Member super contributions up 25.8%

Australians appear to be further embracing superannuation as an investment vehicle, with the latest Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) data reveal member contributions rose 25.8% in the year ending June 2025.

And according to APRA, the increase was driven by growth in personal contributions.

The bottom line according to the APRA data is that total superannuation assets in Australia increased by 4.8% to $4.3 trillion of which $3 trillion is in funds regulated by APRA.

It said total superannuation asset growth was 9.8%.

The lift in the superannuation guarantee from 11% to 11.5% were the major factors which drove growth in the level of SMSF assets.

Total contributions were $64.7 billion for the quarter and reached $210.2 billion for the year ending June 2025, an increase of 14.1% from the previous year. Employer contributions were $42.4 billion for the quarter and $151.1 billion, 10.1% higher compared to the previous year.

APRA said the annual growth included the effect of an increase in the super guarantee contribution rate from 11.0% to 11.5 % starting July 2024.

“Member contributions were $22.3 billion for the quarter and $59.1 billion for the year ending June 2025, 25.8% higher than the previous year. The increase was driven by growth in personal contributions,” the APRA analysis said.

It said benefit payments totalled $132.5 billion for the year ending June 2025, a 12.8% increase from the previous year. The increase was attributable to a 14.3% increase in lump sum payments and 11.0% increase in pension payments over the year ending June 2025.

Total benefit payments for the quarter of $36.9 billion comprised $20.1 billion of lump sum benefit payments and $16.7 billion of pension payments.

The analysis said the five-year annualised rate of return to June 2025 was 7.9% with the rate of return for the year ending June 2025 was 10.2%