MSCI World index: historical returns since 1972 (in US Dollars)

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From 03-01-1972 to 23-07-2026 · Index data, in USD

Backtest results
Summary
Performance
Annual returns
Drawdowns
Rolling returns
Risk metrics

In the last 55 years, the MSCI World (in USD) had a compound annual growth rate of 14.32%, a standard deviation of 17.24%, a Sharpe ratio of 0.72, and a maximum drawdown of -57.72%. $10,000 invested in 1972 would be worth about $1,846,100 today.

Annual rate of return 14.32%
Standard deviation 17.24%
Sharpe ratio 0.72
Max. drawdown -57.72%

ETFs tracking the MSCI World

Name Ticker Exchange ISIN Backtest
Amundi Core MSCI World Swap UCITS ETF Dist AHYQ XETRA LU2572257124 View backtest →
Amundi Core MSCI World UCITS ETF Acc MWRD PA IE000BI8OT95 View backtest →
Amundi Core MSCI World UCITS ETF USD Dist MWOE XETRA IE000CNSFAR2 View backtest →
Amundi Index MSCI World UCITS ETF DR (C) WRDU LSE LU1437016972 View backtest →
Amundi Index MSCI World UCITS ETF DR EUR (D) 10AH F LU1737652237 View backtest →
Amundi MSCI World Swap II UCITS ETF Acc WLDC MI FR0014003IY1 View backtest →
Amundi MSCI World Swap II UCITS ETF Dist LYYA F FR0010315770 View backtest →
Amundi MSCI World Swap UCITS ETF EUR Acc AMEW F LU1681043599 View backtest →
Amundi MSCI World Swap UCITS ETF EUR Dist EWLD PA LU2655993207 View backtest →
Amundi MSCI World Swap UCITS ETF USD Acc CW8USD SW LU1681043672 View backtest →
Amundi MSCI World V UCITS ETF Acc LCWD LSE LU1781541179 View backtest →
Amundi PEA Monde (MSCI World) UCITS ETF Acc DCAM PA FR001400U5Q4 View backtest →
Deka MSCI World UCITS ETF Distribution ELFW F DE000ETFL508 View backtest →
Finanzen.net MSCI World UCITS ETF Acc FINZ XETRA FR001400YYJ0 View backtest →
HSBC MSCI World UCITS ETF USD HMWD LSE IE00B4X9L533 View backtest →
HSBC MSCI World UCITS ETF USD (Acc) HMWA LSE IE000UQND7H4 View backtest →
Invesco MSCI World UCITS ETF Acc MXWO LSE IE00B60SX394 View backtest →
iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF USD (Acc) IWDA LSE IE00B4L5Y983 View backtest →
iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF USD (Dist) IWDD AS IE000OHHIBC6 View backtest →
iShares MSCI World Swap PEA UCITS ETF EUR (Acc) WPEA PA IE0002XZSHO1 View backtest →
iShares MSCI World Swap UCITS ETF USD (Acc) IWDS PA IE000F9IDGB5 View backtest →
iShares MSCI World UCITS ETF (Dist) IDWR LSE IE00B0M62Q58 View backtest →
Lyxor MSCI World (LUX) UCITS ETF X010 F LU0392494562 View backtest →
State Street SPDR MSCI World UCITS ETF USD Unhedged SWLD LSE IE00BFY0GT14 View backtest →
UBS Core MSCI World UCITS ETF USD acc UETW F IE00BD4TXV59 View backtest →
UBS Core MSCI World UCITS ETF USD dis UBU7 F IE00B7KQ7B66 View backtest →
UBS MSCI World UCITS ETF USD dis UC68 LSE LU0340285161 View backtest →
Xtrackers MSCI World Swap UCITS ETF 1C DBXW F LU0274208692 View backtest →
Xtrackers MSCI World Swap UCITS ETF 1D XWD1 LSE LU2263803533 View backtest →
Xtrackers MSCI World UCITS ETF 1C XDWD LSE IE00BJ0KDQ92 View backtest →
Xtrackers MSCI World UCITS ETF 1D XDWL F IE00BK1PV551 View backtest →

Compare with other indices

S&P 500 → FTSE All-World → Nasdaq-100 → MSCI Emerging Markets → View all indices →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average annual return of the MSCI World?

Based on data since 1972, the MSCI World had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.32% in USD. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

How much would $10,000 invested in 1972 be worth today?

$10,000 invested in the MSCI World in 1972 would be worth approximately $1,846,100 today (USD), assuming index returns with no dividends reinvested unless stated.

What is the maximum drawdown of the MSCI World?

The maximum drawdown of the MSCI World since 1972 was -57.72%. This is the largest peak-to-trough decline over the full period.

