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Annual SMSF population analysis tables

The following tables contain demographic information of SMSFs, as well as individual members, as at 30 June 2018.

Last updated 24 October 2018

About this data

These tables also include a more detailed analysis of asset allocation of SMSFs, as well as estimates of the total amount of ‘flows’ into and out of SMSFs. These tables are updated on an annual basis, when the June quarter updates are published.

Tables on this page:

Asset allocation by asset value of the fund table

This table contains the approximate distribution of assets held by SMSFs of different sizes, based on total fund assets. These tables are based on actual return data for the 2013 to 2017 financial years.

The data is provided by SMSFs reporting their financial position as at 30 June of the relevant financial year.

The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

Asset value ranges of funds

2013

$1–
$50k

>$50–
$100k

>$100–
$200k

>$200–
$500k

>$500k–
$1m

>$1–
$2m

>$2–
$5m

>$5–
$10m

>$10m

Listed trusts

1.64%

2.07%

2.73%

3.63%

3.97%

3.80%

3.43%

3.12%

2.33%

Unlisted trusts

2.33%

3.98%

5.45%

6.16%

6.76%

7.82%

9.38%

12.21%

16.07%

Insurance policy

0.02%

0.04%

0.03%

0.03%

0.03%

0.05%

0.04%

0.04%

0.01%

Other managed investments

1.30%

2.20%

3.01%

4.08%

4.46%

4.60%

4.50%

4.46%

4.40%

Cash and term deposits

54.64%

50.77%

48.50%

36.91%

33.00%

31.10%

27.79%

23.94%

19.94%

Debt securities

0.13%

0.19%

0.29%

0.51%

0.75%

0.95%

1.07%

1.28%

1.56%

Loans

2.13%

2.34%

1.64%

0.84%

0.56%

0.57%

0.62%

0.87%

1.70%

Listed shares

21.43%

23.00%

23.87%

26.12%

28.02%

29.73%

30.58%

30.77%

28.71%

Unlisted shares

2.04%

2.30%

1.70%

1.06%

0.86%

0.87%

1.02%

1.44%

2.33%

Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

0.13%

0.33%

0.68%

3.41%

2.82%

1.51%

1.15%

1.41%

3.10%

Non-residential real property

0.87%

1.80%

3.72%

8.21%

10.43%

11.84%

13.62%

13.92%

12.60%

Residential real property

0.68%

1.24%

1.94%

4.89%

5.03%

3.93%

3.29%

2.31%

1.61%

Collectables and personal use assets

0.61%

0.73%

0.44%

0.21%

0.12%

0.09%

0.07%

0.07%

0.05%

Other assets

10.96%

7.53%

4.85%

3.08%

2.49%

2.38%

2.50%

2.85%

3.44%

Overseas shares

0.46%

0.46%

0.36%

0.32%

0.28%

0.29%

0.39%

0.61%

1.11%

Overseas
non- residential real property

0.05%

0.09%

0.04%

0.03%

0.01%

0.01%

0.02%

0.02%

0.10%

Overseas residential real property

0.11%

0.27%

0.24%

0.11%

0.06%

0.04%

0.02%

0.02%

0.02%

Overseas managed investments

0.03%

0.05%

0.05%

0.04%

0.05%

0.07%

0.08%

0.14%

0.18%

Other overseas assets

0.45%

0.60%

0.44%

0.36%

0.32%

0.34%

0.41%

0.53%

0.73%

Total

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

Asset value ranges of funds

2014

$1–
$50k

>$50–
$100k

>$100–
$200k

>$200–
$500k

>$500k–
$1m

>$1–
$2m

>$2–
$5m

>$5–
$10m

>$10m

Listed trusts

1.51%

1.94%

2.53%

3.60%

4.01%

4.11%

3.90%

3.54%

2.63%

Unlisted trusts

2.40%

4.06%

5.57%

6.20%

6.87%

8.01%

9.51%

12.07%

15.58%

Insurance policy

0.01%

0.03%

0.03%

0.02%

0.02%

0.04%

0.04%

0.03%

0.01%

Other managed investments

1.29%

1.95%

2.73%

3.90%

4.53%

4.79%

4.79%

4.84%

4.58%

Cash and term deposits

54.87%

51.17%

48.35%

34.97%

30.45%

28.63%

25.32%

21.33%

16.57%

