Funded Ratio
75.9%
actuarial assets / liabilities
Plan
Kentucky Retirement Systems
State
Kentucky
Funded Ratio
75.9%
Assets
$16.94B
Members
421,609
Health Grade: C — Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities
FY2023 data Grade C Public Plans Database
Kentucky Retirement Systems
Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Kentucky Retirement Systems — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
C
Financial Health Grade
Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities
Unfunded Liability
$5.39B
actuarial shortfall
Total Members
421,609
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
7.4%
net investment return
1.1pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
6.3%
annualized, net of fees
ARC Payment
26.9%
of actuarially required contribution
How Kentucky Retirement Systems Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 75.9%
National avg
A ratio of 75.9% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.
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 Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. 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 | 75.9% |
| 2023 | 75.0% |
| 2022 | 58.5% |
| 2021 | 53.6% |
| 2020 | 49.9% |
| 2019 | 47.9% |
| 2018 | 45.7% |
| 2017 | 48.1% |
| 2016 | 46.8% |
| 2015 | 46.4% |
| 2014 | 48.1% |
| 2013 | 45.7% |
| 2012 | 42.7% |
| 2011 | 43.8% |
| 2010 | 44.3% |
| 2009 | 41.9% |
| 2008 | 48.2% |
| 2007 | 45.1% |
| 2006 | 44.3% |
| 2005 | 43.4% |
What the Data Says About Kentucky Retirement Systems
Kentucky Retirement Systems reports a funded ratio of 75.9% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $16.94B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $5.39B. As a General State plan operating under Kentucky sponsorship, it covers 421,609 members (125,995 active contributors, 126,369 retirees drawing benefits). These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.
A funded ratio in the 60–80% range indicates moderate underfunding that falls near the national average of 72–75% but leaves the plan exposed to market downturns and demographic shifts. Employer contributions covered 26.9% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 6.3%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.
For Kentucky taxpayers and plan members, the $5.39B unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like Kentucky Retirement Systems rely on the full faith and credit of Kentucky — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.
Membership
125,995
Active Members
126,369
Retirees
421,609
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- General State
- State
- Kentucky
- Market Assets
- $16.94B
- ARC Payment
- 26.9%
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Other Kentucky Plans
- Kentucky Teachers Retirement System 90.8%
- Lexington-Fayette County Policemen's and Firefighters' Retirement Fund 42.4%
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kentucky Retirement Systems fully funded?
Kentucky Retirement Systems has a funded ratio of 75.9% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.
What happens if Kentucky Retirement Systems runs out of money?
Public pension plans like Kentucky Retirement Systems are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Kentucky. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.
What does a funded ratio of 75.9% mean?
A funded ratio of 75.9% means that Kentucky Retirement Systems currently has assets equal to 75.9% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $5.39B. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.
How does Kentucky Retirement Systems compare to other public pensions?
Kentucky Retirement Systems is a General State plan in Kentucky serving 421,609 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Kentucky Retirement Systems's funded ratio of 75.9% places it near the national average.
How many members does Kentucky Retirement Systems have?
Kentucky Retirement Systems covers 421,609 total members, including 125,995 active employees and 126,369 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.
What is the ARC payment percentage for Kentucky Retirement Systems?
Kentucky Retirement Systems pays 26.9% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Consistently underpaying the ARC accelerates the growth of unfunded liabilities and places future benefits at greater risk. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.
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 Kiznis Studio Editorial
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.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov