Average MSCI World return
Over the last 10 years the MSCI World has returned +13.1% a year (CAGR) with dividends reinvested — +11.1% from price alone, and +9.5% after inflation. Since 2013 the annualized figure is +12.0%. 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 | +15.32% | +13.63% | +1.69% | +12.31% |
| 3 years | Oct 6, 2023 | +22.00% | +20.16% | +1.84% | +18.72% |
| 5 years | Oct 5, 2021 | +12.18% | +10.43% | +1.75% | +8.03% |
| 10 years | Oct 5, 2016 | +13.13% | +11.14% | +1.99% | +9.53% |
| 14.7 years (all data) | Jan 23, 2012 | +12.01% | +9.94% | +2.07% | +9.10% |
Annualized (CAGR) from URTH 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 13 full calendar years, the market finished positive 77% of the time, with a best year of +28.1% (2019) and a worst of -18.0% (2022). The arithmetic mean of single years is +12.6% and the median +18.7% — but compounding through the crashes brings the realized annualized return to +12.0%. Almost no individual year lands near the average.
Related#
See each year individually on MSCI World returns by year, or check this year's YTD so far.
More on MSCI World
- Returns by year+12.3%
- Monthly returns+1.1%
- Weekly returns+0.5%
- Trailing returns+14.0%
- YTD return+12.3%
- Drawdown from high−1.4%