What percentage did the Dow Jones Industrial Average lose on October 19, 1987?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 22.6 percent on October 19, 1987.

The fall was the largest one-day percentage decline in the Dow’s history. The index dropped 508 points, a particularly striking number for the period, as selling accelerated across the New York Stock Exchange. Similar declines occurred in major markets around the world, which is why the episode is remembered as an international crash rather than a purely American event.

Analysts have linked the collapse to several pressures: high share valuations, rising interest rates, a widening trade deficit, and investor concern about economic policy. Computerized trading strategies, especially portfolio insurance, may have amplified the speed of selling.

The percentage figure matters more than the point figure when comparing crashes across eras. A later crash can lose more points simply because an index has grown larger, while still representing a smaller percentage decline.