The best Asia ETFs

How do I invest in Asian stocks?

The easiest way to invest in the whole Asian stock market 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 Asian stocks. Currently, there are 19 ETFs available.

The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs tracking stocks from Asia is between 0.10% p.a. and 0.74% p.a..

 
0.10% p.a. - 0.74% p.a.
annual total expense ratio (TER) of Asia ETFs
tracking stocks from Asia, which are tracked by ETFs
that track a broadly diversified Asia index
 
The best indices for Asia ETFs

How do I invest in companies from Asia and the Pacific region?

Investing in the Asian stock market can be very easy and cost-effective by using a single ETF that tracks a broadly diversified index that is weighted by market capitalisation.

The available Asia ETFs differ significantly in some cases. The Japanese stock market has been highly developed for decades and plays a leading role worldwide. As a consequence, there are a lot of Japan ETFs available. Covering Japan with one of these ETFs, for example on the MSCI Japan or the Nikkei 225, can therefore be done very easily and at low cost. Index providers take this into account, which is why Japan is excluded from most indices covering Asian markets. Moreover, the available ETFs differ in whether only developed markets, only emerging markets or both types are tracked. Furthermore, some indices cover the Pacific region in addition to Asia.

This curated investment guide allows you to compare both the available ETFs and the underlying indices on Asia and the Pacific region and to select an ETF that fits your preferences best.

In our ETF screener, you will find additional Asia ETFs, like sustainable Asia-Pacific ETFs and dividend ETFs on Asia. Furthermore, you can monitor the performance of various Asia and Pacific indices with our market overview “ETF Asia-Pacific”.
 

Performance of broadly diversified Asia indices in comparison

Source: justETF Research; As of 18/03/2024; Performance over 1 year in GBP.

 

Indices in comparison

Indices on stocks from Asia

The best indices for Asia ETFs

For an investment in stocks from Asia, there are 7 indices available that are tracked by 19 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.10% p.a. and 0.74% 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.
 
Index Investment focus Number of ETFs Number of constituents Short description
FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan Asia Pacific 2 ETFs 399
(31/08/2023)
The FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan index tracks large and mid cap stocks from developed countries in the Asia Pacific region excluding Japan.
Index factsheet
MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Asia Pacific 1 ETF 1,312
(29/02/2024)
The MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the Asia and Pacific region, excluding Japan.
Index factsheet
MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Asia Pacific 2 ETFs 1,248
(29/02/2024)
The MSCI AC Asia ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the Asia region, excluding Japan.
Index factsheet
MSCI AC Far East ex Japan Asia Pacific 3 ETFs 1,117
(29/02/2024)
The MSCI AC Far East ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the East Asian region, excluding Japan.
Index factsheet
MSCI Emerging Markets Asia Asia Pacific 4 ETFs 1,193
(29/02/2024)
The MSCI Emerging Markets Asia index tracks large and mid cap companies from Asian emerging markets.
Index factsheet
MSCI Pacific ex Japan Asia Pacific 6 ETFs 119
(29/02/2024)
The MSCI Pacific index tracks the equity markets of the developed markets in the Pacific region excluding Japan (Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand).
Index factsheet
Solactive Core Developed Markets Pacific ex Japan Large & Mid Cap Asia Pacific 1 ETF 152
(31/08/2023)
The Solactive Core Developed Markets Pacific ex Japan Large & Mid Cap index tracks large and mid cap stocks from developed countries in the Asia Pacific region (excluding Japan). The index excludes companies that are engaged in pure coal mining, controversial weapons or, for a continuous period of three years, have violated the UN Global Compact principles.
Index factsheet
Index 1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
5 years
in %
MSCI AC Far East ex Japan 4.31% 1.63% -1.20% -5.70% -25.32% 0.91%
Solactive Core Developed Markets Pacific ex Japan Large & Mid Cap 1.23% 5.69% 4.90% -3.91% 4.90% 20.59%
MSCI Pacific ex Japan 1.34% 6.53% 5.82% -2.80% 7.65% 20.48%
MSCI AC Asia ex Japan 3.95% 4.02% 2.62% -0.07% -16.43% 11.23%
MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan 3.44% 4.80% 3.88% 0.15% -11.81% 15.16%
FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan 2.99% 5.54% 5.53% 0.84% 1.49% 25.36%
MSCI Emerging Markets Asia 4.48% 4.54% 3.32% 2.20% -15.40% 17.89%

Source: justETF.com; As of 29/02/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.

 

ETFs in comparison

ETFs tracking stocks from Asia

All Asia ETFs in comparison

In the table below we have listed the currently available Asia 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.
 
