The Best Government Bonds ETFs

The table below compares the performance and other essential indicators like dividend yield and expense ratio of Government Bonds ETFs.

Government Bonds ETFs are exchange-traded funds (ETF) investments in bonds issued by national governments. These bonds are considered among the safest investments as they are issued by sovereign nations and are typically backed by the full faith and credit of the issuing government. Government Bonds ETFs usually invest in a diversified portfolio of government bonds, including bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury, German Bunds, U.K. Gilts, and other sovereign bonds. In addition, the bonds in the portfolio may have different maturities and credit ratings, which can give investors exposure to different parts of the bond market.

Government bonds ETFs are generally considered to be low-risk investments. They typically have lower returns than other types of bond ETFs, such as corporate, high-yield, or emerging market bonds, but they also carry less risk. As a result, government bonds ETFs can be attractive for investors looking to preserve capital and generate income.

Number of ETFs: 89
Avg. Expense Ratio: 0.13%
Avg. Dividend Yield: 4.93%
Avg. 1 Year Return: 3.56%
Median Risk/Return Score: 30 / 100

6 results

Symbol	Full Name	Category	Inception	Expense Ratio	YTD Return	10Y Return (Annualized)	Dividend Yield	Risk / Return Rank
AGVT.AX	BetaShares Australian Government Bond ETF	Government Bonds	Jul 5, 2019	0.22%	1.45%	—	3.37%	11
GOVT.AX	SPDR ETFs Australia - State Street SPDR S&P/ASX iB...	Government Bonds	Jul 27, 2012	—	1.20%	1.15%	3.01%	14
IGB.AX	iShares Treasury ETF	Government Bonds	Mar 12, 2012	—	1.50%	0.98%	2.60%	13
RGB.AX	Russell Investments Australian Government Bond ETF	Government Bonds	Mar 13, 2012	—	1.56%	0.64%	2.22%	10
RSM.AX	Russell Investments Australian Semi-Government Bon...	Government Bonds	Mar 13, 2012	—	1.44%	2.45%	3.94%	14
VGB.AX	Vanguard Australian Government Bond Index ETF	Government Bonds	Apr 24, 2012	—	0.93%	0.93%	2.32%	11

Best Government Bonds ETFs by Risk/Return Score

The top Government Bonds ETFs by PortfoliosLab Risk/Return Score are BIL (100) and GBIL (100). The score measures risk-adjusted performance over the past year, accounting for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
BIL	SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF	100	46.75B	May 2007
GBIL	Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF	100	7.68B	Sep 2016
SHV	iShares 0-1 Year Treasury Bond ETF	100	20.86B	Jan 2007
USFR	WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund	100	17.91B	Feb 2014
TFLO	iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF	100	6.55B	Feb 2014

Best-Performing Government Bonds ETFs Over 5 Years

The top Government Bonds ETFs is USFR (3.77%). Across the lineup, Government Bonds ETFs show an average 1-year return of 3.56% and an average 5-year return of -1.60%, providing a clearer view of performance across different investment horizons.

Symbol	Name	Return 5Y	AUM	Inception
USFR	WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund	3.77%	17.91B	Feb 2014
TFLO	iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF	3.72%	6.55B	Feb 2014
BIL	SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF	3.50%	46.75B	May 2007
SHV	iShares 0-1 Year Treasury Bond ETF	3.40%	20.86B	Jan 2007
GBIL	Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF	3.40%	7.68B	Sep 2016

Lowest-Cost Government Bonds ETFs

The top Government Bonds ETFs is XONE (0.03%). With an average expense ratio of 0.13%, Government Bonds ETFs remain a low-cost option for investors seeking broad market exposure, sector allocations, and diversified portfolio building blocks.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
XONE	BondBloxx Bloomberg One Year Target Duration US Tr...	0.03%	758.60M	Sep 2022
SPTL	SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF	0.03%	10.53B	May 2007
SCHQ	Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF	0.03%	755.94M	Oct 2019
SPTB	State Street SPDR Portfolio Treasury ETF	0.03%	283.18M	May 2024
XHLF	BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US T...	0.03%	1.91B	Sep 2022

Highest-Yield Government Bonds ETFs

The top Government Bonds ETFs is LIFT (35.61%). Across the lineup, Government Bonds ETFs show an average dividend yield of 4.93%, offering investors a steady stream of income through regular dividend payments, making them attractive for income-seeking portfolios.

Symbol	Name	Dividend Yield	AUM	Inception
LIFT	LifeX 2028 Income Bucket ETF	35.61%	—	Sep 2025
BCKT	LifeX 2030 Income Bucket ETF	20.29%	—	Sep 2025
TLTX	Global X Treasury Bond Enhanced Income ETF	17.69%	—	Jul 2025
LFAI	LifeX 2050 Longevity Income ETF	13.49%	—	Jan 2024
TLTP	Amplify Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Target High Income...	13.41%	—	Oct 2024

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Top ETFs Comparisons

Compare the top ETFs symbols based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

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Risk vs. Return Scatterplot

The Risk vs. Return Scatterplot allows you to quickly compare funds, stocks, and ETFs in one view. It displays the yearly return of an instrument on one axis and the risk (volatility) on the other.

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