Nifty 50 Returns: Every Year Since 1991
Calendar-year returns, CAGR over every horizon with and without dividends, every fall of 20% or more and how long it took to recover, and what followed all-time highs.
As of 29 Oct 2026 the Nifty 50 is at 22,936.75. Over the last 10 years it has returned 10.3% a year (11.6% with dividends), and over 20 years 9.5% a year (10.8% with dividends). It fell in 8 of the 35 full years since 1991; the worst was 2008 (-51.8%) and the best 2009 (+75.8%).
These are the Nifty 50's actual returns, calculated from NSE Indices' daily closes since July 1990 and its Total Return Index since June 1999. Everything on this page is recalculated from the data each day.
Nifty 50 returns, year by year
| Year | Price return | With dividends (TRI) | Close |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | -12.2% | -11.4% | 22,937 |
| 2025 | +10.5% | +11.9% | 26,130 |
| 2024 | +8.8% | +10.1% | 23,645 |
| 2023 | +20.0% | +21.3% | 21,731 |
| 2022 | +4.3% | +5.7% | 18,105 |
| 2021 | +24.1% | +25.6% | 17,354 |
| 2020 | +14.9% | +16.1% | 13,982 |
| 2019 | +12.0% | +13.5% | 12,168 |
| 2018 | +3.2% | +4.6% | 10,863 |
| 2017 | +28.6% | +30.3% | 10,531 |
| 2016 | +3.0% | +4.4% | 8,186 |
| 2015 | -4.1% | -3.0% | 7,946 |
| 2014 | +31.4% | +32.9% | 8,283 |
| 2013 | +6.8% | +8.1% | 6,304 |
| 2012 | +27.7% | +29.4% | 5,905 |
| 2011 | -24.6% | -23.8% | 4,624 |
| 2010 | +17.9% | +19.2% | 6,134 |
| 2009 | +75.8% | +77.6% | 5,201 |
| 2008 | -51.8% | -51.3% | 2,959 |
| 2007 | +54.8% | +56.8% | 6,139 |
| 2006 | +39.8% | +41.9% | 3,966 |
| 2005 | +36.3% | +38.6% | 2,837 |
| 2004 | +10.7% | +13.0% | 2,080 |
| 2003 | +71.9% | +76.6% | 1,880 |
| 2002 | +3.3% | +5.3% | 1,094 |
| 2001 | -16.2% | -15.0% | 1,059 |
| 2000 | -14.7% | -13.4% | 1,264 |
| 1999 | +67.4% | — | 1,480 |
| 1998 | -18.1% | — | 884 |
| 1997 | +20.1% | — | 1,079 |
| 1996 | -1.0% | — | 899 |
| 1995 | -23.1% | — | 909 |
| 1994 | +13.4% | — | 1,182 |
| 1993 | +36.9% | — | 1,042 |
| 1992 | +36.3% | — | 761 |
| 1991 | +68.8% | — | 559 |
Calendar-year change in the closing level. TRI figures start in 2000, the first full year of NSE's total return series. The Nifty 50 Total Return Index (TRI) adds the dividends the index's companies pay, reinvested, which is what an index fund earns before its small fee. The price index leaves them out. Both series are NSE Indices' own, downloaded from niftyindices.com.
Nifty 50 CAGR over every horizon
| Period | From | CAGR (price) | CAGR with dividends (TRI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 29 Oct 2025 | -12.0% | -11.1% |
| 3 years | 27 Oct 2023 | 6.4% | 7.6% |
| 5 years | 29 Oct 2021 | 5.4% | 6.6% |
| 10 years | 28 Oct 2016 | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 15 years | 28 Oct 2011 | 10.2% | 11.5% |
| 20 years | 27 Oct 2006 | 9.5% | 10.8% |
| 25 years | 29 Oct 2001 | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| 30 years | 29 Oct 1996 | 11.3% | — |
| 35 years | 29 Oct 1991 | 11.2% | — |
CAGR is the steady yearly rate that turns the starting level into today's (29 Oct 2026). It hides the bumps: see the crashes below. For the return between any two months, use the CAGR calculator.
Every Nifty 50 crash of 20% or more, and how long it took to recover
| Peak | Peak level | Fall | Bottom | Peak to bottom | Back above the peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | 12,362 | -38.4% | Mar 2020 | 2 months | Nov 2020 (10 months) |
| Mar 2015 | 8,996 | -22.5% | Feb 2016 | 11 months | Mar 2017 (2 years) |
| Nov 2010 | 6,312 | -28.0% | Dec 2011 | 1 year 1 month | Nov 2013 (3 years) |
| Jan 2008 | 6,288 | -59.9% | Oct 2008 | 9 months | Nov 2010 (2 years 10 months) |
| May 2006 | 3,754 | -29.9% | Jun 2006 | 1 month | Oct 2006 (5 months) |
| Jan 2004 | 1,982 | -29.9% | May 2004 | 4 months | Dec 2004 (11 months) |
| Feb 2000 | 1,756 | -51.4% | Sep 2001 | 1 year 7 months | Dec 2003 (3 years 10 months) |
| Sep 1994 | 1,385 | -43.1% | Dec 1996 | 2 years 3 months | Aug 1999 (4 years 11 months) |
| Apr 1992 | 1,281 | -53.2% | Apr 1993 | 1 year | Feb 1994 (1 year 10 months) |
| Oct 1990 | 480 | -36.3% | Jan 1991 | 3 months | Jul 1991 (9 months) |
Falls are measured on daily closes from the previous high to the lowest close before that high was regained. The longest wait to recover was 4 years 11 months, after the Sep 1994 peak.
Is it a bad time to invest when the Nifty is at an all-time high?
The Nifty 50 closed at a record high on 546 days since 1991 (counting from its first year of data). Its highest close is 26,328.55 on 2 Jan 2026; on 29 Oct 2026 it was 12.9% below that.
| Measured | After a record-high day: median | …and how often up | After any day: median | …and how often up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year later | +8.3% | 68% | +10.3% | 71% |
| 3 years later | +30.6% | 86% | +36.0% | 88% |
| 5 years later | +64.8% | 94% | +70.3% | 95% |
Over five years, buying on a record-high day did about as well as buying on any day (median +64.8% against +70.3%, up 94% of the time against 95%). Records cluster in rising markets, and the windows overlap, so treat this as a description of the past, not a forecast.
Key takeaways
- 10-year Nifty 50 return: 10.3% a year, 11.6% with dividends (to 29 Oct 2026).
- The Nifty fell in 8 of 35 full years; worst 2008 (-51.8%).
- 10 falls of 20% or more since 1990; the longest recovery took 4 years 11 months.
- Buying at a record high did about as well over 5 years as buying on any day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nifty 50 return over the last 10 years?
10.3% a year on price, 11.6% a year with dividends reinvested, from 28 Oct 2016 to 29 Oct 2026.
What is the Nifty 50 return over the last 20 years?
9.5% a year on price and 10.8% with dividends, from 27 Oct 2006 to 29 Oct 2026.
What was the Nifty's worst year?
2008, when it fell 51.8%. Its best was 2009, up 75.8%.
How long does the Nifty take to recover from a crash?
From 5 months to 4 years 11 months for the falls of 20% or more since 1990; the 2020 fall took 10 months.
What is the Nifty 50 all-time high?
26,328.55, on 2 Jan 2026 (closing basis).
Is it bad to invest at an all-time high?
Historically not much worse: five years after a record-high day the Nifty's median gain was 64.8%, against 70.3% after any day.