Top dividend-paying SGX-listed ETFs 2025 became a key focus for Singapore investors seeking stable income amid uncertain markets. While some investors chased capital gains, many prioritised cash flow, especially retirees and pre-retirees supplementing CPF payouts.
Why dividend ETFs were so popular in 2025
Several structural factors boosted demand for dividend-paying ETFs:
- Higher cost of living increased demand for regular income
- Investors preferred diversified income over single-stock risk
- REITs and financials stabilised after earlier rate pressure
Dividend ETFs offered a balance between yield, diversification, and convenience.
Highest-yielding dividend ETFs on SGX in 2025
iShares USD Asia High Yield Bond ETF
This ETF topped the dividend table with a 7.3% yield, making it the highest-yielding SGX-listed ETF in 2025.
Why yields were high:
- Exposure to higher-yield Asian corporate bonds
- Compensation for credit risk
- Strong demand from income-focused investors
Who it suited:
- Retirees seeking higher income
- Investors comfortable with credit risk
- Portfolios needing bond diversification
Lion-OCBC Securities APAC Financials Dividend Plus ETF
With a 6.1% yield, this ETF benefited from strong dividend payouts by banks and insurers across the Asia-Pacific.
Performance drivers:
- Resilient bank earnings
- Healthy capital buffers
- Stable dividend policies
This ETF appealed to investors bullish on financials but unwilling to pick individual bank stocks.
Lion-OCBC Securities Singapore Low Carbon Index ETF
Delivering a 5.8% yield, this ETF combined sustainability themes with income.
Investor insight:
Dividend investing in 2025 extended beyond traditional sectors, showing that ESG-focused ETFs could still generate attractive yields.
REIT ETFs: the backbone of income portfolios
REIT-focused ETFs dominated the middle of the dividend table.
CSOP iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index ETF – 5.6%
This ETF provided exposure to leading Singapore REITs across retail, industrial, and office segments.
Lion-Phillip S-REIT ETF – 5.5%
A diversified REIT ETF popular among investors using Regular Savings Plans.
Asia ex-Japan REIT ETF – 5.4%
This ETF expanded income exposure beyond Singapore into regional property markets.
Why REIT ETFs worked:
- Diversified rental income
- Lower single-REIT risk
- Easier portfolio management
Other notable dividend ETFs
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Asia Credit Bond Index ETF – 4.6%
This ETF appealed to conservative income investors preferring investment-grade bonds.
Phillip SGX APAC Dividend Leaders REIT ETF – 4.2%
A hybrid approach combining REITs and dividend-paying stocks.
UOB APAC Green REIT ETF – 3.9%
Lower yield but focused on sustainable property assets.
SPDR Straits Times Index ETF – 3.8%
Even a broad-market ETF provided meaningful income in 2025.
How Singapore investors used dividend ETFs
Example: retiree income portfolio
A 65-year-old retiree with S$500,000 might allocate:
- 40% REIT ETFs
- 25% dividend equity ETFs
- 20% bond ETFs
- 15% cash
This structure prioritised income while managing risk.
Risks of high-yield ETFs
Dividend investors should remain aware of:
- Credit risk in high-yield bonds
- Interest rate sensitivity
- Dividend sustainability
Yield should never be viewed in isolation.
Key lessons from top dividend-paying SGX-listed ETFs 2025
- Income demand remains strong
- Diversification reduces income volatility
- Bond and REIT ETFs complement each other
- Sustainability themes are entering income investing
Final thoughts
The top dividend-paying SGX-listed ETFs 2025 showed how investors prioritised dependable income during uncertain times. From high-yield bonds to REITs and financials, these ETFs helped Singapore investors generate cash flow without overconcentration risk.
As Singapore’s ETF market matures, dividend ETFs are likely to remain core holdings for income-focused portfolios.