Unfunded Liability
$817M
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Nebraska Retirement Systems
Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and 23-year financial history for Nebraska Retirement Systems, sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Nebraska · General State Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 95.1%
- Health grade
- BReported funded ratio above the portfolio average range
- Market assets
- $15.99B
- Members
- 103,081
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Nebraska Retirement Systems 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
103,081
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
4.3%
net investment return
-4.0pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
8.4%
annualized, net of fees
How Nebraska Retirement Systems Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 95.1%
National avg
A ratio of 95.1% 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 | 93.4% |
| 2023 | 95.1% |
| 2022 | 96.5% |
| 2021 | 95.6% |
| 2020 | 93.7% |
| 2019 | 94.9% |
| 2018 | 95.6% |
| 2017 | 94.8% |
| 2016 | 94.7% |
| 2015 | 94.4% |
| 2014 | 91.7% |
| 2013 | 86.5% |
| 2012 | 83.5% |
| 2011 | 81.6% |
| 2010 | 81.0% |
| 2009 | 80.0% |
| 2008 | 97.5% |
| 2007 | 96.1% |
| 2006 | 95.3% |
| 2005 | 95.1% |
What the Data Says About Nebraska Retirement Systems
Nebraska Retirement Systems reports a funded ratio of 95.1% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $15.99B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $817M. As a General State plan operating under Nebraska sponsorship, it covers 103,081 members (44,388 active contributors, 29,579 retirees drawing benefits).
Nebraska Retirement Systems is one of the more fully funded plans in the Public Plans Database, 20 points above the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 8.4% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Nebraska taxpayers and plan members, the $817M 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
44,388
Active Members
29,579
Retirees
103,081
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- General State
- State
- Nebraska
- Market Assets
- $15.99B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Nebraska Retirement Systems's 95.1% funded ratio.
Other Nebraska Plans
- Omaha ERS 101.4%
- Omaha School Employee Retirement System 73.1%
- Omaha Police and Fire Pension Fund 72.4%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nebraska Retirement Systems fully funded?
Nebraska Retirement Systems has a funded ratio of 95.1% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. A funded ratio compares actuarial assets with actuarial accrued liabilities at a reporting date. A value of 100% means those two reported values are equal; it does not forecast benefits, taxes, or investment performance.
What happens if Nebraska Retirement Systems runs out of money?
Nebraska Retirement Systems is a public plan in Nebraska. PlainPension reports the source data and does not determine a plan's legal protections, contribution policy, or future benefit decisions.
What does a funded ratio of 95.1% mean?
A funded ratio of 95.1% means that Nebraska Retirement Systems currently has assets equal to 95.1% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $817M. This is considered adequately funded.
How does Nebraska Retirement Systems compare to other public pensions?
Nebraska Retirement Systems is a General State plan in Nebraska serving 103,081 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Nebraska Retirement Systems's funded ratio of 95.1% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.
How many members does Nebraska Retirement Systems have?
Nebraska Retirement Systems covers 103,081 total members, including 44,388 active employees and 29,579 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.