Japanese Stock Market returns by year
Japanese Stock Market has returned +2.8% annually (CAGR) since 1997. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for the Japanese Stock Market (proxied by EWJ, dividends reinvested) below, through September 4, 2026 — the most recent year is Through September 4, 2026; the running year is Japanese Stock Market year-to-date.
- Annualized
- +2.8%
- 1997–2026
- Average year
- +5.0%
- 29 full years
- Best year
- +60.9%
- 1999
- Worst year
- -30.3%
- 2001
- Positive years
- 19/29
- 66% up
Japanese Stock Market returns by year (1997–2026)#
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.
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $80.74 | $98.28 | chart → | +0.7% | +22.4% |
| 2025 | $67.1 | $80.74 | +5.5% | +25.8% | |
| 2024 | $64.14 | $67.1 | +2.4% | +7.0% | |
| 2023 | $54.44 | $64.14 | +2.5% | +20.3% | |
| 2022 | $66.96 | $54.44 | +1.0% | -17.7% | |
| 2021 | $67.56 | $66.96 | +2.0% | +1.2% | |
| 2020 | $59.24 | $67.56 | +1.4% | +15.4% | |
| 2019 | $50.69 | $59.24 | +2.5% | +19.3% | |
| 2018 | $59.93 | $50.69 | +1.3% | -14.1% | |
| 2017 | $48.86 | $59.93 | +1.6% | +24.3% | |
| 2016 | $48.48 | $48.86 | +2.0% | +2.8% | |
| 2015 | $44.96 | $48.48 | +1.3% | +9.2% | |
| 2014 | $48.56 | $44.96 | +1.2% | -6.2% | |
| 2013 | $39 | $48.56 | +1.5% | +26.0% | |
| 2012 | $36.44 | $39 | +2.2% | +9.2% | |
| 2011 | $43.64 | $36.44 | +1.7% | -14.8% | |
| 2010 | $38.96 | $43.64 | +1.6% | +13.6% | |
| 2009 | $38.32 | $38.96 | +1.5% | +3.1% | |
| 2008 | $53.16 | $38.32 | +0.9% | -27.0% | |
| 2007 | $56.84 | $53.16 | +1.0% | -5.5% | |
| 2006 | $54.08 | $56.84 | +0.8% | +5.9% | |
| 2005 | $43.68 | $54.08 | +0.5% | +24.3% | |
| 2004 | $38.56 | $43.68 | +0.5% | +13.7% | |
| 2003 | $27.8 | $38.56 | +0.0% | +38.7% | |
| 2002 | $30.84 | $27.8 | +0.0% | -9.9% | |
| 2001 | $44.25 | $30.84 | +0.0% | -30.3% | |
| 2000 | $65.25 | $44.25 | +2.2% | -29.9% | |
| 1999 | $41 | $65.25 | +1.7% | +60.9% | |
| 1998 | $39.5 | $41 | +0.1% | +3.9% | |
| 1997 | $52.25 | $39.5 | +0.0% | -24.4% |
Total return by period#
Methodology#
Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from EWJ's split- and dividend-adjusted closes — a standard proxy for the Japanese Stock Market. 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. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
FAQ#
- What is Japanese Stock Market's average annual return?
- Since 1997, the Japanese Stock Market (proxied by EWJ, dividends reinvested) has returned about 2.8% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 5.0%.
- What were Japanese Stock Market's best and worst years?
- Over 1997–2026, the best year was 1999 (+60.9%) and the worst was 2001 (-30.3%).
- How often is Japanese Stock Market up in a year?
- 19 of the 29 full years since 1997 were positive — about 66% of the time.
More on Japanese Stock Market
- Monthly returns+2.5%
- Weekly returns+2.5%
- Trailing returns+29.5%
- YTD return+22.4%
- Drawdown from high−0.2%