ETF
ISIN
Fund size
in m GBP
TER
in %
Inception date Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
iShares Core MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B52MJY50 2,130 0.20% p.a. 12/01/2010 Accumulating Ireland Full replication
iShares MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B5L8K969 1,816 0.20% p.a. 06/08/2010 Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF DistributingIE00B9F5YL18 808 0.15% p.a. 21/05/2013 Distributing Ireland Full replication
SPDR MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETFIE00B466KX20 669 0.55% p.a. 13/05/2011 Accumulating Ireland Full replication
iShares MSCI AC Far East ex-Japan UCITS ETFIE00B0M63730 623 0.74% p.a. 28/10/2005 Distributing Ireland Full replication
Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Asia UCITS ETF USDLU1681044563 487 0.20% p.a. 11/05/2011 Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
HSBC MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF USDIE00B5SG8Z57 357 0.15% p.a. 03/09/2010 Distributing Ireland Full replication
L&G Asia Pacific ex Japan Equity UCITS ETFIE00BFXR5W90 319 0.10% p.a. 08/10/2018 Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Amundi MSCI AC Asia Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068328 284 0.60% p.a. 26/04/2006 Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF (USD) AccumulatingIE00BK5BQZ41 247 0.15% p.a. 24/09/2019 Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Amundi MSCI AC Asia Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068161 190 0.50% p.a. 03/10/2008 Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
UBS ETF (IE) MSCI AC Asia Ex Japan SF UCITS ETF (USD) A-accIE00B7WK2W23 163 0.23% p.a. 20/08/2012 Accumulating Ireland Swap-based
iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B4WXJD03 149 0.60% p.a. 17/04/2009 Distributing Ireland Full replication
Amundi MSCI Emerging Asia II UCITS ETF AccLU1781541849 131 0.12% p.a. 05/03/2018 Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
HSBC MSCI AC Far East ex Japan UCITS ETF USDIE00BBQ2W338 110 0.45% p.a. 27/09/2013 Accumulating Ireland Optimized sampling
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Pacific (ex Japan) UCITS ETF (USD) A-disLU0446734526 63 0.14% p.a. 02/10/2009 Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
Amundi MSCI Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF DistLU1220245556 12 0.12% p.a. 29/04/2015 Distributing Luxembourg Unfunded swap
HSBC MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE000SGVQIZ9 9 0.15% p.a. 19/07/2022 Accumulating Ireland Full replication
HSBC MSCI AC Far East ex Japan UCITS ETF USD (Dist)IE00022VXYM7 7 0.45% p.a. 12/07/2022 Distributing Ireland Optimized sampling
ETF
ISIN
1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
5 years
in %
iShares Core MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B52MJY50 1.34% 6.53% 5.82% -2.80% 7.65% 20.48%
iShares MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B5L8K969 4.48% 4.54% 3.32% 2.20% -15.40% 17.89%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF DistributingIE00B9F5YL18 2.99% 5.54% 5.53% 0.84% 1.49% 25.36%
SPDR MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETFIE00B466KX20 4.40% 4.50% 3.15% 2.01% -16.53% 16.66%
iShares MSCI AC Far East ex-Japan UCITS ETFIE00B0M63730 4.31% 1.63% -1.20% -5.70% -25.32% 0.91%
Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Asia UCITS ETF USDLU1681044563 4.48% 4.55% 3.38% 2.23% -15.82% 17.74%
HSBC MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF USDIE00B5SG8Z57 1.39% 6.60% 5.84% -2.78% 7.62% 19.99%
L&G Asia Pacific ex Japan Equity UCITS ETFIE00BFXR5W90 1.23% 5.69% 4.90% -3.91% 4.90% 20.59%
Amundi MSCI AC Asia Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068328 3.44% 4.80% 3.88% 0.15% -11.81% 15.16%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF (USD) AccumulatingIE00BK5BQZ41 3.00% 5.53% 5.53% 0.85% 1.50% -
Amundi MSCI AC Asia Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068161 3.95% 4.02% 2.62% -0.07% -16.43% 11.23%
UBS ETF (IE) MSCI AC Asia Ex Japan SF UCITS ETF (USD) A-accIE00B7WK2W23 4.18% 4.17% 2.53% 0.37% -15.88% 12.96%
iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B4WXJD03 1.30% 6.44% 5.69% -3.14% 6.45% 18.20%
Amundi MSCI Emerging Asia II UCITS ETF AccLU1781541849 4.45% 4.45% 3.27% 2.37% -15.35% 19.13%
HSBC MSCI AC Far East ex Japan UCITS ETF USDIE00BBQ2W338 4.34% 1.63% -1.11% -5.51% -24.91% 2.05%
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Pacific (ex Japan) UCITS ETF (USD) A-disLU0446734526 1.39% 6.54% 5.79% -2.85% 7.43% 19.99%
Amundi MSCI Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF DistLU1220245556 1.36% 6.60% 5.86% -2.85% 7.53% 20.33%
HSBC MSCI Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE000SGVQIZ9 1.40% 6.62% 5.84% -2.77% - -
HSBC MSCI AC Far East ex Japan UCITS ETF USD (Dist)IE00022VXYM7 4.35% 1.41% -1.27% -6.52% - -

Source: justETF.com; As of 29/02/2024