Superannuation statistics 2026

There are 25 million superannuation accounts in Australia from a total of 98 fund providers (excluding funds with less than seven members), with assets equalling $4.4 trillion. The top asset allocations across all funds are international shares (32%), Australian shares (23%) and fixed interest (18%).

We used data from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), APRA and the ATO to explore the state of superannuation in Australia and how Australians interact with their funds.

How much money is in superannuation?

According to APRA, as of March 2026 the superannuation industry holds $4.4 trillion in assets, with the majority ($3.1 trillion) held in funds with more than 6 members. More than a third of super assets are held by industry funds ($1.6 trillion), with self-managed super funds (SMSF) taking second place ($1.1 trillion).

What assets are super funds investing in?

Total investments by APRA-regulated super funds totalled $3.0 trillion as of December 2025.

International shares (32%) and Australian shares (23%) are the top asset allocations, followed by fixed interest (18%).

How much super is invested overseas?

Australia's superannuation system is the fourth-largest pool of retirement savings in the world, and it has long outgrown the local market. According to ASFA, around half of institutional super fund investments are now held overseas, up from around 35% a decade ago.

International shares have driven much of that growth, climbing from 17% of total investments in September 2013 to 31% in September 2025 - an increase from $184 billion to $942 billion. The majority of offshore listed assets (61%) are invested in the US, and the trend shows no sign of slowing, with 63% of super funds expecting to increase their international exposure over the next 2 years.

How many Australians have superannuation?

According to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, 74% of Australians had a superannuation fund as of May 2026. Australians are more likely to have a a mobile phone plan (90%), electricity plan (90%) savings and transaction account (85%), broadband (79%) and car insurance (75%) than a super fund.

Those living in metropolitan areas (78%) are more likely than their regional counterparts (68%) to have a super fund, and higher income earners are substantially more likely to have a super fund. Only half (53%) of Australian adults with a household income of less than $50,000 per year have a super account, compared to 90% for those earning above $100,000.

How does superannuation compare between men and women?

According to the ATO, as of June 2023 the average super balance for women aged 65-69 was $392,274, compared to $448,518 for men. These figures indicate many Aussies are set to retire with less than ASFA's comfortable retirement standard of $595,000 for a single person.

The gap is largely driven by parenthood. ASFA research from March 2026 found women aged 45-49 with at least one child have an average super balance of $161,277, compared to $271,607 for men with at least one child. The same research found divorced women aged 50-59 have a median super balance of $120,000 compared to $150,000 for divorced men the same age - and around 43% of these women are renting, roughly twice the national rate for their age group.

Overall, 1 in 5 (20%) Australians say they won't have enough in super or other investments to get by in retirement, and a further 27% aren't sure whether they will. Just 24% are confident they'll be able to live comfortably.

The traditional retirement age is also looking shaky. A Finder survey from February 2026 found 30% of working Australians aged 30 or older say they won't be able to afford to retire at 67 - the equivalent of 3.3 million people. Women are worse affected, with 37% saying they won't have enough to retire at 67, compared to 24% of men.

Gen X are the most anxious when it comes to their retirement needs, reporting they need on average $1.9 million to feel wealthy. On the other hand, baby boomers feel they only need $987,000 to feel wealthy.

How many people make additional super contributions?

According to APRA, Australians added $206.5 billion to their super in the 2024 financial year. Member contributions made up 31% of the total, with employer contributions making up the remaining 69%. The superannuation guarantee - the minimum employers must pay - rose to 12% of wages on 1 July 2025.

A Finder survey from June 2025 found just 12% of Australians make additional contributions to their super to reduce their taxable income, while 1 in 3 (34%) say they aren't planning to. A further 11% are actively planning to start and 13% are considering it but haven't made a firm plan yet.

Compare superannuation funds

Sticking with an underperforming or high-fee super fund could be draining money from your retirement fund. To set yourself up to live comfortably in retirement, compare super funds with Finder.

Written by

Sophie Wallis

Analyst

Sophie Wallis is a senior insights analyst with a passion for data storytelling. She spends her time turning complex data into digestible stories and uncovering new consumer trends. When she isn't working, you'll find her planning her next overseas holiday or bingeing on a big novel. Sophie has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Melbourne. See full bio

Co-written by

Taylor Blackburn

Money Expert

Taylor Blackburn is a multi-award-winning communications specialist with a focus on personal finance and insurance. As Finder’s Head of PR, he regularly appears on major national TV programs like Sunrise, Today, and 7 and 9 news, and is frequently quoted in prominent outlets like the AFR and The Guardian. Taylor holds a Master of Arts in Public Relations from the University of the Pacific. See full bio

Taylor's expertise

Taylor has written 404 Finder guides across topics including:

• Savings accounts
• Credit cards
• Insurance comparison
• Budgeting