How many public pension plans does Colorado have?

Colorado has 2 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 702,490 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Colorado's pension system in crisis?

Colorado's public pension plans average 98.8% funded (#1 of 51, 23.3 points above the national average) with combined unfunded liability $6.09B. Top-third average funding still leaves 0 D/F-graded plans on the roster. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.

What is the average funded ratio in Colorado?

The average funded ratio across all 2 public pension plans in Colorado is 98.8% (#1 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 Colorado vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Colorado Public Pension Plans

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

2 plans · top-third average funded ratio (#1 of 51)

Higher funded-ratio band. Colorado ranks #1 of 51 by average actuarial funded ratio (98.8%), top-third among states with a published average.

Avg funded ratio: 98.8%
Total unfunded: $6.09B
Total members: 702,490
Plans tracked: 2

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Colorado’s 2 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $6.09B at an average funded ratio of 98.8%. 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 CO Colorado

Colorado: avg 98.8% funded (23.3 points above the national average) · 0 D/F grades · unfunded $6.09B

AVG 98.8%
UNF $6.09B
MEM 702,490
N 2
DF 0
VS +23.3pt
BEST 106.9%
LOW 90.7%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Delaware (91.0%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Colorado (FY2023 plan cards)

0 of 2 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 0 of 2 carry a D or F health grade. How funded ratios are calculated →

Colorado in the higher-funded third

Health grades and the 98.8% state average (#1 of 51, 23.3 points above 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 2 Colorado plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Every tracked plan in Colorado

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
Denver Employees Retirement Plan	General State	106.9%	B	$2.49B	$-160M	23,826	104.7%	11.9%
Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association	General State	90.7%	B	$60.93B	$6.25B	678,664	104.5%	13.4%

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

Compare inside Colorado’s higher-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 · Colorado roster FY2023

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