Unfunded Liability
$8.34B
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Alabama ERS
A full financial snapshot of Alabama ERS: funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, drawn from 23 years of history in the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and verified against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Alabama · General State Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 63.4%
- Health grade
- CReported funded ratio below full funding
- Market assets
- $14.46B
- Members
- 194,893
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Alabama ERS is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; the multi-year table includes FY2024 where PPD published it; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
Total Members
194,893
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
12.9%
net investment return
3.1pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
9.8%
annualized, net of fees
How Alabama ERS Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 63.4%
National avg
A ratio of 63.4% compared against the national public-pension average of 75.5%.
Healthy Threshold
Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.
Participant Composition
The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability, plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.
Investment Policy Mix
Public pension plans report their asset allocation in their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.
Historical Funded Ratio
| Year | Funded Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 63.7% |
| 2023 | 63.4% |
| 2022 | 65.6% |
| 2021 | 67.7% |
| 2020 | 68.2% |
| 2019 | 68.2% |
| 2018 | 68.7% |
| 2017 | 67.8% |
| 2016 | 66.3% |
| 2015 | 67.3% |
| 2014 | 66.9% |
| 2013 | 65.7% |
| 2012 | 65.7% |
| 2011 | 65.8% |
| 2010 | 68.2% |
| 2009 | 72.2% |
| 2008 | 75.7% |
| 2007 | 79.0% |
| 2006 | 81.1% |
| 2005 | 84.0% |
What the Data Says About Alabama ERS
Alabama ERS reports a funded ratio of 63.4% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $14.46B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $8.34B. As a General State plan operating under Alabama sponsorship, it covers 194,893 members (85,069 active contributors, 57,202 retirees drawing benefits).
Alabama ERS is funded above the midpoint but still carries a real shortfall, 12 points below the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 9.8% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Alabama taxpayers and plan members, the $8.34B unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.
Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved
These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.
Membership
85,069
Active Members
57,202
Retirees
194,893
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- General State
- State
- Alabama
- Market Assets
- $14.46B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Alabama ERS's 63.4% funded ratio.
Other Alabama Plans
- Birmingham Police and Fire 75.1%
- Birmingham Retirement & Relief System 72.9%
- Alabama Teachers 65.1%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alabama ERS fully funded?
Alabama ERS has a funded ratio of 63.4% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. This funded ratio is an actuarial snapshot, not a solvency prediction. Compare its valuation date, asset method, and actuarial assumptions before drawing conclusions about a plan.
What happens if Alabama ERS runs out of money?
Alabama ERS's reported financial data should be read with the plan's own actuarial valuation and governing documents. This page does not assess legal obligations or predict government action.
What does a funded ratio of 63.4% mean?
A funded ratio of 63.4% means that Alabama ERS currently has assets equal to 63.4% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $8.34B. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.
How does Alabama ERS compare to other public pensions?
Alabama ERS is a General State plan in Alabama serving 194,893 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Alabama ERS's funded ratio of 63.4% places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.
How many members does Alabama ERS have?
Alabama ERS covers 194,893 total members, including 85,069 active employees and 57,202 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability, when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.
Related
Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPension
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data sources used on this page
- Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
- NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org
Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.