Sensex Historical Returns Since Inception

• Find here Sensex historical returns since inception i.e. 1979.
• Sensex annual rolling return is calculated from closing index values as on last trading day of March.
• Sensex yearly return is absolute return.
• Sensex historical 5, 10 years rolling return is compound return (CAGR).
• Values before 1992 are re-based by Bombay Stock Exchange.

Sensex Annual Rolling Returns

Year	Value	Annual Return
1979	100
1980	129	29%
1981	173	34%
1982	218	26%
1983	212	-3%
1984	245	16%
1985	354	44%
1986	574	62%
1987	510	-11%
1988	398	-22%
1989	714	79%
1990	781	9%
1991	1,168	50%
1992	4,285	267%
1993	2,281	-47%
1994	3,779	66%
1995	3,261	-14%
1996	3,367	3%
1997	3,361	-0.2%
1998	3,893	16%
1999	3,740	-4%
2000	5,001	34%
2001	3,604	-28%
2002	3,469	-4%
2003	3,049	-12%
2004	5,591	83%
2005	6,493	16%
2006	11,280	74%
2007	13,073	16%
2008	15,644	20%
2009	9,709	-38%
2010	17,528	81%
2011	19,445	11%
2012	17,404	-10%
2013	18,836	8%
2014	22,386	19%
2015	27,957	25%
2016	25,342	-9%
2017	29,621	17%
2018	32,969	11%
2019	38,673	17%
2020	29,816	-23%

Sensex 5 Years Rolling Returns

Year	Value	5 Years Return
1979	100
1980	129
1981	173
1982	218
1983	212
1984	245	20%
1985	354	22%
1986	574	27%
1987	510	19%
1988	398	13%
1989	714	24%
1990	781	17%
1991	1,168	15%
1992	4,285	53%
1993	2,281	42%
1994	3,779	40%
1995	3,261	33%
1996	3,367	24%
1997	3,361	-5%
1998	3,893	11%
1999	3,740	-0.2%
2000	5,001	9%
2001	3,604	1%
2002	3,469	1%
2003	3,049	-5%
2004	5,591	8%
2005	6,493	5%
2006	11,280	26%
2007	13,073	30%
2008	15,644	39%
2009	9,709	12%
2010	17,528	22%
2011	19,445	12%
2012	17,404	6%
2013	18,836	4%
2014	22,386	18%
2015	27,957	10%
2016	25,342	5%
2017	29,621	11%
2018	32,969	12%
2019	38,673	12%
2020	29,816	1%

Sensex 10 Years Rolling Returns

Year	Value	10 Years Return
1979	100
1980	129
1981	173
1982	218
1983	212
1984	245
1985	354
1986	574
1987	510
1988	398
1989	714	22%
1990	781	20%
1991	1,168	21%
1992	4,285	35%
1993	2,281	27%
1994	3,779	31%
1995	3,261	25%
1996	3,367	19%
1997	3,361	21%
1998	3,893	26%
1999	3,740	18%
2000	5,001	20%
2001	3,604	12%
2002	3,469	-2%
2003	3,049	3%
2004	5,591	4%
2005	6,493	7%
2006	11,280	13%
2007	13,073	15%
2008	15,644	15%
2009	9,709	10%
2010	17,528	13%
2011	19,445	18%
2012	17,404	18%
2013	18,836	20%
2014	22,386	15%
2015	27,957	16%
2016	25,342	8%
2017	29,621	9%
2018	32,969	8%
2019	38,673	15%
2020	29,816	5%

	Yearly	5 Years	10 Years
Rolling Return Occurrences	41	37	32
Negative Return Occurrences	14	3	1
Probability of Loss	34%	8%	3%

Period	CAGR	Multiplied
1979-1989	22%	7
1989-1999	18%	5
1999-2009	10%	3
2009-2019	15%	4

Conclusion

• As the investment duration shortens (around 1 year), risk and volatility increases.
• As the investment duration widens (around 5/10 years), return increases, while risk and volatility decreases.
• Developing countries provide better returns compared to developed countries.
• Investing during developing stage provides you higher rate of returns but with increased amount of risk.
• In the long term, Sensex outpaces inflation as Magic of Compounding kicks in.