Returns
Scale
Display

Returns by Period

PeriodReturn
YTD+9.36%
1 Year+18.29%
3 Years+18.16%
5 Years+10.99%
10 Years+12.73%
Max+10.04%
HICP rates used (USD, Dec/Dec): 2024: 2.95% | 2023: 4.12% | 2022: 8.00% | 2021: 4.70% | 2020: 1.23% | 2019: 1.81% | 2018: 2.44% | 2017: 2.13% | 2016: 1.26% | 2015: 0.12% | 2014: 1.62% | 2013: 1.46% | 2012: 2.07% | 2011: 3.16% | 2010: 1.64% | 2009: -0.36% | 2008: 3.84% | 2007: 2.85% | 2006: 3.23% | 2005: 3.39% | 2004: 2.68% | 2003: 2.27% | 2002: 1.59% | 2001: 2.83% | 2000: 3.38% | 1999: 2.19% | 1998: 1.55% | 1997: 2.34% | 1996: 2.93% | 1995: 2.81% | 1994: 2.61% | 1993: 2.95% | 1992: 3.03% | 1991: 4.23% | 1990: 5.40% | 1989: 4.83% | 1988: 4.08% | 1987: 3.66% | 1986: 1.90% | 1985: 3.55% | 1984: 4.30% | 1983: 3.21% | 1982: 6.13% | 1981: 10.33% | 1980: 13.55% | 1979: 11.25% | 1978: 7.63% | 1977: 6.50% | 1976: 5.74% | 1975: 9.14% | 1974: 11.05% | 1973: 6.18% | 1972: 3.27%

Annual Returns Table

Year Nominal Return (%) Real Return (%) Cumulative Return (%) Annualised Return to Date (%)
2026 +9.36% N/A +18,370.28% +10.04%
2025 +21.10% N/A +16,789.43% +9.97%
2024 +18.67% +15.27% +13,846.68% +9.77%
2023 +23.79% +18.90% +11,652.49% +9.60%
2022 -18.14% -24.21% +9,393.89% +9.34%
2021 +21.82% +16.35% +11,497.72% +9.97%
2020 +15.90% +14.49% +9,420.37% +9.75%
2019 +27.67% +25.40% +8,114.30% +9.62%
2018 -8.71% -10.89% +6,334.01% +9.27%
2017 +22.40% +19.85% +6,947.88% +9.69%
2016 +7.51% +6.17% +5,658.07% +9.43%
2015 -0.87% -0.99% +5,255.85% +9.47%
2014 +4.94% +3.26% +5,302.85% +9.72%
2013 +26.68% +24.85% +5,048.52% +9.84%
2012 +15.83% +13.48% +3,964.19% +9.46%
2011 -5.54% -8.43% +3,408.75% +9.30%
2010 +11.76% +9.96% +3,614.54% +9.71%
2009 +29.99% +30.45% +3,223.68% +9.66%
2008 -40.71% -42.90% +2,456.87% +9.16%
2007 +9.04% +6.02% +4,212.48% +11.02%
2006 +20.07% +16.32% +3,854.95% +11.08%
2005 +9.49% +5.90% +3,193.87% +10.83%
2004 +14.72% +11.73% +2,908.38% +10.87%
2003 +33.11% +30.16% +2,522.37% +10.75%
2002 -19.89% -21.14% +1,870.07% +10.10%
2001 -16.82% -19.11% +2,359.21% +11.27%
2000 -13.18% -16.02% +2,856.49% +12.39%
1999 +32.14% +29.31% +3,305.31% +13.43%
1998 +15.89% +14.12% +2,477.05% +12.79%
1997 +12.26% +9.70% +2,123.70% +12.67%
1996 +10.95% +7.79% +1,880.85% +12.69%
1995 +29.96% +26.41% +1,685.35% +12.76%
1994 -0.35% -2.88% +1,273.77% +12.07%
1993 +26.83% +23.19% +1,278.60% +12.67%
1992 +5.88% +2.77% +986.97% +12.04%
1991 +21.27% +16.34% +926.60% +12.35%
1990 -17.73% -21.94% +746.54% +11.90%
1989 +10.55% +5.46% +928.98% +13.83%
1988 +34.81% +29.53% +830.78% +14.03%
1987 +15.82% +11.73% +590.44% +12.84%
1986 +60.83% +57.83% +496.13% +12.65%
1985 +11.95% +8.12% +270.66% +9.81%
1984 +7.43% +3.00% +231.09% +9.65%
1983 +34.43% +30.25% +208.20% +9.84%
1982 +16.02% +9.32% +129.26% +7.84%
1981 -8.61% -17.17% +97.60% +7.05%
1980 +40.09% +23.37% +116.22% +8.95%
1979 +17.16% +5.31% +54.34% +5.58%
1978 +17.72% +9.37% +31.74% +4.02%
1977 -1.46% -7.48% +11.91% +1.89%
1976 +0.71% -4.76% +13.57% +2.58%
1975 +49.46% +36.94% +12.77% +3.06%
1974 -29.03% -36.09% -24.55% -8.98%
1973 -15.98% -20.87% +6.31% +3.12%
1972 +26.53% +22.52% +26.53% +26.71%

Key metrics

MetricValue

Top Drawdowns

RankStart dateBottom dateRecovery date Depth (%)Duration (days)Decline (days)Recovery (days)

Rolling Returns Summary

Metric1 Year3 Years5 Years10 Years

Risk Metrics

MetricValueDescription
Sharpe Ratio 0.72 Risk-adjusted return relative to risk-free rate
Sortino Ratio 0.92 Like Sharpe but only penalises downside volatility
Calmar Ratio 0.25 Annualised return divided by max drawdown
Standard Deviation 17.24% Total volatility (annualised)
Downside Deviation 13.46% Annualised downside volatility
VaR 95% (Monthly) -7.33% 5th percentile of monthly returns
Max. Drawdown -57.72% Largest peak-to-trough decline
Total Return 18,361.00% Cumulative return over full period

Data last updated:

Past performance is not indicative of future results. Figures are index returns. For informational purposes only.