Average FTSE 100 return
Over the last 10 years the FTSE 100 has returned +7.9% a year (CAGR) with dividends reinvested — +4.0% from price alone, and +4.5% after inflation. Since 2001 the annualized figure is +3.7%. Every standard window, through Oct 2, 2026:
| Window | Since | Total return /yr | Price only /yr | Dividends /yr | After inflation /yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | Oct 2, 2025 | +14.59% | +11.06% | +3.53% | +11.61% |
| 3 years | Oct 3, 2023 | +15.71% | +11.77% | +3.93% | +12.59% |
| 5 years | Oct 4, 2021 | +12.21% | +8.24% | +3.97% | +8.06% |
| 10 years | Oct 3, 2016 | +7.92% | +3.99% | +3.92% | +4.48% |
| 15 years | Oct 3, 2011 | +8.36% | +4.73% | +3.62% | +5.59% |
| 20 years | Oct 2, 2006 | +5.36% | +2.70% | +2.65% | +2.74% |
| 26.3 years (all data) | Aug 23, 2000 | +3.67% | +1.66% | +2.01% | +1.09% |
Annualized (CAGR) from ISF daily closes at exact anniversary dates; inflation adjustment uses CPI (CPIAUCSL). The dividends column is the reinvested-dividend contribution — total return minus price return.
The years behind the average#
“Average” hides how lumpy the ride is: across 25 full calendar years, the market finished positive 72% of the time, with a best year of +26.0% (2025) and a worst of -31.3% (2008). The arithmetic mean of single years is +4.9% and the median +9.0% — but compounding through the crashes brings the realized annualized return to +3.7%. Almost no individual year lands near the average.
Related#
See each year individually on FTSE 100 returns by year, or check this year's YTD so far.
More on FTSE 100
- Returns by year+5.3%
- Monthly returns-1.3%
- Weekly returns-2.1%
- Trailing returns+11.0%
- YTD return+5.3%
- Drawdown from high−4.6%