Average FTSE 100 return
Over the last 10 years the FTSE 100 has returned +7.9% a year (CAGR) with dividends reinvested — +3.9% from price alone, and +4.4% after inflation. Since 2001 the annualized figure is +3.7%. Every standard window, through Oct 5, 2026:
| Window | Since | Total return /yr | Price only /yr | Dividends /yr | After inflation /yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | Oct 6, 2025 | +14.32% | +10.79% | +3.54% | +11.34% |
| 3 years | Oct 6, 2023 | +15.70% | +11.77% | +3.93% | +12.59% |
| 5 years | Oct 5, 2021 | +12.03% | +8.07% | +3.96% | +7.89% |
| 10 years | Oct 5, 2016 | +7.86% | +3.94% | +3.92% | +4.43% |
| 15 years | Oct 6, 2011 | +8.14% | +4.52% | +3.62% | +5.37% |
| 20 years | Oct 5, 2006 | +5.33% | +2.67% | +2.65% | +2.71% |
| 26.3 years (all data) | Aug 23, 2000 | +3.68% | +1.67% | +2.01% | +1.10% |
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+5.6%
- Monthly returns-1.0%
- Weekly returns+0.3%
- Trailing returns+10.6%
- YTD return+5.6%
- Drawdown from high−4.4%