Global exchange-traded funds reached a record $23.08tn in assets under management at the end of May, with year-to-date net inflows hitting an unprecedented $1.07tn, according to data published by ETFGI, an independent research and consultancy firm.
The figures mark the strongest start to any year on record for the ETF industry. Net inflows during May alone totalled $216.03bn, pushing cumulative flows for the first five months of 2026 past the $1tn threshold for the first time.
The data were drawn from ETFGI’s May 2026 Global ETFs Industry Landscape Insights Report, a monthly publication available to subscribers of the firm’s annual research service.
The milestone reflects sustained demand for exchange-traded products across global markets. ETFs have attracted growing interest from both retail and institutional investors over recent years, drawn by their relatively low costs and intraday tradability compared with traditional mutual funds.
ETFGI, which tracks ETFs listed on 81 exchanges across 63 countries, did not break down the May figures by region or asset class in its summary release. The full report, available to paying subscribers, is expected to contain a more detailed breakdown by geography, product type and individual fund.
Deborah Fuhr, managing partner and founder of ETFGI, is the primary contact for the research. The London-based firm has tracked the global ETF industry for 14 years.
The record inflow figure comes despite a period of market volatility in early 2026, suggesting investors continued to deploy capital into ETF structures even during uncertain conditions. If the current pace of inflows is sustained, full-year net inflows would comfortably exceed $2tn, a level the industry has not previously achieved on an annual basis.
The ETF industry has grown sharply over the past decade, rising from roughly $3tn in assets a decade ago to surpass $10tn, then $20tn, in relatively quick succession. Active ETFs and products linked to digital assets have been among the faster-growing segments in recent periods, according to ETFGI’s previous research publications.