad Bunny, Ozuna, and Nicky Jam with an unforgettable melancholic hook, the visual maintained massive replay value across all Spanish-speaking markets, reaching 1B in 119 days.
10. X EQUIS – Nicky Jam x J Balvin
Origin: Puerto Rico & Colombia | Language: Spanish
Milestone: Reached 1 billion views in 124 days 21 hours.
How It Reached 1B So Fast: Powered by an infectious dancehall beat produced by Afro Bros and Jeon, “X EQUIS” went viral on the strength of Nicky Jam and J Balvin’s signature shuffle choreography. The video triggered a massive celebrity dance challenge, propelling the track past 1 billion views in under 125 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest song to reach 1 billion views on YouTube?
Hello by Adele is the fastest song in this ranking to reach 1 billion views on YouTube, taking 87 days and 9 hours after its premiere.
Which languages dominate the fastest 1 billion views list?
English and Spanish dominate the top ranks alongside major Korean, Portuguese, and Indian regional releases in Hindi and Haryanvi.
What is the fastest K-Pop or Asian music video to reach 1 billion views?
APT. by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars is the highest-ranked Asian-led release in this dataset, reaching 1 billion views in 105 days.
Which is the fastest Indian song to reach 1 billion views?
Among the Indian releases in this ranking, Lut Gaye by Jubin Nautiyal is the fastest, reaching 1 billion views in approximately 250 days. 52 GAJ KA DAMAN by Renuka Panwar follows at approximately 254 days.
How often is the fastest 1 billion views ranking updated?
The ranking is reviewed and updated when new official music videos cross 1 billion views or when existing milestone timestamps are verified. Because this tracks historical premiere-to-milestone velocity, a video’s recorded time does not change after crossing 1 billion views.
Final Thoughts
The fastest songs to reach 1 billion views on youtube highlight how quickly international music can spread across digital channels. Adele’s “Hello” retains the historic top mark, while Latin anthems, global pop collaborations, K-Pop phenomena, and Indian regional blockbusters reflect the diversity of music crossing YouTube’s ten-figure landmark.
Because new releases continue to achieve milestones, Songray monitors platform statistics and integrates new qualifying releases as verified 1-billion crossings occur.
Explore more music records on Songray: