Russell 2000 returns by year
As of market close, Oct 2, 2026
Russell 2000 returns by year (2001–2026)#
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.
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $246.16 | $281.52 | chart → | 0.8% | +15.1% |
| 2025 | $220.96 | $246.16 | chart → | 1.3% | +12.7% |
| 2024 | $200.71 | $220.96 | chart → | 1.3% | +11.4% |
| 2023 | $174.36 | $200.71 | chart → | 1.7% | +16.8% |
| 2022 | $222.45 | $174.36 | chart → | 1.1% | -20.5% |
| 2021 | $196.06 | $222.45 | chart → | 1.1% | +14.5% |
| 2020 | $165.67 | $196.06 | chart → | 1.7% | +20.0% |
| 2019 | $133.90 | $165.67 | chart → | 1.7% | +25.4% |
| 2018 | $152.46 | $133.90 | chart → | 1.1% | -11.1% |
| 2017 | $134.85 | $152.46 | chart → | 1.5% | +14.6% |
| 2016 | $112.62 | $134.85 | chart → | 1.9% | +21.6% |
| 2015 | $119.62 | $112.62 | chart → | 1.4% | -4.5% |
| 2014 | $115.36 | $119.62 | chart → | 1.3% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | $84.32 | $115.36 | chart → | 1.9% | +38.7% |
| 2012 | $73.75 | $84.32 | chart → | 2.4% | +16.7% |
| 2011 | $78.24 | $73.75 | chart → | 1.3% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | $62.44 | $78.24 | chart → | 1.6% | +26.9% |
| 2009 | $49.24 | $62.44 | chart → | 1.7% | +28.5% |
| 2008 | $75.90 | $49.24 | chart → | 1.0% | -34.1% |
| 2007 | $78.03 | $75.90 | chart → | 0.9% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | $66.72 | $78.03 | chart → | 1.3% | +18.3% |
| 2005 | $64.75 | $66.72 | chart → | 1.4% | +4.5% |
| 2004 | $55.40 | $64.75 | chart → | 1.2% | +18.1% |
| 2003 | $37.91 | $55.40 | chart → | 1.4% | +47.6% |
| 2002 | $48.18 | $37.91 | chart → | 0.9% | -20.4% |
| 2001 | $47.88 | $48.18 | chart → | 1.2% | +1.8% |
- Annualized
- +8.4%
- 2001–2026
- Positive years
- 18/25
- 72% up
Annualized (CAGR)
+8.4%
2001–2026
Average year
+9.8%
25 full years
Russell 2000 average annual return →
Best year
+47.6%
2003
2003 chart & events →
Worst year
-34.1%
2008
2008 chart & events →
Positive years
18/25
72% up
Total return by period#
Annual
-40%-20%0%20%40%
2001+1.8%'01
2002-20%
2003+48%'03
2004+18%
2005+4.5%'05
2006+18%
2007-1.8%'07
2008-34%
2009+28%'09
2010+27%
2011-4.4%'11
2012+17%
2013+39%'13
2014+5.0%
2015-4.5%'15
2016+22%
2017+15%'17
2018-11%
2019+25%'19
2020+20%
2021+15%'21
2022-20%
2023+17%'23
2024+11%
2025+13%'25
2026+15%
Methodology#
Total returns, dividends reinvested, measured on IWM. 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 Russell 2000's average annual return?
- Since 2001, the Russell 2000 (proxied by IWM, dividends reinvested) has returned about 8.4% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 9.8%.
- What were Russell 2000's best and worst years?
- Over 2001–2026, the best year was 2003 (+47.6%) and the worst was 2008 (-34.1%).
- How often is Russell 2000 up in a year?
- 18 of the 25 full years since 2001 were positive — about 72% of the time.
More on Russell 2000
- Monthly returns+1.3%
- Weekly returns-0.2%
- Trailing returns+15.4%
- YTD return+14.4%
- Drawdown from high−7.7%
All 10 Russell 2000 pages →Annual returns for: S&P 500 · S&P 500 Equal Weight · US Stock Market · Nasdaq-100Tracked by IWM