What is Dow Jones's average annual return?

Since 1999, the Dow Jones (proxied by DIA, dividends reinvested) has returned about 8.9% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 9.6%.

What were Dow Jones's best and worst years?

Over 1999–2026, the best year was 2013 (+29.6%) and the worst was 2008 (-32.2%).

How often is Dow Jones up in a year?

21 of the 27 full years since 1999 were positive — about 78% of the time.

Market proxy DIA$511.101D +0.49%as of market close, Oct 2, 2026

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Dow Jones returns by year

As of market close, Oct 2, 2026

Dow Jones returns by year (1999–2026)#

Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return). Every year has a direct link you can bookmark or share.

See every year as a chart, with the events that moved it → Or click a year below for its own chart.

Dow Jones annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Path	Dividend	Total return
2026 #YTD	$480.57	$511.10	chart →	1.2%	+7.5%
2025 #	$425.50	$480.57	chart →	1.8%	+14.7%
2024 #	$376.87	$425.50	chart →	1.9%	+14.8%
2023 #	$331.33	$376.87	chart →	2.3%	+16.0%
2022 #	$363.32	$331.33	chart →	1.8%	-7.0%
2021 #	$305.79	$363.32	chart →	2.0%	+20.8%
2020 #	$285.10	$305.79	chart →	2.3%	+9.6%
2019 #	$233.20	$285.10	chart →	2.8%	+25.0%
2018 #	$247.38	$233.20	chart →	2.0%	-3.7%
2017 #	$197.51	$247.38	chart →	2.8%	+28.1%
2016 #	$173.99	$197.51	chart →	2.9%	+16.4%
2015 #	$177.88	$173.99	chart →	2.3%	+0.1%
2014 #	$165.47	$177.88	chart →	2.2%	+9.7%
2013 #	$130.58	$165.47	chart →	2.9%	+29.6%
2012 #	$121.85	$130.58	chart →	2.5%	+9.7%
2011 #	$115.63	$121.85	chart →	2.7%	+8.1%
2010 #	$104.07	$115.63	chart →	2.9%	+14.0%
2009 #	$87.52	$104.07	chart →	3.4%	+22.3%
2008 #	$132.55	$87.52	chart →	1.8%	-32.2%
2007 #	$124.41	$132.55	chart →	2.3%	+8.8%
2006 #	$106.95	$124.41	chart →	2.2%	+18.6%
2005 #	$107.51	$106.95	chart →	1.9%	+1.4%
2004 #	$104.57	$107.51	chart →	2.2%	+5.0%
2003 #	$83.51	$104.57	chart →	2.7%	+27.9%
2002 #	$99.80	$83.51	chart →	1.6%	-14.7%
2001 #	$106.78	$99.80	chart →	1.5%	-5.1%
2000 #	$115.19	$106.78	chart →	1.4%	-5.9%
1999 #	$91.53	$115.19	chart →	1.7%	+27.6%

Annualized: +8.9%; 1999–2026
Average year: +9.6%; 27 full years
Best year: +29.6%; 2013
Worst year: -32.2%; 2008
Positive years: 21/27; 78% up

Annualized (CAGR)

+8.9%

1999–2026

Average year

+9.6%

27 full years

Dow Jones average annual return →

Best year

+29.6%

2013

2013 chart & events →

Worst year

-32.2%

2008

2008 chart & events →

Positive years

21/27

78% up

Total return by period#

Annual

-30%-20%-10%0%10%20%30%

1999+28%'99

2000-5.9%

2001-5.1%'01

2002-15%

2003+28%'03

2004+5.0%

2005+1.4%'05

2006+19%

2007+8.8%'07

2008-32%

2009+22%'09

2010+14%

2011+8.1%'11

2012+9.7%

2013+30%'13

2014+9.7%

2015+0.09%'15

2016+16%

2017+28%'17

2018-3.7%

2019+25%'19

2020+9.6%

2021+21%'21

2022-7.0%

2023+16%'23

2024+15%

2025+15%'25

2026+7.5%

Methodology#

Total returns, dividends reinvested, measured on DIA. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate; the current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns.

FAQ#

What is Dow Jones's average annual return?: Since 1999, the Dow Jones (proxied by DIA, dividends reinvested) has returned about 8.9% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 9.6%.
What were Dow Jones's best and worst years?: Over 1999–2026, the best year was 2013 (+29.6%) and the worst was 2008 (-32.2%).
How often is Dow Jones up in a year?: 21 of the 27 full years since 1999 were positive — about 78% of the time.