The S&P 500’s long-run average total return (with dividends) is close to 10% per year nominal — but almost no single year lands near 10%. Figures below are rounded total returns.
Recent annual total returns
| Year | S&P 500 return |
|---|---|
| 2008 | −37.0% |
| 2013 | +32.4% |
| 2019 | +31.5% |
| 2021 | +28.7% |
| 2022 | −18.1% |
| 2023 | +26.3% |
| 2024 | +25.0% |
What it means
The price of the ~10% average is sitting through years like 2008 and 2022. Missing just the 10 best days per decade historically cut returns dramatically — the case for staying invested over timing.
FAQ
What is the average stock market return?
About 10% per year nominal with dividends over the long run — roughly 6.5–7% after inflation.
Was any decade negative?
Yes — the 2000s (“lost decade”) returned about −1%/yr after two crashes.
What should I assume in projections?
Planners commonly use 6–8% nominal for diversified portfolios — conservative against history but robust to bad decades.
Sources
- S&P 500 total return series (public index data), rounded
Figures compiled and rounded July 2026. Cite this page: “Stock Market Return Statistics (S&P 500), CalcYard” with a link.