Most Aussies don't know the super guarantee rate
Updated on 1 July 2025 | 5 min read
New data shows 81% of Australians don't know the super guarantee (SG) rate
4 in 5 Aussies don’t know the SG rate
We partnered with YouGov to survey over 1,000 Aussies about their super knowledge and habits. And what we found out about the SG rate was surprising:
- 81% of Australians don't know off the top of their heads what the super guarantee rate is, compared to 71% in 2022. The super guarantee rate is currently 12%.
- 2 in 5 (41%) think it's still between 9% and 11%.
- 3 in 10 people (28%) were unsure of the exact percentage.
When did the super guarantee rate increase?
The SG rate increased every year (from 2021) until it hit 12% on 1 July 2025. This is the last rate increase the Government has scheduled for now.
Super guarantee rate increases over the years
| Date | SG rate |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2021 | 10.00% |
| 1 July 2022 | 10.50% |
| 1 July 2023 | 11.00% |
| 1 July 2024 | 11.50% |
| 1 July 2025 | 12.00% |
High income earners more likely to know the SG rate
People with a household income of more than $150,000 a year were the most likely to know the SG rate (32%), compared to 15% with a household income of less than $50,000.
Gender differences
Women tended to be more unsure about the current super rate than men (33% of women were unsure, compared to 23% of men). Nonetheless, men were only 2% more likely to correctly guess the SG rate.
In the data, we saw women were:
Less likely to see super as one of their biggest financial assets (61%, compared to 74% of men)
Less confident about managing their super investments (53% of women were confident, compared to 70% of men).
These differences reflect some of the extra challenges women tend to face when it comes to super. On average, women retire with less super than men. Learn more about the gender pay gap and the gender super gap.
How to get the most out of your super
Here're some simple steps you can take today that could make a big difference down the track.
Check your super fund's investment performance and fees are still right for you.
Log in to your account and see how your super's invested. Our inner investor quiz can help you find an investment strategy that works for you.
Regularly check that your employer is paying you the right amount of super.
Use our contributions calculator to see if it's worth it for you to add extra money to your super on top of what your employer pays you.
If you're paying for accounts with more than one super fund, you could combine them to pay only one set of fees.
Before you combine your super, think about:
Insurance
You'll need to consider what insurance cover you currently have with your existing fund/s. You should understand what impacts there could be to your benefits before you combine your super with us. Make sure you organise your insurance cover through us before you cancel any insurance you have with other fund/s.
Timing
Consider whether you might be combining your super at a time that locks in an investment loss in your old fund.
Tax
If you've made after-tax contributions with other super funds and intend to claim a tax deduction, you'll need to sort out paperwork with them before you close any accounts. There could also be other tax implications that may affect you.
Other impacts
Check if you'll lose access to pensions or other benefits before you consolidate.
You should consider getting qualified financial advice before combining your super.
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