The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) delivered a total return of 13.81% in FY25, of which 3.84% was dividend returns.

Let's review how the dividend returns differed between the 11 market sectors last financial year.

Which sector delivered the best dividends?

Dividend returns across the ASX 200 sectors in FY25

The sectors are ranked below in order of best dividend returns.

Utilities

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) last year was 4.62%.

The utilities index fell 1.55%, but healthy dividends of 6.17% turned the sector's return positive.

So positive that utilities ended up delivering the best dividends of the 11 market sectors in FY25.

APA Group Ltd (ASX: APA) was the sector's highest riser, lifting 2.63%.

Energy

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was 8.12%.

The energy index lost 13.5% of its value last year, but solid dividends of 5.4% somewhat mitigated the sector's decline.

This made the energy sector the second-best dividend payer of FY25.

ASX 200 uranium share Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) was the fastest rising energy stock, up 25.37%.

Financials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) last year was 29.39%.

Dividends made up a respectable 4.94% of the ASX 200 financial sector's total return.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) was the sector's biggest mover, with its share price soaring 116%.

Communications

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) was 27.78%.

Dividends made up 4.34% of the ASX 200 communications sector's total return.

EVT Ltd (ASX: EVT) was the sector's highest riser, lifting 44.63%.

Industrials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was 26.24%.

Dividends made up 4.11% of the ASX 200 industrials sector's total return.

ASX 200 airline share Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) was the sector's highest flyer, lifting 84.1%.

Materials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) last year was 2.03%.

The index fell by 6.04%, but dividends of 3.74% reduced the negative return.

ASX 200 gold miner Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) was the sector's strongest riser, up 148%.

Real estate & REITs

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) was 13.97%.

Dividends made up 3.72% of the ASX 200 real estate sector's total return.

Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) was the sector's best performer for share price growth, up 73.1%.

Consumer staples

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was 1.32%.

The index fell by 2.09% last year, but dividends of 3.41% offset the fall.

Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) was the consumer staples sector's highest riser, up 28.24%.

Consumer discretionary

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) last year was 20.84%.

Dividends made up 2.85% of the ASX 200 consumer discretionary sector's total return.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) was the best performer, with its share price rising 128%.

Healthcare

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) was 4.61%.

The index fell by 5.99% last year, but dividends of 1.38% reduced the negative overall return.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) was the top riser of the healthcare sector, up 137%.

Technology

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was 24.19%.

Dividends made up just 0.3% of the ASX 200 technology sector's total return.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) was the sector's strongest performer, with its share price up 121.3%.