The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) delivered total gross returns of 11.44% last year, comprised of 7.49% capital growth and 3.95% dividends.

With the month-long earnings season commencing this week, dividends are on investors' minds.

Let's take a look at how the proportion of dividend returns differed between the 11 market sectors.

How much did dividend returns matter across the ASX sectors?

Utilities

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) last year was 17.48%.

Dividends made up a whopping 7.05% of the ASX 200 utilities sector's total return.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) was the sector's highest riser, lifting 28.7%.

Financials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) last year was 33.72%.

Dividends made up 5.5% of the ASX 200 financials sector's total return.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) was the sector's highest riser, with its share price soaring 352.5%.

Energy

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) last year was 13.87%.

The index lost 18.83% of its market cap last year, but dividends of 4.96% lowered the negative return to 13.87%.

ASX 200 coal miner Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) was the top riser of the sector, up 31.3%.

Materials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) last year was 13.47%.

The index fell by 17.27% last year, but dividends of 3.8% reduced the negative return to 13.47%.

ASX 200 gold miner West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) was the sector's strongest riser, up 51.05%.

Consumer discretionary

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) last year was 23.91%.

Dividends made up 3.2% of the ASX 200 consumer discretionary sector's total return.

Although Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) only began trading in June, it was the retail sector's highest riser for the year.

Guzman y Gomez shares rose by 84.4% from their initial public offering (IPO) price of $22 per share.

Consumer Staples

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was 1.1%.

The index fell by 4.4% last year, but dividends of 3.3% reduced the negative return to 1.1%.

Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) was the consumer staples sector's strongest riser, up 63%.

Real estate & REITs

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) was 16.31%.

Dividends made up 3.95% of the ASX 200 real estate sector's total return.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) was the sector's best performer for share price growth, up 40.9%.

Communications

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) was 6.06%.

Dividends made up 3.59% of the ASX 200 communications sector's total return.

News Corporation CDI (ASX: NWS) was the sector's highest riser, lifting 31.4%.

Technology

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was 49.9%.

Dividends made up 0.36% of the ASX 200 technology sector's total return.

Social networking app owner Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) was the sector's highest riser, up 198%.

Healthcare

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) was 7.51%.

Dividends made up 1.5% of the ASX 200 healthcare sector's total return.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) was the top riser of the healthcare sector, up 162%.