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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
3.51%
Median Risk/Return Score
29 / 100
The Best Government Bonds ETFs

85 results

SymbolFull NameCategoryInceptionExpense RatioYTD Return10Y Return (Annualized)Dividend Yield

Risk / Return Rank

Max. DrawdownSharpe RatioSortino RatioOmega RatioMartin RatioCalmar RatioUlcer Index
Invesco US Treasury Bond 7-10 Year UCITS ETF DistGovernment BondsJan 11, 20190.06%
-0.71%
4.33%
27
Invesco US Treasury Bond UCITS ETF GBP Hedged (Dis...Government Bonds, Intermediate Core BondJun 28, 20190.10%
-0.27%
3.19%
21
Invesco US Treasury Bond 0-1 Year UCITS ETF USD (A...Government Bonds, Ultrashort BondJan 21, 20200.06%
1.82%
0.00%
83
Invesco US Treasury Bond 0-1 Year UCITS ETF DistGovernment Bonds, Ultrashort BondJan 21, 20200.06%
1.83%
2.94%
16
SPDR Bloomberg 3-7 Year US Treasury Bond UCITS ETFGovernment BondsFeb 17, 20160.05%
-0.24%
1.24%
3.92%
34
Invesco US Treasury Bond UCITS ETF DistGovernment BondsJan 11, 20190.06%
-0.19%
4.30%
19
SPDR Bloomberg 7-10 Year US Treasury Bond UCITS ET...Government BondsFeb 17, 20160.05%
-1.31%
0.52%
4.11%
23
Invesco US Treasury Bond 7-10 Year UCITS ETF DistGovernment BondsJan 11, 20190.06%
-1.21%
4.36%
20
Invesco US Treasury Bond 7-10 Year UCITS ETF GBP H...Government Bonds, Intermediate Core BondJan 11, 20190.10%
-0.74%
4.28%
26
SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Year US Treasury Bond UCITS ETFGovernment Bonds, Short-Term BondAug 27, 20130.05%
0.90%
1.54%
3.91%
19
Amundi US Treasury Bond 10+Y UCITS ETF AccGovernment Bonds, Long-Term BondJul 26, 20210.06%
-2.19%
0.00%
19
Amundi US Treasury Bond 10+Y UCITS ETF DistGovernment Bonds, Long-Term BondOct 25, 20180.06%
-1.46%
-2.16%
0.04%
10
Amundi US Treasury Bond 1-3Y UCITS ETF DistGovernment Bonds, Short-Term BondOct 13, 20160.06%
0.75%
1.48%
3.03%
19
UBS ETF (LU) Bloomberg US 1-3 Year Treasury Bond U...Government Bonds, Short-Term BondFeb 2, 20120.05%
0.81%
1.43%
3.69%
18
UBS ETF (LU) Bloomberg US 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ...Government BondsFeb 2, 20120.05%
0.13%
0.26%
3.09%
18
WisdomTree USD Floating Rate Treasury Bond UCITS E...Government Bonds, Ultrashort BondMar 21, 20190.15%
3.00%
4.73%
88
SPDR Bloomberg US Treasury Bond UCITS ETFGovernment BondsJun 3, 20110.05%
-0.10%
0.52%
3.62%
19
Vanguard U.S. Treasury 0-1 Year Bond UCITS ETF (US...Government Bonds, Ultrashort BondSep 2, 20200.05%
1.86%
0.00%
99
Vanguard USD Treasury Bond UCITS ETF AccumulatingGovernment BondsFeb 19, 20190.05%
-0.22%
0.00%
30
Vanguard USD Treasury Bond UCITS ETFGovernment BondsFeb 24, 20160.05%
-0.23%
0.79%
4.19%
31

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61–80 of 85

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.

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 3.51% and an average 5-year return of -1.58%, providing a clearer view of performance across different investment horizons.

Lowest-Cost Government Bonds ETFs

The top Government Bonds ETFs is SCHQ (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.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF0.03%755.94MOct 2019
SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF0.03%10.53BMay 2007
State Street SPDR Portfolio Treasury ETF0.03%283.18MMay 2024
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF0.03%14.80BNov 2009
Vanguard Total Treasury ETF0.03%122.30MJul 2025

Highest-Yield Government Bonds ETFs

The top Government Bonds ETFs is LIFT (35.60%). 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.

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Top ETFs Comparisons

Compare the top ETFs symbols based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

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.

0%Annualized Volatility0%Annualized Return

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