Australian ETF statistics 2022

7% of Australians own ETFs – the equivalent to 1.45 million people.

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7% of Aussies own ETFs, according to a survey of over 1,000 Australian adults from Finder's September 2022 Consumer Sentiment Tracker (CST). That's an estimated 1.45 million people and this figure is set to grow. ETFs are most popular among generation y and generation z.

ETFs (short for exchange traded funds) are popular as they allow investors to buy a basket of shares or assets in a single trade and generally offer low expense ratios. This allows retail investors to diversify within an asset class in a cost-effective way.

Quick summary

  • 7% of Aussies own ETFs.
  • The median amount invested in an ETF is AUD$23,192.
  • ETFs are most popular with generation Y (12%) and least popular with baby boomers (2%).
  • ETFs are more popular than managed or index funds in Australia.
  • There are 223 ETFs across 7 asset classes worth over AUD$113 billion in Australia (June 2021).
  • The growth of ETFs in Australia outpaced the global industry in 2021 with a 44% growth from AUD$95 billion to AUD$136.9 billion – its sharpest annual increase.

Who owns ETFs in Australia?

  • 7% of Aussies own ETFs – an estimated 1.45 million people.
  • ETFs are most popular with generation Y (12%), followed by generation Z (8%).
  • Baby boomers are the least likely generation to hold ETFs (2%) and 6% of generation X own ETFs.
  • Men are more likely to own ETFs compared to women (8% vs 6%), but this is a much smaller investment gap than individual shares (24% vs 8%) and managed or index funds (9% compared to 3%).
  • Those in NSW are the most likely to own ETFs (9%), followed by QLD (8%), VIC (7%) and SA and WA (3% each).

Gen Y is most likely to own ETFs

Gen Y is most likely to own ETFs
GenerationETFs
Baby boomers2
Gen X6
Gen Y12
Gen Z8
Source: Finder's CST

Investing gender gap in Australia

The investing gender gap is smaller for ETFs than it is for individual shares or managed funds.

Investing gender gap in Australia
Investment typeMaleFemale
Shares in a specific company (e.g. Apple or CBA)248
Managed/Index fund93
Exchange traded fund (ETFs)86
Source: Finder's CST

ETFs' role in investment portfolios

  • Direct shares are still more popular than ETFs. 16% of Aussies own direct shares compared to 7% who have ETFs.
  • However, ETFs are now more popular than managed or index funds in Australia (7% compared to 6%) and are much more popular than listed investment companies (2%).
  • ETFs in Australia account for only 2% of investments by value, showing their appeal to those with limited capital as a vehicle for cost-effective diversification.
  • The median amount invested in an ETF is AUD$23,192.
  • The market capitalisation of ETFs has grown significantly.

The history of ETFs in Australia

  • In 2015, Australia opened up its market to actively managed ETFs, becoming one of the first regional markets to do so.
  • The ASX admitted the first 2 ETFs by State Street Global Advisors in 2001. It took another 6 years for the ASX to admit Blackrock iShares ETFs and another 2 for Vanguard to join the scene.
  • As of June 2021, there were 223 ETFs across 7 asset classes worth over $113 billion.
  • ETPs, financial instruments that track underlying securities or indexes and include ETFs, have grown significantly in the last 6 years. In January 2017, there were just 154 ETPs. As of July 2022, there are now 253 ETPs.
  • Thematic ETF strategies recorded strong growth in Australia last year accounting for 10 of the 33 new ETF launches in the country. However, thematic strategies account for just 3% of Australian ETF assets.

The number of ETPs listed on the ASX

The number of ETPs listed on the ASX
ETPsNo. listed
January 2017154
February 2017155
March 2017155
April 2017157
May 2017159
June 2017162
July 2017163
August 2017163
September 2017167
October 2017168
November 2017174
December 2017175
January 2018175
February 2018177
March 2018178
April 2018181
May 2018182
June 2018179
July 2018178
August 2018177
September 2018184
October 2018185
November 2018191
December 2018191
January 2019191
February 2019191
March 2019192
Apri 2019194
May 2019195
June 2019198
July 2019200
August 2019203
September 2019203
October 2019204
November 2019208
December 2019211
January 2020211
February 2020212
March 2022212
April 2022212
May 2020206
June 2020208
July 2020211
August 2020212
September 2020216
October 2020218
November 2020220
December 2020215
January 2021215
February 2021215
March 2021220
April 2021221
May 2021221
June 2021223
July 2021223
August 2021226
September 2021227
October 2021229
November 2021233
December 2021237
January 2022239
February 2022244
March 2022247
April 2022248
May 2022247
June 2022252
July 2022253
Source: ASX Funds (Listed Managed Investments, mFunds and ETPs) Monthly Update

ETPs Market Cap in Australia

ETPs Market Cap in Australia
ETPsMarket cap in billions
January 201725.10
February 201726.10
March 201727.25
April 201728.12
May 201728.83
June 201729.26
July 201729.90
August 201730.67
September 201731.75
October 201733.24
November 201735.25
December 201735.69
January 201836.27
February 201836.61
March 201836.31
April 201837.62
May 201838.14
June 201838.87
July 201839.68
August 201841.15
September 201842.29
October 201840.47
November 201840.64
December 201840.41
January 201942.27
February 201944.45
March 201945.77
Apri 201947.66
May 201948.33
June 201950.59
July 201953.02
August 201953.66
September 201955.91
October 201956.92
November 201960.24
December 201961.52
January 202065.70
February 202063.64
March 202256.63
April 202260.71
May 202063.46
June 202065.64
July 202066.90
August 202070.47
September 202071.12
October 202073.55
November 202092.19
December 202094.44
January 202196.04
February 202196.57
March 2021102.07
April 2021106.67
May 2021109.49
June 2021113.52
July 2021116.50
August 2021122.78
September 2021122.95
October 2021124.64
November 2021129.93
December 2021134.12
January 2022128.96
February 2022127.16
March 2022132.34
April 2022130.36
May 2022128.33
June 2022121.45
July 2022127.24
Source: ASX Funds (Listed Managed Investments, mFunds and ETPs) Monthly Update

Global ETF statistics

  • There were just 276 ETFs globally in 2003, but as of 2021, there are more than 8,550.
  • ETFs worldwide were worth US$10 trillion in 2021.
  • ESG ETFs have grown significantly since 2006. They were worth US$5 billion and reached US$391 billion in 2021. The growth is primarily due to growth in Europe and the United States.

Sources

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Head of Finder Awards
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Susannah Binsted is the head of the Finder Awards program. Previously she was the head of public relations for the international division at Finder. Susannah has a Bachelor of Communication and a Bachelor of International Studies from the University of Technology Sydney. See full bio

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