Multi-Year Growth Rate Calculator
Turn a starting value and an ending value into a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) — the single yearly percentage that connects them.
How it works
CAGR = (End ÷ Start)^(1 ÷ Years) − 1 · Total growth = End ÷ Start − 1
The compound annual growth rate is the constant yearly rate that would carry the starting value to the ending value if it compounded smoothly. Because it geometrically averages growth, it ignores the bumpy path in between — a value that doubles in 5 years grew at the same 14.87% CAGR whether it did so evenly or all at once. It only tells you the endpoints-to-endpoints rate, not the volatility along the way.
Worked example
A metric rises from 1,000 to 2,000 over 5 years. CAGR = (2000 ÷ 1000)^(1/5) − 1 = 2^0.2 − 1 = 1.1487 − 1 = 0.1487, i.e. 14.87% per year. Total growth is 100%.
Sources: CAGR — Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions
How is CAGR different from total growth?
Total growth is the overall percent change across the whole period (here 100%). CAGR is the equivalent smooth per-year rate (14.87%) that compounds to that same total.
Can I use a period that is not a whole number of years?
Yes. Enter the exact number of years — for example 2.5 — and the exponent 1 ÷ Years handles the fractional period correctly.
Why must both values be positive?
CAGR raises the ratio End ÷ Start to a fractional power. A zero or negative value makes that ratio undefined or complex, so the calculator asks for positive endpoints.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.