The English version of “Baby Shark” has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, making it the first children’s song and character intellectual property to achieve the feat, according to South Korean educational brand The Pinkfong Company.

Most songs to cross the billion-stream mark on the music platform are chart-topping hits by global stars such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, BTS and BLACKPINK.

Originally created as a children’s singalong tune, “Baby Shark” became a worldwide sensation thanks to its repetitive melody and instantly recognisable chorus, earning fans – and perhaps a few exhausted parents – across generations.

Its accompanying YouTube video, “Baby Shark Dance”, remains the platform’s most-viewed video globally, racking up an astonishing 16.9 billion views and holding the top spot for 65 consecutive months.

The song’s popularity also shows little sign of slowing down.

According to Pinkfong, “Baby Shark” recorded 137 million Spotify streams over the past year alone – averaging around 400,000 streams daily, or roughly five plays every second worldwide.

Recent listening data showed strong audiences in countries including the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, alongside Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the Philippines, Turkey and Indonesia.

The company said the song’s enduring popularity across multiple continents highlights its universal appeal beyond language and cultural barriers.

“Baby Shark” previously made waves on international music charts, debuting at No. 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2019 and remaining there for 20 consecutive weeks. It also climbed to No. 6 on the UK’s Official Singles Chart Top 100.

The song has since earned several major industry certifications, including Diamond status from the Recording Industry Association of America, five-times Platinum recognition in Britain, and Gold certification in France.