Debt securities

0.13%

0.19%

0.29%

0.54%

0.83%

1.10%

1.32%

1.54%

1.78%

Loans

2.13%

2.46%

1.65%

0.80%

0.50%

0.53%

0.56%

0.85%

1.73%

Listed shares

19.97%

21.53%

23.18%

25.47%

28.22%

31.13%

32.53%

33.18%

31.47%

Unlisted shares

2.17%

2.38%

1.87%

1.02%

0.75%

0.77%

0.97%

1.35%

2.23%

Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

0.36%

0.72%

1.19%

5.71%

4.83%

2.44%

1.71%

2.02%

4.27%

Non-residential real property

0.92%

1.93%

3.74%

8.30%

10.23%

11.21%

12.62%

12.83%

11.74%

Residential real property

1.10%

1.60%

2.18%

5.39%

5.53%

4.09%

3.32%

2.38%

1.57%

Collectables and personal use assets

0.67%

0.61%

0.42%

0.18%

0.09%

0.07%

0.06%

0.06%

0.04%

Other assets

11.21%

7.91%

5.07%

3.09%

2.48%

2.40%

2.50%

2.79%

3.65%

Overseas shares

0.44%

0.37%

0.33%

0.25%

0.21%

0.22%

0.35%

0.50%

0.89%

Overseas
non- residential real property

0.09%

0.07%

0.05%

0.03%

0.02%

0.01%

0.01%

0.02%

0.08%

Overseas residential real property

0.21%

0.30%

0.30%

0.12%

0.06%

0.04%

0.03%

0.02%

0.00%

Overseas managed investments

0.07%

0.06%

0.05%

0.05%

0.06%

0.06%

0.08%

0.14%

0.29%

Other overseas assets

0.48%

0.70%

0.46%

0.36%

0.31%

0.34%

0.40%

0.50%

0.90%

Total

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

Asset value ranges of funds

2015

$1–
$50k

>$50–
$100k

>$100–
$200k

>$200–
$500k

>$500k–
$1m

>$1–
$2m

>$2–
$5m

>$5–
$10m

>$10m

Listed trusts

1.39%

1.99%

2.73%

3.77%

4.34%

4.54%

4.30%

3.89%

3.19%

Unlisted trusts

2.14%

3.90%

5.73%

6.34%

7.09%

8.42%

10.10%

12.49%

15.93%

Insurance policy

0.01%

0.02%

0.02%

0.02%

0.01%

0.03%

0.03%

0.03%

0.03%

Other managed investments

1.38%

2.04%

2.82%

3.90%

4.71%

5.15%

5.15%

5.27%

5.17%

Cash and term deposits

53.99%

50.15%

47.03%

32.92%

28.26%

26.94%

23.95%

20.23%

15.75%

Debt securities

0.13%

0.20%

0.27%

0.59%

0.96%

1.22%

1.45%

1.60%

1.89%

Loans

1.88%

2.28%

1.51%

0.77%

0.51%

0.50%

0.56%

0.84%

1.71%

Listed shares

21.38%

21.97%

23.33%

24.81%

27.41%

30.30%

31.69%

31.91%

29.20%

Unlisted shares

2.42%

2.34%

1.93%

1.02%

0.75%

0.78%

1.00%

1.27%

2.59%

Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

0.23%

0.68%

1.32%

7.63%

6.56%

3.21%

2.07%

2.33%

4.57%

Non-residential real property

0.90%

1.96%

3.62%

8.14%

9.97%

11.00%

12.24%

12.61%

11.20%

Residential real property

1.05%

1.99%

2.46%

5.79%

5.95%

4.44%

3.53%

2.65%

1.87%

Collectables and personal use assets

0.53%

0.58%

0.41%

0.14%

0.09%

0.06%

0.05%

0.05%

0.02%

Other assets

11.28%

8.24%

5.37%

3.18%

2.55%

2.50%

2.69%

3.17%

4.12%

Overseas shares

0.51%

0.52%

0.47%

0.41%

0.36%

0.40%

0.57%

0.90%

1.40%

Overseas non- residential real property

0.07%

0.09%

0.06%

0.03%

0.02%

0.01%

0.01%

0.02%

0.05%

Overseas residential real property

0.18%

0.35%

0.31%

0.12%

0.06%

0.04%

0.03%

0.01%

0.02%

Overseas managed investments

0.04%

0.05%

0.06%

0.06%

0.06%

0.08%

0.11%

0.19%

0.37%

Other overseas assets

0.49%

0.65%

0.55%

0.37%

0.33%

0.37%

0.46%

0.55%

0.90%

Total

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

Asset value ranges of funds

2016

$1–
$50k

>$50–
$100k

>$100–
$200k

>$200–
$500k

>$500k–
$1m

>$1–
$2m

>$2–
$5m

>$5–
$10m

>$10m

Listed trusts

1.41%

2.11%

3.10%

4.08%

4.68%

4.92%

4.62%

