How many public pension plans does Iowa have?

Iowa has 3 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 349,165 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Iowa's pension system in crisis?

Iowa's public pension plans average 57.4% funded (#50 of 51, 18.1 points below the national average) with combined unfunded liability $48.92B. Bottom-third average funding and 2 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 Iowa?

The average funded ratio across all 3 public pension plans in Iowa is 57.4% (#50 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 Iowa vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Iowa Public Pension Plans

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

3 plans · bottom-third average funded ratio (#50 of 51)

Lower funded-ratio band. Iowa ranks #50 of 51 by average actuarial funded ratio (57.4%), bottom-third among states with a published average.

Avg funded ratio: 57.4%
Total unfunded: $48.92B
Total members: 349,165
Plans tracked: 3

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Iowa’s 3 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $48.92B at an average funded ratio of 57.4%. 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 IA Iowa

Iowa: avg 57.4% funded (18.1 points below the national average) · 2 D/F grades · unfunded $48.92B

AVG 57.4%
UNF $48.92B
MEM 349,165
N 3
DF 2
VS -18.1pt
BEST 100.0%
LOW 26.3%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: South Dakota (56.6%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Iowa (FY2023 plan cards)

2 of 3 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 2 of 3 carry a D or F health grade. How funded ratios are calculated →

Iowa in the lower-funded third

Health grades and the 57.4% state average (#50 of 51, 18.1 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 3 Iowa plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in Iowa

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	36.1%	340,099	$41.26B	$48.92B
Police & Fire	1	100.0%	9,066	$3.18B	$-0M

Every tracked plan in Iowa

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
Iowa Municipal Fire and Police	Police & Fire	100.0%	B	$3.18B	$-0M	9,066	100.0%	6.8%
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System	General State	45.8%	D	$41.21B	$48.76B	339,767	110.6%	5.3%
Des Moines Water Works	General State	26.3%	F	$55M	$154M	332	100.0%	11.3%

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

Compare inside Iowa’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 · Iowa roster FY2023

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