Australian superannuation funds see strong returns and global ranking gains

Australian superannuation funds have demonstrated strong performance, with the sector achieving four consecutive years of gains. In FY26, the median growth fund returned 9.5%, contributing to a total return of approximately 44% over the last four years. Total superannuation holdings in Australia have reached $4.8 trillion, following a 9.5% increase over the past year.

Global rankings from WTW research place Australian industry funds prominently, with AustralianSuper and Australian Retirement Trust (ART) both appearing in the top 20. ART was noted as the only new entrant to the top 20 during 2025. Australia ranks fifth globally in terms of total fund asset value, trailing only the US, Japan, Norway, and Canada.

The recent surge in returns was largely driven by international shares, which returned 25.5% in hedged terms during FY26, rather than broad-based domestic growth. While Australian shares returned 6.2%, Australian-listed property saw a decline of 1.8%. Industry trends indicate increasing scale through mergers and strategic partnerships to access specialized expertise and technology.