Top 10 Best-Performing Equity ETFs Worldwide in 2025
In an extraordinary year for markets, the leading equity ETFs of 2025 revealed where investors were placing their bets on global growth and structural change. At the very top, funds tied to critical materials and metals led the charge. The Sprott Lithium Miners ETF and the Sprott Critical Materials ETF delivered the strongest returns, propelled by surging demand for battery components and rare earths as countries scramble to secure supply chains for electric vehicles and renewable technology. Close behind, the VanEck Rare Earth & Strategic Metals ETF reflected how resource-intensive industries have become central to economic policy, with governments from Tokyo to Brussels incentivising local extraction and processing to reduce dependency on China’s dominant position in critical inputs. Elsewhere, country-focused ETFs such as iShares MSCI South Korea and iShares MSCI Peru rode powerful rallies in semiconductor and copper markets as investors sought exposure to export-driven economies. These trends were not just financial but geopolitical in nature, as industrial powerhouses and emerging markets alike reassessed their roles in the global economy and attracted capital accordingly.
Technology and innovation themes also made a compelling showing, underscoring the wider shift towards digitisation and transformation in 2025. The Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF and the iShares Semiconductor ETF both capitalised on the continued appetite for AI-related hardware and software, where chip producers and machine learning platforms posted strong earnings against a backdrop of robust enterprise and consumer demand. The ARK Innovation ETF and the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF added to the narrative by backing companies at the forefront of disruptive technologies, including blockchain and next-generation data infrastructure. For many investors, these funds encapsulated the belief that long-term trends in automation, connectivity, and decentralised finance would outweigh short-term macroeconomic uncertainties. Even as central banks navigated inflation and currency fluctuations, and as political tensions influenced trade policies, the most successful ETFs of the year were those aligned with structural shifts in how industries operate and how nations position themselves economically.
| Rank | ETF (Ticker) | 2025 Growth (YTD) | Provider | Where to Buy | Theme / Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sprott Lithium Miners ETF (LITP) | ~106% | Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc. | U.S. brokerages that list U.S. ETFs (e.g., Interactive Brokers, Schwab, Fidelity, eToro) | Lithium & battery materials miners |
| 2 | Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM) | ~95% | Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc. | Standard U.S. brokerage accounts (search by ticker) | Critical & energy transition materials |
| 3 | VanEck Rare Earth & Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) | ~99% | VanEck | Most global brokers supporting NYSE/Nasdaq listings | Rare earth & strategic metals equities |
| 4 | iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) | ~90–95% | BlackRock iShares | Global brokers with U.S. ETF access (e.g., IB, eToro) | South Korean equity market |
| 5 | iShares MSCI Peru ETF (EPU) | ~88% | BlackRock iShares | Accounts that trade NYSE-listed ETFs | Peruvian equity emerging markets |
| 6 | Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ) | ~31% | Global X ETFs | U.S./international brokers that list U.S. ETFs | Global AI & tech equities |
| 7 | iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) | (Not in top 100 YTD list but commonly reported strong) | BlackRock iShares | Most brokers listing U.S. ETFs | Clean/renewable energy equities (est. ~40% YTD per earlier reporting) |
| 8 | iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) | (Broad tech strength; ~39% per earlier list) | BlackRock iShares | All major brokers with U.S. ETF access | Major semiconductor companies |
| 9 | ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) | ~35–38% | ARK Investment Management LLC | Brokers that support U.S. ETFs (availability may vary by region) | Disruptive tech & innovation |
| 10 | Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF (BLOK) | ~33% | Amplify ETFs | U.S. brokers offering ETF trading | Blockchain & data infrastructure |
Takeway from Fundavia
As we look back on 2025, what stands out most about the year’s best‑performing ETFs is how deeply their success was tied to real shifts in the global economy and politics. From the rush for battery metals and rare earths to the ongoing dominance of technology and artificial intelligence, the ETFs that delivered the strongest returns were those aligned with forces that are reshaping industries and nations alike. Investors gravitated towards funds that offered exposure to critical materials and cutting‑edge innovation precisely because policymakers and companies around the world were recalibrating supply chains and investment priorities in response to geopolitical competition and technological change.
Looking ahead to 2026, many analysts are cautiously upbeat about the outlook for equities. Wall Street and global strategists see continued growth in corporate earnings and a broadening of the market rally, supported by ongoing investment in technology, particularly AI, and an expectation of more accommodative monetary policy in some regions. Forecasts suggest that major indices such as the S&P 500 could continue to climb, albeit at a slower pace than in 2025, as markets adjust to high valuations and investors weigh geopolitical uncertainties alongside economic resilience.
