What is S&P 500's average annual return?

Since 1994, the S&P 500 (proxied by SPY, dividends reinvested) has returned about 10.6% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.1%.

What were S&P 500's best and worst years?

Over 1994–2026, the best year was 1995 (+37.3%) and the worst was 2008 (-36.8%).

How often is S&P 500 up in a year?

25 of the 32 full years since 1994 were positive — about 78% of the time.

Market proxy SPY$764.291D +0.85%as of market close, Sep 11, 2026

Annual returns Yearly charts By month By week Trailing YTD Sectors Breadth Calculator Average

S&P 500 returns by year

Through September 11, 2026

S&P 500 returns by year (1994–2026)#

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.

S&P 500 annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Path	Dividend	Total return
2026 #YTD	$681.92	$764.29	chart →	+0.6%	+12.7%
2025 #	$586.08	$681.92	chart →	+1.4%	+17.7%
2024 #	$475.31	$586.08	chart →	+1.6%	+24.9%
2023 #	$382.43	$475.31	chart →	+1.9%	+26.2%
2022 #	$474.96	$382.43	chart →	+1.3%	-18.2%
2021 #	$373.88	$474.96	chart →	+1.7%	+28.7%
2020 #	$321.86	$373.88	chart →	+2.2%	+18.3%
2019 #	$249.92	$321.86	chart →	+2.4%	+31.2%
2018 #	$266.86	$249.92	chart →	+1.8%	-4.6%
2017 #	$223.53	$266.86	chart →	+2.3%	+21.7%
2016 #	$203.87	$223.53	chart →	+2.4%	+12.0%
2015 #	$205.54	$203.87	chart →	+2.0%	+1.2%
2014 #	$184.69	$205.54	chart →	+2.2%	+13.5%
2013 #	$142.41	$184.69	chart →	+2.6%	+32.3%
2012 #	$125.5	$142.41	chart →	+1.9%	+15.4%
2011 #	$125.75	$125.5	chart →	+2.1%	+1.9%
2010 #	$111.44	$125.75	chart →	+2.2%	+15.1%
2009 #	$90.24	$111.44	chart →	+2.9%	+26.4%
2008 #	$146.21	$90.24	chart →	+1.5%	-36.8%
2007 #	$141.62	$146.21	chart →	+1.9%	+5.1%
2006 #	$124.51	$141.62	chart →	+2.1%	+15.8%
2005 #	$120.87	$124.51	chart →	+1.3%	+4.3%
2004 #	$111.28	$120.87	chart →	+2.1%	+10.7%
2003 #	$88.23	$111.28	chart →	+2.1%	+28.2%
2002 #	$114.3	$88.23	chart →	+1.2%	-21.6%
2001 #	$131.19	$114.3	chart →	+1.1%	-11.8%
2000 #	$146.88	$131.19	chart →	+0.9%	-9.7%
1999 #	$123.31	$146.88	chart →	+1.3%	+20.4%
1998 #	$97.06	$123.31	chart →	+1.6%	+28.7%
1997 #	$73.84	$97.06	chart →	+2.0%	+33.5%
1996 #	$61.48	$73.84	chart →	+2.4%	+22.5%
1995 #	$45.56	$61.48	chart →	+2.4%	+37.3%
1994 #	$46.59	$45.56	chart →	+0.0%	-2.2%

Annualized: +10.6%; 1994–2026
Average year: +12.1%; 32 full years
Best year: +37.3%; 1995
Worst year: -36.8%; 2008
Positive years: 25/32; 78% up

Annualized (CAGR)

+10.6%

1994–2026

Average year

+12.1%

32 full years

S&P 500 average annual return →

Best year

+37.3%

1995

1995 chart & events →

Worst year

-36.8%

2008

2008 chart & events →

Positive years

25/32

78% up

Total return by period#

Annual

-30%-20%-10%0%10%20%30%

1994-2.2%'94

1995+37%

1996+22%

1997+33%'97

1998+29%

1999+20%

2000-9.7%'00

2001-12%

2002-22%

2003+28%'03

2004+11%

2005+4.3%

2006+16%'06

2007+5.1%

2008-37%

2009+26%'09

2010+15%

2011+1.9%

2012+15%'12

2013+32%

2014+13%

2015+1.2%'15

2016+12%

2017+22%

2018-4.6%'18

2019+31%

2020+18%

2021+29%'21

2022-18%

2023+26%

2024+25%'24

2025+18%

2026+13%

Methodology#

Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from SPY's split- and dividend-adjusted closes — a standard proxy for the S&P 500. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

FAQ#

What is S&P 500's average annual return?: Since 1994, the S&P 500 (proxied by SPY, dividends reinvested) has returned about 10.6% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.1%.
What were S&P 500's best and worst years?: Over 1994–2026, the best year was 1995 (+37.3%) and the worst was 2008 (-36.8%).
How often is S&P 500 up in a year?: 25 of the 32 full years since 1994 were positive — about 78% of the time.