4.21%

3.21%

Unlisted trusts

2.44%

4.35%

6.02%

6.66%

7.58%

9.04%

10.86%

13.25%

17.22%

Insurance policy

0.01%

0.02%

0.02%

0.02%

0.02%

0.03%

0.02%

0.04%

0.00%

Other managed investments

1.55%

2.11%

2.86%

3.84%

4.51%

5.05%

5.22%

5.32%

5.00%

Cash and term deposits

53.72%

49.04%

45.65%

31.60%

27.03%

26.18%

23.47%

19.74%

14.97%

Debt securities

0.15%

0.24%

0.32%

0.70%

1.09%

1.39%

1.68%

1.87%

1.96%

Loans

1.84%

2.15%

1.45%

0.73%

0.49%

0.52%

0.58%

0.88%

1.87%

Listed shares

22.37%

23.42%

24.14%

24.76%

26.38%

28.94%

29.64%

29.74%

26.87%

Unlisted shares

2.64%

2.33%

1.93%

1.02%

0.72%

0.77%

1.01%

1.37%

2.93%

Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

0.22%

0.58%

1.49%

8.76%

8.03%

3.88%

2.43%

2.56%

5.12%

Non-residential real property

0.95%

1.95%

3.24%

7.32%

9.28%

10.62%

12.24%

12.88%

12.02%

Residential real property

0.93%

1.93%

2.49%

6.33%

6.82%

5.27%

4.34%

3.22%

1.87%

Collectables and personal use assets

0.33%

0.48%

0.34%

0.13%

0.06%

0.05%

0.04%

0.03%

0.01%

Other assets

10.14%

7.65%

5.44%

3.08%

2.51%

2.45%

2.63%

3.18%

4.25%

Overseas shares

0.57%

0.53%

0.55%

0.45%

0.39%

0.44%

0.65%

0.96%

1.45%

Overseas non- residential real property

0.05%

0.08%

0.04%

0.03%

0.01%

0.01%

0.01%

0.02%

0.07%

Overseas residential real property

0.18%

0.40%

0.31%

0.11%

0.07%

0.04%

0.03%

0.02%

0.02%

Overseas managed investments

0.03%

0.05%

0.07%

0.06%

0.06%

0.07%

0.12%

0.20%

0.28%

Other overseas assets

0.47%

0.61%

0.54%

0.33%

0.27%

0.33%

0.39%

0.50%

0.87%

Total

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

Asset value ranges of funds

2017

$1–
$50k

>$50–
$100k

>$100–
$200k

>$200–
$500k

>$500k–
$1m

>$1–
$2m

>$2–
$5m

>$5–
$10m

>$10m

Listed trusts

1.34%

2.33%

3.36%

4.29%

4.79%

5.04%

4.65%

4.02%

5.74%

Unlisted trusts

2.28%

4.56%

6.12%

6.73%

7.69%

9.07%

11.00%

13.32%

16.63%

Insurance policy

0.00%

0.00%

0.01%

0.01%

0.02%

0.02%

0.02%

0.04%

0.04%

Other managed investments

1.08%

1.77%

2.62%

3.84%

4.41%

5.02%

4.97%

4.99%

4.01%

Cash and term deposits

54.11%

48.81%

45.71%

31.81%

27.04%

26.57%

24.00%

20.04%

14.44%

Debt securities

0.17%

0.26%

0.36%

0.72%

1.18%

1.51%

1.84%

2.04%

1.85%

Loans

1.30%

1.76%

1.35%

0.65%

0.44%

0.47%

0.56%

0.73%

1.45%

Listed shares

23.64%

24.07%

24.54%

24.90%

26.95%

29.87%

30.72%

30.67%

25.28%

Unlisted shares

2.29%

2.18%

1.79%

0.96%

0.61%

0.68%

0.87%

1.31%

2.83%

Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

0.03%

0.20%

1.27%

11.22%

10.74%

4.81%

2.83%

2.73%

6.04%

Non-residential real property

0.85%

1.72%

3.00%

5.48%

6.74%

8.37%

10.14%

11.27%

12.33%

Residential real property

0.90%

2.16%

2.90%

5.51%

6.28%

5.34%

4.82%

4.06%

2.64%

Collectables and personal use assets

0.27%

0.47%

0.31%

0.11%

0.06%

0.04%

0.03%

0.03%

0.00%

Other assets

10.37%

8.02%

5.21%

2.82%

2.23%

2.24%

2.36%

2.91%

4.27%

Overseas shares

0.63%

0.67%

0.65%

0.55%

0.46%

0.54%

0.72%

1.18%

1.62%

Overseas non- residential real property

0.06%

0.08%

0.05%

0.02%

0.01%

0.01%

0.02%

0.01%

0.08%

Overseas residential real property

0.20%

0.38%

0.24%

0.09%

0.04%

0.03%

0.02%

0.03%

0.01%

Overseas managed investments

0.13%

0.07%

0.08%

0.06%

0.07%

0.09%

