What is Nasdaq-100's average annual return?

Since 2000, the Nasdaq-100 (proxied by QQQ, dividends reinvested) has returned about 10.4% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.2%.

What were Nasdaq-100's best and worst years?

Over 2000–2026, the best year was 2023 (+54.9%) and the worst was 2008 (-41.9%).

How often is Nasdaq-100 up in a year?

20 of the 26 full years since 2000 were positive — about 77% of the time.

Market proxy QQQ$709.801D -2.50%as of market close, Oct 16, 2026

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Nasdaq-100 total returns by year (including dividends)

As of market close, Oct 16, 2026

Nasdaq-100 total returns by year (2000–2026)#

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.

See every year as a chart, with the events that moved it → Or click a year below for its own chart.

Nasdaq-100 annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Path	Dividend	Total return
2026 #YTD	$614.31	$709.80	chart →	0.4%	+15.9%
2025 #	$511.23	$614.31	chart →	0.6%	+20.8%
2024 #	$409.52	$511.23	chart →	0.7%	+25.6%
2023 #	$266.28	$409.52	chart →	1.1%	+54.9%
2022 #	$397.85	$266.28	chart →	0.5%	-32.6%
2021 #	$313.74	$397.85	chart →	0.6%	+27.4%
2020 #	$212.61	$313.74	chart →	1.1%	+48.6%
2019 #	$154.26	$212.61	chart →	1.1%	+39.0%
2018 #	$155.76	$154.26	chart →	0.8%	-0.1%
2017 #	$118.48	$155.76	chart →	1.2%	+32.7%
2016 #	$111.86	$118.48	chart →	1.2%	+7.1%
2015 #	$103.25	$111.86	chart →	1.1%	+9.4%
2014 #	$87.96	$103.25	chart →	1.8%	+19.2%
2013 #	$65.13	$87.96	chart →	1.6%	+36.6%
2012 #	$55.83	$65.13	chart →	0.3%	+16.9%
2011 #	$54.46	$55.83	chart →	0.0%	+2.5%
2010 #	$45.75	$54.46	chart →	0.0%	+19.0%
2009 #	$29.74	$45.75	chart →	0.0%	+53.8%
2008 #	$51.22	$29.74	chart →	0.0%	-41.9%
2007 #	$43.16	$51.22	chart →	0.0%	+18.7%
2006 #	$40.41	$43.16	chart →	0.0%	+6.8%
2005 #	$39.92	$40.41	chart →	0.0%	+1.2%
2004 #	$36.46	$39.92	chart →	0.0%	+9.5%
2003 #	$24.37	$36.46	chart →	0.0%	+49.6%
2002 #	$38.91	$24.37	chart →	0.0%	-37.4%
2001 #	$58.38	$38.91	chart →	0.0%	-33.3%
2000 #	$91.38	$58.38	chart →	0.0%	-36.1%

Annualized: +10.4%; 2000–2026
Average year: +12.2%; 26 full years
Best year: +54.9%; 2023
Worst year: -41.9%; 2008
Positive years: 20/26; 77% up

Annualized (CAGR)

+10.4%

2000–2026

Average year

+12.2%

26 full years

Nasdaq-100 average annual return →

Best year

+54.9%

2023

2023 chart & events →

Worst year

-41.9%

2008

2008 chart & events →

Positive years

20/26

77% up

Total return by period#

Annual

-40%-20%0%20%40%

2000-36%'00

2001-33%

2002-37%'02

2003+50%

2004+9.5%'04

2005+1.2%

2006+6.8%'06

2007+19%

2008-42%'08

2009+54%

2010+19%'10

2011+2.5%

2012+17%'12

2013+37%

2014+19%'14

2015+9.4%

2016+7.1%'16

2017+33%

2018-0.13%'18

2019+39%

2020+49%'20

2021+27%

2022-33%'22

2023+55%

2024+26%'24

2025+21%

2026+16%'26

Methodology#

Total returns, dividends reinvested, measured on QQQ. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate; the current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns.

FAQ#

What is Nasdaq-100's average annual return?: Since 2000, the Nasdaq-100 (proxied by QQQ, dividends reinvested) has returned about 10.4% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.2%.
What were Nasdaq-100's best and worst years?: Over 2000–2026, the best year was 2023 (+54.9%) and the worst was 2008 (-41.9%).
How often is Nasdaq-100 up in a year?: 20 of the 26 full years since 2000 were positive — about 77% of the time.