Average MSCI ACWI return
Over the last 10 years the MSCI ACWI has returned +12.6% a year (CAGR) with dividends reinvested — +10.6% from price alone, and +9.0% after inflation. Since 2009 the annualized figure is +7.9%. 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 | +16.86% | +15.09% | +1.77% | +13.81% |
| 3 years | Oct 6, 2023 | +22.34% | +20.34% | +2.00% | +19.05% |
| 5 years | Oct 5, 2021 | +11.86% | +9.93% | +1.93% | +7.72% |
| 10 years | Oct 5, 2016 | +12.62% | +10.55% | +2.07% | +9.04% |
| 15 years | Oct 6, 2011 | +11.62% | +9.65% | +1.96% | +8.77% |
| 18.5 years (all data) | Apr 7, 2008 | +7.87% | +6.33% | +1.54% | +5.33% |
Annualized (CAGR) from ACWI 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 17 full calendar years, the market finished positive 76% of the time, with a best year of +30.4% (2009) and a worst of -18.4% (2022). The arithmetic mean of single years is +11.7% and the median +16.3% — but compounding through the crashes brings the realized annualized return to +7.9%. Almost no individual year lands near the average.
Related#
See each year individually on MSCI ACWI returns by year, or check this year's YTD so far.
More on MSCI ACWI
- Returns by year+13.9%
- Monthly returns+1.5%
- Weekly returns+0.6%
- Trailing returns+15.5%
- YTD return+13.9%
- Drawdown from high−0.8%