Unfunded Liability
$105M
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan
The Public Plans Database's 23-year record for Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan: funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, compiled by Boston College CRR and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · North Dakota · General State Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 54.4%
- Health grade
- DLower reported funded ratio in this dataset
- Market assets
- $125M
- Members
- 887
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
Total Members
887
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
9.5%
net investment return
3.9pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
5.6%
annualized, net of fees
How Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 54.4%
National avg
A ratio of 54.4% 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 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 54.4% |
| 2022 | 55.8% |
| 2021 | 57.8% |
| 2020 | 60.6% |
| 2019 | 65.3% |
| 2018 | 65.3% |
| 2017 | 68.1% |
| 2016 | 69.6% |
| 2015 | 71.0% |
| 2014 | 72.0% |
| 2013 | 72.5% |
| 2012 | 73.0% |
| 2011 | 72.0% |
| 2010 | 66.0% |
| 2009 | 63.0% |
| 2008 | 70.0% |
| 2007 | 96.0% |
| 2006 | 91.0% |
| 2005 | 91.0% |
| 2004 | 85.0% |
What the Data Says About Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan
Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan reports a funded ratio of 54.4% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of D in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $125M in market assets against an unfunded liability of $105M. As a General State plan operating under North Dakota sponsorship, it covers 887 members (497 active contributors, 300 retirees drawing benefits).
Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan's funded ratio lands close to the middle of the national distribution, 21 points below the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 5.6% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For North Dakota taxpayers and plan members, the $105M 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
497
Active Members
300
Retirees
887
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- General State
- State
- North Dakota
- Market Assets
- $125M
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan's 54.4% funded ratio.
Other North Dakota Plans
- North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System 75.5%
- Bismarck Police Plan 69.0%
- North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement 67.2%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan fully funded?
Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan has a funded ratio of 54.4% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of D. The reported ratio shows actuarial assets divided by actuarial accrued liabilities for the stated fiscal year. Its interpretation depends on the plan's assumptions, valuation date, and contribution history.
What happens if Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan runs out of money?
A public plan's reported ratio is only one part of its financial picture. PlainPension does not predict actions by Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan, North Dakota, or any public body.
What does a funded ratio of 54.4% mean?
A funded ratio of 54.4% means that Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan currently has assets equal to 54.4% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $105M. This level of underfunding typically requires corrective action such as increased contributions or benefit restructuring.
How does Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan compare to other public pensions?
Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan is a General State plan in North Dakota serving 887 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan's funded ratio of 54.4% places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.
How many members does Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan have?
Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan covers 887 total members, including 497 active employees and 300 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.