0.10%

0.17%

0.17%

Other overseas assets

0.35%

0.49%

0.43%

0.25%

0.25%

0.28%

0.33%

0.44%

0.57%

Total

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

Membership sizes table

This table contains an approximate distribution of the number of members in SMSFs as at the end of each financial year for the 2013 to 2017 years. These figures are based on SMSF annual return data.

The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

Proportion of funds (%)

Number of members

2012–13

2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

1

22.7%

22.7%

22.7%

22.8%

23.1%

2

69.1%

69.3%

69.5%

69.6%

69.7%

3

4.0%

3.9%

3.8%

3.7%

3.5%

4

4.2%

4.1%

4.0%

3.9%

3.6%

Demographic table

This table contains estimates of the proportion of funds, members and assets located across the different states and territories of Australia.

State refers to the state or territory that the fund is administered, not necessarily where the members live.

These figures are estimates based on SMSF annual return data for the 2013 to 2017 financial years.

The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

Funds

State

2012–13

2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

ACT

1.8%

1.8%

1.7%

1.6%

1.7%

NSW

32.0%

32.6%

33.2%

33.3%

32.8%

NT

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

QLD

16.4%

16.3%

16.6%

16.8%

16.9%

SA

7.1%

7.0%

7.0%

6.9%

6.9%

TAS

1.4%

1.4%

1.3%

1.3%

1.3%

VIC

30.7%

30.5%

30.2%

30.3%

30.8%

WA

10.3%

10.1%

9.9%

9.6%

9.5%

Members

State

2012–13

2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

ACT

1.8%

1.8%

1.7%

1.6%

1.7%

NSW

32.1%

32.7%

33.2%

33.3%

32.9%

NT

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

QLD

16.4%

16.3%

16.6%

16.8%

16.8%

SA

7.2%

7.1%

7.0%

6.9%

6.9%

TAS

1.4%

1.4%

1.3%

1.3%

1.3%

VIC

30.7%

30.4%

30.1%

30.2%

30.7%

WA

10.3%

10.1%

9.9%

9.7%

9.6%

Assets

State

2012–13

2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

ACT

1.8%

1.8%

1.8%

1.7%

1.8%

NSW

32.6%

33.4%

34.4%

34.9%

34.9%

NT

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

QLD

16.1%

15.7%

15.7%

15.7%

15.9%

SA

7.3%

7.3%

7.1%

7.0%

6.8%

TAS

1.3%

1.2%

1.2%

1.2%

1.2%

VIC

31.1%

30.8%

30.3%

30.2%

30.5%

WA

9.7%

9.5%

9.2%

9.0%

8.7%

Member demographic table – age ranges

This table contains an approximate age distribution of individuals who were members of SMSFs as at the end of June 2018. The data behind this table was extracted on 04 October 2018 and is an estimate based on Australian Business Register (ABR) data.

Member demographic table – age ranges

Age ranges

Male

Female

Total

<25

0.5%

0.5%

0.5%

25–34

3.3%

3.4%

3.4%

35–44

11.3%

12.4%

11.8%

45–49

10.0%

10.9%

10.4%

50–54

11.1%

12.0%

11.5%

55–59

13.2%

13.8%

13.5%

60–64

13.1%

13.8%

13.4%

65–69

13.2%

13.4%

13.3%

70–74

11.9%

10.8%

11.4%

75–84

10.5%

7.9%

9.3%

85+

1.9%

1.1%

1.5%

Unknown

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Total

100%

100%

100%

All ages

52.8%

47.2%

100%

Member demographic table – income ranges

This table contains an approximate distribution of the taxable income of individuals who were SMSF members as at the end of June 2018. The data was extracted on 13 August 2018 and is an estimate based on ABR data and the member’s most recently lodged personal tax return.

