How do I invest in stocks from Emerging Markets?

The easiest way to invest in Emerging Markets worldwide is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at a low cost by using ETFs.

In this curated investment guide, you will find all ETFs that allow you to invest broadly diversified in Emerging Markets worldwide. Currently, there are 23 ETFs available.

The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs tracking stocks from Emerging Markets is between 0.11% p.a. and 0.55% p.a..

How do I invest in companies from emerging markets?

Investing in emerging markets worldwide can be very easy and cost-effective by using a single ETF that tracks a broadly diversified emerging markets index which is weighted by market capitalisation. Currently, the following indices can be considered for a globally diversified investment in emerging market equities:
 

• FTSE Emerging
• MSCI Emerging Markets
• MSCI Emerging Markets IMI

This curated investment guide allows you to compare both the available ETFs and the underlying indices on emerging markets worldwide and to select an ETF that fits your preferences best. For more information on investing in emerging markets and the indices mentioned above, see our article Emerging Markets ETFs: Investing in Emerging Markets with ETFs.

A worldwide emerging markets ETF is an excellent complement to a global developed markets ETF, like an MSCI World ETF. You can construct a globally diversified, yet simple and cost-efficient portfolio by combining two such ETFs. When using indices from different providers, you should make sure that none of the countries you want to cover is missing or included twice. You can ensure this by selecting two ETFs that track indices from the same provider. For more information on this topic, please have a look at our article MSCI Vs FTSE: Which is the best index provider?.

Alternatively, you may invest in a single World ETF that covers both developed and emerging markets.

In our ETF screener, you will find additional emerging markets ETFs, like sustainable emerging markets ETFs and dividend ETFs on emerging markets. In addition, you can monitor the performance of various emerging market indices with our market overview “ETF Emerging Markets”.
 

Performance of broadly diversified emerging markets indices in comparison

Source: justETF Research; As of 26/12/2024; Performance over 1 year in GBP.

Indices in comparison

The best indices for emerging markets ETFs

For an investment in stocks from Emerging Markets, there are 3 indices available that are tracked by 23 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.11% p.a. and 0.55% p.a.. Depending on the market environment, stocks from a single country can make up large parts of an index. You can find more information regarding the concentration of countries, companies and sectors in the index factsheets linked below.
 

• Properties
• Performance

Source: justETF.com; As of 30/11/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.

ETFs in comparison

All emerging markets ETFs in comparison

In the table below we have listed the currently available emerging markets ETFs. Via the "Properties" and "Performance" tabs, you can find detailed information on these ETFs and sort them according to your desired criterion. More information about the different criteria when choosing an ETF can be found in our article on ETF selection.
 

• Properties
• Performance

Source: justETF.com; As of 30/11/2024