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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. They 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

    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 2014 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

    2013–14

    2014–15

    2015–16

    2016–17

    1

    22.7%

    22.7%

    22.8%

    23.1%

    2

    69.3%

    69.5%

    69.6%

    69.7%

    3

    3.9%

    3.8%

    3.7%

    3.5%

    4

    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 2014 to 2017 financial years.

    The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

    Funds

    State

    2013–14

    2014–15

    2015–16

    2016–17

    ACT

    1.8%

    1.7%

    1.6%

    1.7%

    NSW

    32.6%

    33.2%

    33.3%

    32.8%

    NT

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    QLD

    16.3%

    16.6%

    16.8%

    16.9%

    SA

    7.0%

    7.0%

    6.9%

    6.9%

    TAS

    1.4%

    1.3%

    1.3%

    1.3%

    VIC

    30.5%

    30.2%

    30.3%

    30.8%

    WA

    10.1%

    9.9%

    9.6%

    9.5%

    Members

    State

    2013–14

    2014–15

    2015–16

    2016–17

    ACT

    1.8%

    1.7%

    1.6%

    1.7%

    NSW

    32.7%

    33.2%

    33.3%

    32.9%

    NT

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    QLD

    16.3%

    16.6%

    16.8%

    16.8%

    SA

    7.1%

    7.0%

    6.9%

    6.9%

    TAS

    1.4%

    1.3%

    1.3%

    1.3%

    VIC

    30.4%

    30.1%

    30.2%

    30.7%

    WA

    10.1%

    9.9%

    9.7%

    9.6%

    Assets

    State

    2013–14

    2014–15

    2015–16

    2016–17

    ACT

    1.8%

    1.8%

    1.7%

    1.8%

    NSW

    33.4%

    34.4%

    34.9%

    34.9%

    NT

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    QLD

    15.7%

    15.7%

    15.7%

    15.9%

    SA

    7.3%

    7.1%

    7.0%

    6.8%

    TAS

    1.2%

    1.2%

    1.2%

    1.2%

    VIC

    30.8%

    30.3%

    30.2%

    30.5%

    WA

    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 2014 to 2017 financial years.

    The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

    Total asset range table – proportion of funds (%)

    Asset ranges

    2013–14

    2014–15

    2015–16

    2016–17

    $0–$50,000

    7.1%

    6.6%

    5.9%

    5.5%

    >$50,000–$100,000

    5.0%

    4.5%

    4.1%

    3.2%

    >$100,000–$200,000

    10.2%

    9.5%

    9.0%

    7.7%

    >$200,000–$500,000

    24.2%

    24.0%

    24.3%

    22.8%

    >$500,000–$1m

    23.1%

    23.7%

    24.4%

    24.8%

    >$1m–$2m

    17.6%

    18.1%

    18.4%

    20.0%

    >$2m–$5m

    10.4%

    10.9%

    11.1%

    12.6%

    >$5m–$10m

    2.0%

    2.2%

    2.2%

    2.6%

    >$10m

    0.4%

    0.5%

    0.6%

    0.7%

    Total

    100%

    100%

    100%

    100%

    Total asset range table – proportion of assets (%)

    Asset ranges

    2013–14

    2014–15

    2015–16

    2016–17

    $0–$50,000

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.1%

    >$50,000–$100,000

    0.4%

    0.3%

    0.3%

    0.2%

    >$100,000–$200,000

    1.5%

    1.3%

    1.2%

    0.9%

    >$200,000–$500,000

    8.0%

    7.6%

    7.6%

    6.5%

    >$500,000–$1m

    16.1%

    15.7%

    15.8%

    14.6%

    >$1m–$2m

    23.9%

    23.5%

    23.3%

    23.0%

    >$2m–$5m

    29.9%

    30.1%

    30.0%

    30.7%

    >$5m–$10m

    13.1%

    13.6%

    13.5%

    14.1%

    >$10m

    7.0%

    7.7%

    8.3%

    9.9%

    Total

    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 2014 to 2017 financial years.

    The data was extracted on 13 August 2018.

    Average and median assets table ($)

    Asset values

    2013–14

    2014–15

    2015–16

    2016–17

    Average assets per member

    544,858

    572,509

    587,171

    652,465

    Median assets per member

    319,301

    336,647

    347,011

    393,141

    Average assets per SMSF

    1,031,385

    1,081,964

    1,107,726

    1,223,460

    Median assets per SMSF

    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 2014 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

    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

      Last modified: 02 May 2019QC 58743