Member demographic table – income ranges

Income ranges

Male

Female

Total

$0–$20,000

19.7%

25.9%

22.6%

>$20,000–$40,000

16.2%

21.2%

18.5%

>$40,000–$60,000

11.0%

14.2%

12.5%

>$60,000–$80,000

10.4%

10.7%

10.5%

>$80,000–$100,000

9.4%

8.3%

8.9%

>$100,000–$150,000

12.9%

8.2%

10.7%

>$150,000–$200,000

7.7%

4.8%

6.3%

>$200,000–$500,000

8.2%

3.8%

6.1%

>$500,000

2.5%

0.8%

1.7%

Unknown

2.0%

2.0%

2.0%

Total

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

Total asset range tables

These tables show an approximate distribution of SMSFs by asset size and of the assets held by SMSFs of different sizes as at the end of each financial year.

These figures are estimates based on SMSF annual return data for the 2013 to 2017 financial years.

The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

Total asset range table – proportion of funds (%)

Asset ranges

2012–13

2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

$0–$50,000

7.5%

7.1%

6.6%

5.9%

5.5%

>$50,000–$100,000

5.6%

5.0%

4.5%

4.1%

3.2%

>$100,000–$200,000

10.9%

10.2%

9.5%

9.0%

7.7%

>$200,000–$500,000

24.7%

24.2%

24.0%

24.3%

22.8%

>$500,000–$1m

22.7%

23.1%

23.7%

24.4%

24.8%

>$1m–$2m

16.9%

17.6%

18.1%

18.4%

20.0%

>$2m–$5m

9.5%

10.4%

10.9%

11.1%

12.6%

>$5m–$10m

1.7%

2.0%

2.2%

2.2%

2.6%

>$10m

0.4%

0.4%

0.5%

0.6%

0.7%

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Total asset range table – proportion of assets (%)

Asset ranges

2012–13

2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

$0–$50,000

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

>$50,000–$100,000

0.4%

0.4%

0.3%

0.3%

0.2%

>$100,000–$200,000

1.7%

1.5%

1.3%

1.2%

0.9%

>$200,000–$500,000

8.8%

8.0%

7.6%

7.6%

6.5%

>$500,000–$1m

16.9%

16.1%

15.7%

15.8%

14.6%

>$1m–$2m

24.6%

23.9%

23.5%

23.3%

23.0%

>$2m–$5m

29.4%

29.9%

30.1%

30.0%

30.7%

>$5m–$10m

12.0%

13.1%

13.6%

13.5%

14.1%

>$10m

6.1%

7.0%

7.7%

8.3%

9.9%

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Average and median assets table

This table approximates the average and median assets per SMSF member and per SMSF at the end of each financial year.

These figures are estimates based on SMSF annual return data for the 2013 to 2017 financial years.

The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

Average and median assets table ($)

Asset values

2012–13

2013–14

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

Average assets per member

507,392

544,858

572,509

587,171

652,465

Median assets per member

296,580

319,301

336,647

347,011

393,141

Average assets per SMSF

962,562

1,031,385

1,081,964

1,107,726

1,223,460

Median assets per SMSF

530,407

570,726

601,912

618,754

693,265

Flow of funds table

This table shows estimates of the total amount of ‘flows’ into and out of SMSFs during each financial year. It contains totals relating to the following:

  • contributions – member and employer
  • transfers – inward and outward
  • benefits payments
  • total expenses – investment expenses and administration and operating expenses.

The 'total expenses' referred to in this table include deductible and non-deductible expenses reported on the SMSF annual return.

The following return labels are used in each expense category:

  • Investments expenses  
    • interest expenses within Australia
    • interest expenses overseas
    • insurance premiums – members
    • investment expenses
    • forestry management investment scheme expense.
     
  • Administration and operating expenses  
    • SMSF auditor fee
    • management and administration expenses
    • other amounts
    • supervisory levy.
     

These figures are estimates based on SMSF annual return data for the 2013 to 2017 financial years.

There were noticeable differences in the levels of contributions, benefit payments and transfers made to and from SMSFs in the 2017 financial year. These were anticipated as a result of SMSFs preparing for the commencement of superannuation new measures that came into effect on 1 July 2017.

The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

Flow of funds table ($ million)

Date

Member contributions

Employer contributions

Inward transfers

Outward transfers

Benefit payments

Total investment expenses

Total administration and operating expenses

2012–13

17,886

5,426

16,488

4,275

25,492

2,478

2,439

2013–14

19,515

6,012

15,067

5,086

29,482

2,999

2,725

2014–15

24,901

6,906

15,028

5,617

33,456

3,574

2,978

2015–16

24,480

7,160

14,954

5,481

35,430

4,161

3,755

2016–17

34,687

7,130

18,316

9,207

46,368

4,369

3,516

QC56994