MSCI ACWI ETF Comparison 2026 — All World incl. Emerging Markets
Best MSCI ACWI ETFs 2026 compared — All Country World Index covering ~2,900 stocks across 47 countries including emerging markets.
What is the MSCI ACWI?
The MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) covers approximately 2,900 stocks from 47 countries — 23 developed markets (same as MSCI World) plus 24 emerging markets including China, India, Brazil, Taiwan, and South Korea. It covers roughly 85% of global market capitalisation.
The key difference vs. MSCI World: the ACWI adds approximately 11% emerging market exposure (as of 2026). This improves diversification but also introduces additional volatility. For investors who don't want a separate EM ETF, the ACWI is an all-in-one solution.
Best MSCI ACWI ETFs 2026
Europe's largest MSCI ACWI ETF with over €12bn AUM. Physically replicated (optimised sampling), accumulating, covering ~1,600 large and mid-cap stocks across 47 countries. Widely available as a savings plan across European brokers.
- Largest ACWI ETF in Europe — best liquidity
- Physically replicated — no counterparty risk
- EM included — true global diversification
- TER 0.20% — pricier than pure MSCI World ETFs
- ~11% EM adds volatility
The broadest world ETF available — MSCI ACWI IMI includes small caps in addition to large and mid caps, covering over 9,000 stocks across 47 countries. TER is just 0.17%, making it cheaper than the standard IQQW.
FAQ — MSCI ACWI ETF
What is the difference between MSCI ACWI and MSCI World?
The MSCI ACWI adds 24 emerging market countries (China, India, Brazil, Taiwan etc.) on top of the 23 developed markets in the MSCI World. This gives broader diversification but also more volatility. The EM weight is approximately 11% as of 2026.
MSCI ACWI or MSCI World + separate EM ETF?
A single ACWI ETF is simpler — one product, no rebalancing. Two separate ETFs (e.g. MSCI World 80% + MSCI EM 20%) allow custom EM weighting and can be cheaper in combined TER. For beginners, ACWI wins on simplicity.
MSCI ACWI vs FTSE All-World — which is better?
Both cover developed and emerging markets. The FTSE All-World (used by Vanguard VWCE/VWRL) has slightly more stocks (~4,000 vs ~2,900) and classifies some countries differently (e.g. South Korea is developed in FTSE, emerging in MSCI). Long-term performance differences are minimal.
Is IQQW available as a savings plan?
Yes — the iShares MSCI ACWI (IQQW) is available as a regular investment plan at most major European brokers. Always verify on your broker's website.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: All information provided without guarantee. Not investment advice. Always verify ETF data on the official factsheet. Past performance is not indicative of future results.