returns by year
Gold has returned +10.3% annually (CAGR) since 2005. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly returns for Gold (proxied by GLD) below — the most recent year is year-to-date.
Updated July 2, 2026
Gold returns by year (2005–2026)#
Calendar-year returns with each year's price path.
| Year | Path | Return |
|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | -4.6% | |
| 2025 | +63.7% | |
| 2024 | +26.7% | |
| 2023 | +12.7% | |
| 2022 | -0.8% | |
| 2021 | -4.1% | |
| 2020 | +24.8% | |
| 2019 | +17.9% | |
| 2018 | -1.9% | |
| 2017 | +12.8% | |
| 2016 | +8.0% | |
| 2015 | -10.7% |
Return by period
Methodology#
Gold pays no dividends, so returns are simple price changes computed from GLD's daily closes (in USD). The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
FAQ
- What is Gold's average annual return?
- Since 2005, Gold (proxied by GLD) has returned about 10.3% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.6%.
- What were Gold's best and worst years?
- Over 2005–2026, the best year was 2025 (+63.7%) and the worst was 2013 (-28.3%).
- How often is Gold up in a year?
- 15 of the 21 full years since 2005 were positive — about 71% of the time.
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