Top 21 Outstanding International Exchange-Traded Funds: Non-US, Regional, and Single-Country-Based
In the dynamic world of investing, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become a popular choice for investors seeking to diversify their portfolios. This year, 2025, has seen some remarkable performances in the international ETF market.
The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) has registered a 19.69% return, but it's not among the top 7 single-country ETFs with the highest one-year returns. On the other hand, the Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC) and the Brandes International ETF (BINV) have delivered impressive returns of 24.19% and 22.25% respectively.
However, the most striking performances have come from single-country ETFs. The Global X MSCI Argentina ETF (ARGT) and the iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) have posted returns of 48.91% and 42.12% respectively, reflecting significant country-specific growth opportunities.
Ex-U.S. ETFs, which invest in stocks from multiple countries excluding the United States, offer broad international diversification minus U.S. exposure. Examples of these ETFs include the iShares MSCI World ex USA ETF, although the exact top performer for 2025 is not explicitly given.
Regional ETFs, such as those focusing on Europe, Asia, or Latin America, allow investors to benefit from growth in specific areas while reducing idiosyncratic risks of a single country. The iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA) is an example of a regional ETF, but it's not among the top 7 single-country ETFs with the highest one-year returns.
While the search results do not provide a ranked list of top ex-U.S. and regional ETFs explicitly for 2025 with performance figures, they do offer valuable insights into the diverse landscape of international ETFs. When selecting ETFs, it's crucial to consider expense ratios, bid-ask spreads, and tracking error to minimize costs and tracking deviations from benchmarks.
In addition to the aforementioned ETFs, the iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF (ECNS) has recorded a 55.31% return, the First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (FGM) has a 54.02% return, and the KraneShares Emerging Markets Consumer Technology Index ETF (KEMQ) has a 52.53% return, as of July 24, 2025.
As the global economy continues to evolve, keeping a close eye on international ETFs can provide valuable opportunities for investors seeking growth and diversification.
- For those seeking to compare different ETFs for investing in 2025, an app could be designed to include data like the performance of ETFs such as the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF, Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF, Brandes International ETF, Global X MSCI Argentina ETF, iShares MSCI UAE ETF, iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF, First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund, and KraneShares Emerging Markets Consumer Technology Index ETF.
- In the realm of finance, the focus on international ETFs for diversification has led to the emergence of various app options, allowing users to compare investment choices that include single-country ETFs and ex-U.S. or regional ETFs like the Global X MSCI Argentina ETF, iShares MSCI UAE ETF, and iShares Asia 50 ETF.
