As of December 2024, 70 to 74 year olds in Australia had the highest average superannuation account balances in the country at around ************ Australian dollars. Young people aged below 25 years old had an average superannuation account balance of just under ***** thousand Australian dollars.

This page includes the SMSF annual statistical overview and quarterly statistical reports.

The reports present a range of tables in relation to SMSF and their members, including demographics, assets, contributions, benefit payments and performance.

Data for these reports is extracted from SMSF annual returns lodged with the ATO, as well as the Australian Business Register (ABR) and other sources.

In the second quarter of 2023, the value of superannuation funds under management in Australia amounted to approximately 1.71 trillion Australian dollars. This reflected a slight increase from the previous quarter, in which the figure stood at just over 1.69 trillion Australian dollars.

Severe global market volatility over the past five years has meant superannuation funds' investment incomes have fluctuated significantly. The pandemic, inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions have caused funds’ incomes to swing dramatically. The pandemic, in particular, drove down superannuation funds' income in 2019-20; that's why superannuation funds’ revenue is expected to have surged at an annualised 114.6% over the five years through 2024-25, to $292.8 billion. Superannuation fund's total assets are a more accurate indicator of the industry's size, and assets are expected to have expanded at an annualised 8.7% over the same period, to $4.2 trillion. Continued incremental increases to the Superannuation Guarantee Scheme have boosted contributions to superannuation funds. As superannuation funds broaden their ESG options to stand out among competitors, regulatory authorities are stepping up to combat greenwashing. Market volatility, increased cash rates and rising bond yields have negatively impacted returns, especially in sectors like commercial real estate. However, a robust performance from tech and AI stocks is providing a counterbalance, highlighting the need for adaptable, market-responsive and proactive investment strategies. Still, the recent Deepseek selloff, coupled with swelling trade tensions sparked by the US's sweeping tariffs, have rattled investors' appetite for riskier assets in the current year, contributing to volatile market conditions and dampening investment returns. That's why funds' revenue is set to slump 11.4% in 2024-25. Total assets are set to rise by 5.5% in 2024-25 thanks to increases in the superannuation guarantee rate and workforce growth. The prevailing trend of fund consolidation and mergers is benefiting larger super funds, enhancing the industry's overall profitability as these mega funds have leveraged their scale to optimise returns. However, super funds, including AustralianSuper, were hit by a major cyberattack in early 2025, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, like multi-factor authentication, to protect members’ savings. Rising regulatory pressures will ramp up compliance expenses for superannuation funds. They will need to navigate challenges like tackling greenwashing, managing governance of unlisted assets and adhering to climate-related financial disclosure requirements. The Delivering Better Financial Outcomes reform will expand superannuation funds’ role, necessitating digital transformation and strategic planning to maximise member engagement. Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualised 4.6% over the five years through 2029-30, to $366.5 billion. Industry assets are projected to expand at an annualised 4.0% over the same period to $5.1 trillion.

As of June 2022 in Australia, around *********** of superannuation fund assets were allocated to international shares. Australian listed shares, Australian fixed interest, and cash were among other top asset allocation classes.

Employment statistics on the Superannuation Funds industry in Australia

This dataset presents information about superannuation income. The data covers the financial years 2011-12 to 2017-18, and is based on Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3) according to the 2016 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). Superannuation income includes the following data items on the Individual Tax Returns (ITR): Australian annuities and superannuation income streams taxable component taxed element Australian annuities and superannuation income streams taxable component untaxed element Australian annuities and superannuation income streams lump sum in arrears taxable component taxed element

This dataset presents information about superannuation income. The data covers the financial years 2011-12 to 2017-18, and is based on Local Government Areas (LGA) according to the 2018 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). Superannuation income includes the following data items on the Individual Tax Returns (ITR): Australian annuities and superannuation income streams taxable component taxed element Australian annuities and superannuation income streams taxable component untaxed element Australian annuities and superannuation income streams lump sum in arrears taxable component taxed element

In the fourth quarter of the year 2023, the total asset value of superannuation funds in Australia was around 3.8 trillion Australian dollars. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the total assets were valued at around 3.4 trillion Australian dollars.

