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 2, 2026:
| Window | Since | Total return /yr | Price only /yr | Dividends /yr | After inflation /yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | Oct 2, 2025 | +15.32% | +13.64% | +1.69% | +12.32% |
| 3 years | Oct 3, 2023 | +22.59% | +20.74% | +1.85% | +19.29% |
| 5 years | Oct 4, 2021 | +12.26% | +10.51% | +1.76% | +8.11% |
| 10 years | Oct 3, 2016 | +13.12% | +11.12% | +1.99% | +9.52% |
| 14.7 years (all data) | Jan 20, 2012 | +11.98% | +9.90% | +2.07% | +9.06% |
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+11.7%
- Monthly returns+0.6%
- Weekly returns-0.6%
- Trailing returns+13.6%
- YTD return+11.7%
- Drawdown from high−1.9%