Unfunded Liability
$48.76B
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System's complete funding picture: assets, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns over a 23-year span, as reported to the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-referenced with actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Iowa · General State Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 45.8%
- Health grade
- DLower reported funded ratio in this dataset
- Market assets
- $41.21B
- Members
- 339,767
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Iowa Public Employees Retirement System 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
339,767
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
5.3%
net investment return
-2.4pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
7.7%
annualized, net of fees
How Iowa Public Employees Retirement System Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 45.8%
National avg
A ratio of 45.8% 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 | 46.0% |
| 2023 | 45.8% |
| 2022 | 45.2% |
| 2021 | 43.9% |
| 2020 | 42.2% |
| 2019 | 42.3% |
| 2018 | 42.7% |
| 2017 | 44.4% |
| 2016 | 43.3% |
| 2015 | 43.3% |
| 2014 | 42.3% |
| 2013 | 41.5% |
| 2012 | 42.1% |
| 2011 | 44.3% |
| 2010 | 46.4% |
| 2009 | 54.3% |
| 2008 | 58.5% |
| 2007 | 68.4% |
| 2006 | 65.4% |
| 2005 | 65.6% |
What the Data Says About Iowa Public Employees Retirement System
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System reports a funded ratio of 45.8% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of D in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $41.21B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $48.76B. As a General State plan operating under Iowa sponsorship, it covers 339,767 members (179,875 active contributors, 133,575 retirees drawing benefits).
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System shows a moderate-to-serious funding gap, 30 points below the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 7.7% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Iowa taxpayers and plan members, the $48.76B 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
179,875
Active Members
133,575
Retirees
339,767
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- General State
- State
- Iowa
- Market Assets
- $41.21B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Iowa Public Employees Retirement System's 45.8% funded ratio.
Other Iowa Plans
- Iowa Municipal Fire and Police 100.0%
- Des Moines Water Works 26.3%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iowa Public Employees Retirement System fully funded?
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System has a funded ratio of 45.8% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of D. At 100%, reported actuarial assets equal reported accrued liabilities. Plans use different assumptions and valuation methods, so ratios should be read alongside the underlying actuarial valuation.
What happens if Iowa Public Employees Retirement System runs out of money?
This profile is not a legal or retirement-benefit assessment. For a decision affecting Iowa Public Employees Retirement System, consult the plan administrator, governing documents, and a qualified professional.
What does a funded ratio of 45.8% mean?
A funded ratio of 45.8% means that Iowa Public Employees Retirement System currently has assets equal to 45.8% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $48.76B. This level of underfunding typically requires corrective action such as increased contributions or benefit restructuring.
How does Iowa Public Employees Retirement System compare to other public pensions?
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System is a General State plan in Iowa serving 339,767 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Iowa Public Employees Retirement System's funded ratio of 45.8% places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.
How many members does Iowa Public Employees Retirement System have?
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System covers 339,767 total members, including 179,875 active employees and 133,575 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.