The Quarterly Superannuation Performance provides industry aggregate summaries of financial performance, financial position and key ratios.

In financial year 2018, around 87 percent of Australians between 35 and 44 years old had superannuation coverage. In Australia, superannuation is a compulsory savings system where a minimum percentage of a person's income is placed into a fund to support them in their future retirement.

A survey in 2022 revealed that nearly 75 percent of respondents in Australia were satisfied with the financial performance of self-managed superannuation funds. The financial performance of retail superannuation funds recorded the lowest rate of customer satisfaction, with a share of 61 percent of respondents. Compared with 2021, satisfaction had dropped across all fund types in Australia.

Overview of superannuation funds

In Australia, superannuation is a pension program designed to benefit people after the end of their working life. There are five main types of super funds: retail, industry, public, corporate, and self-managed super funds. The value of superannuation funds under management in Australia has increased considerably since 2016. It stood at 1.57 trillion Australian dollars in the third quarter of 2021.

Introduction to ethical super funds

An ethical super fund focuses its investment on industries that are considered ethically responsible, for instance, healthcare, renewable energy, and recycling industries. A recent survey in 2021 disclosed that 43 percent of Australians were interested in investing their funds in ethical investments as Australians demonstrate their consideration for the environment and other social issues.

In Australia in 2021, the majority of respondents indicated being with their current superannuation fund because their company picked it. Around ** percent of respondents chose their fund following a recommendation from an industry expert or because it had low fees.

Australia Household: Assets: Financial: Insurance Technical Reserves: Superannuation data was reported at 4,139.200 AUD bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,084.000 AUD bn for Sep 2024. Australia Household: Assets: Financial: Insurance Technical Reserves: Superannuation data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,140.300 AUD bn from Sep 1988 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 146 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,139.200 AUD bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 148.200 AUD bn in Sep 1988. Australia Household: Assets: Financial: Insurance Technical Reserves: Superannuation data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.AB045: SNA08: SESCA08: Balance Sheet: Households.

Number of Businesses statistics on the Superannuation Funds industry in Australia

In Australia in 2023, around ** percent of respondents indicated that they have not made additional contributions to their superannuation account, nor do they plan to. Around one in five respondents said they had not made additional contributions, but they plan to.

From June 1988, the data are derived from ABS Cat No 5655.0. Coverage includes approved deposit funds but excludes assets held ‘within the statutory funds of life offices’ and, prior to December 1988, excludes small funds other than those managed by professional fund managers. From December 1988 inclusive, includes estimates for small directly investing funds and ‘excluded funds’. For longer run annual data on some items refer to the Reserve Bank Bulletin, December 1991 or Australian Economic Statistics 1949-50 to 1994-95.

Australia Mutual Funds: Assets: Superannuation Funds: Other Non-Financial Assets data was reported at 1,872.000 AUD mn in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,934.000 AUD mn for Mar 2018. Australia Mutual Funds: Assets: Superannuation Funds: Other Non-Financial Assets data is updated quarterly, averaging 942.000 AUD mn from Jun 1988 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 121 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,213.000 AUD mn in Mar 2012 and a record low of 127.000 AUD mn in Jun 1995. Australia Mutual Funds: Assets: Superannuation Funds: Other Non-Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.Z012: Mutual Funds: Superannuation Funds.

Australia Mutual Funds: Assets: Superannuation Funds: Other Financial Assets data was reported at 221,968.000 AUD mn in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 219,767.000 AUD mn for Mar 2018. Australia Mutual Funds: Assets: Superannuation Funds: Other Financial Assets data is updated quarterly, averaging 9,896.000 AUD mn from Jun 1988 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 121 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 227,231.000 AUD mn in Jun 2017 and a record low of 37.000 AUD mn in Dec 1988. Australia Mutual Funds: Assets: Superannuation Funds: Other Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.Z012: Mutual Funds: Superannuation Funds.

The Annual Superannuation Bulletin provides information on the whole of the superannuation industry. The Annual Superannuation Bulletin provides information on the whole of the superannuation industry.