VanEck Africa ETF (AFK) Performance
AFK total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −4.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +7.7% total return
- 5 years
- +5.7% a year
- 10 years
- +5.2% a year
- Since first price
- −0.1% a year since 2008
AFK trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | AFK total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −10.4% | −10.4% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +0.7% | +0.7% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −6.3% | −6.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −4.0% | −4.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +7.7% | +6.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +91.1%+24.1%/yr | +84.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +31.9%+5.7%/yr | +18.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +66.5%+5.2%/yr | +26.4% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +42.5%+2.4%/yr | −6.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 14, 2008 | −2.4%−0.1%/yr | −38.0% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: AFK vs SPY
From Jul 14, 2008: AFK grew to $9,762, SPY to $86,300.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
AFK returns by calendar year
11 of 17 full years positive. Best 2025 (+74.7%), worst 2015 (−29.9%). 2026 is year to date.
AFK annual returns table
| Year | AFK | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −4.0% | −19.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +74.7% | −15.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +12.1% | −12.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −12.1% | −25.4% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −17.3% | −31.3% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +3.0% | −13.0% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +4.3% | −43.2% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +9.9% | −13.3% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −19.6% | −27.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +28.2% | −8.6% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +14.3% | −15.1% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −29.9% | −34.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −13.6% | −27.8% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +1.3% | −18.2% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +25.9% | −11.9% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −24.1% | −29.5% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +25.3% | −16.7% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +35.0% | −22.9% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
AFK largest drawdowns
Now 16.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2008 | −62.4% | Mar 20, 2020 | Dec 23, 2025 | 11.7 years | 17.4 years |
| Feb 27, 2026 | −19.5% | Mar 20, 2026 | not yet | 21 days | 8 months so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
AFK risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +26.3% | +8.2% | +5.8% | +0.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.8% | 20.8% | 20.9% | 22.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.07 | 0.31 | 0.27 | 0.07 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.74 | 0.46 | 0.38 | 0.10 |
| Best month | +11.4% | +13.4% | +16.7% | +27.3% |
| Worst month | −15.7% | −15.7% | −27.9% | −27.9% |
| Best 12 months | +87.6% | +87.6% | +87.6% | +87.6% |
| Worst 12 months | +12.1% | −24.6% | −37.4% | −37.4% |
| Positive months | 67% | 55% | 55% | 52% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.62 | 0.74 | 0.89 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.39 | 0.56 | 0.65 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
AFK rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 208 | −37.4% | +4.3% | +87.6% | 58% |
| 3-year (a year) | 184 | −16.6% | +0.9% | +27.3% | 55% |
| 5-year (a year) | 160 | −10.1% | −1.5% | +14.4% | 40% |
| 10-year (a year) | 100 | −6.1% | −1.4% | +9.0% | 30% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2008. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
AFK performance overview
VanEck Africa ETF (AFK) returned +7.7% over the past year and +5.2% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2008 it has returned −0.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $9,762. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −62.4%, from Jul 15, 2008 to Mar 20, 2020, and it took 5.8 years to get back to the old high. AFK finished 11 of its 17 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+74.7%) and the worst 2015 (−29.9%). Volatility has been 22.5% a year.
Related: AFK chart, AFK holdings, AFK dividends. See the AFK overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
AFK performance FAQ
What is the AFK return over the past year?
AFK returned +7.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 6.6%.
What is the average annual return of AFK?
AFK has returned +5.7% a year over 5 years, +5.2% a year over 10 years, −0.1% a year since July 14, 2008 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in AFK be worth?
$10,000 invested in AFK at its first recorded close on July 14, 2008 would be worth about $9,762 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for AFK?
The worst calendar year was 2015, with a total return of −29.9%. The best was 2025 at +74.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of AFK?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −62.4% between July 15, 2008 and March 20, 2020. It recovered to the old high on December 23, 2025, 5.8 years after the bottom.
How volatile is AFK?
Over the past 3 years AFK had an annualized volatility of 19.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.07 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).