How many public pension plans does Alabama have?

Alabama has 4 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 472,563 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Alabama's pension system in crisis?

Alabama's public pension plans average 69.1% funded (#36 of 51, 6.4 points below the national average) with combined unfunded liability $23.26B. Bottom-third average funding and 0 D/F grades mark a thinner statewide book. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.

What is the average funded ratio in Alabama?

The average funded ratio across all 4 public pension plans in Alabama is 69.1% (#36 of 51 among states), based on the most recent Public Plans Database data. A funded ratio of 100% means a plan has sufficient assets to meet all projected obligations. The national average for public pensions is approximately 75.5%. Individual plan ratios in Alabama vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Alabama Public Pension Plans

Name: Alabama Public Pension Plans
Creator: Boston College Center for Retirement Research
License: https://www.usa.gov/government-copyright

4 plans · bottom-third average funded ratio (#36 of 51)

Lower funded-ratio band. Alabama ranks #36 of 51 by average actuarial funded ratio (69.1%), bottom-third among states with a published average.

Avg funded ratio: 69.1%
Total unfunded: $23.26B
Total members: 472,563
Plans tracked: 4

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Alabama’s 4 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $23.26B at an average funded ratio of 69.1%. Plan cards report FY2023 valuations; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.

PPD actuarial excerpt

State roster AL Alabama

Alabama: avg 69.1% funded (6.4 points below the national average) · 0 D/F grades · unfunded $23.26B

AVG 69.1%
UNF $23.26B
MEM 472,563
N 4
DF 0
VS -6.4pt
BEST 75.1%
LOW 63.4%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Mississippi (68.8%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Alabama (FY2023 plan cards)

0 of 4 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 0 of 4 carry a D or F health grade. How funded ratios are calculated →

Alabama in the lower-funded third

Health grades and the 69.1% state average (#36 of 51, 6.4 points below the national average) use the same FY2023 plan-card snapshot as the hero KPIs and the table below.

Health-grade counts from the same state plan rows as the roster table

Source: Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR / NASRA) As of FY2023 plan cards; history through FY2024

Average actuarial funded ratio across 4 Alabama plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in Alabama

Aggregates from the same FY2023 plan-card rows as the roster below. Averages include only plans that report a funded ratio.

Type	Plans	Avg funded	Members	Assets	Unfunded
General State	2	68.2%	194,893	$14.46B	$8.34B
Police & Fire	1	75.1%	0	$0M	$0M
Teachers	1	65.1%	277,670	$27.85B	$14.92B

Every tracked plan in Alabama

FY2023 plan-card snapshot from the Public Plans Database. ARC is the actuarially required contribution as a share of payroll where reported.

Plan	Type	Funded	Grade	Assets	Unfunded	Members	ARC	1yr return
Birmingham Police and Fire	Police & Fire	75.1%	C	n/a	n/a	n/a	100.0%	7.7%
Birmingham Retirement & Relief System	General State	72.9%	C	n/a	n/a	n/a	94.0%	11.3%
Alabama Teachers	Teachers	65.1%	C	$27.85B	$14.92B	277,670	100.0%	13.3%
Alabama ERS	General State	63.4%	C	$14.46B	$8.34B	194,893	100.0%	12.9%

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Compare inside Alabama’s lower-funded roster

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 · Alabama roster FY2023

Compiled by PlainPension, Pension Fund Health Editorial Process · July 23, 2026