How many public pension plans does Kentucky have?

Kentucky has 3 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 570,716 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Kentucky's pension system in crisis?

Kentucky's public pension plans average 65.6% funded (#44 of 51, 9.9 points below the national average) with combined unfunded liability $10.33B. Bottom-third average funding and 1 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 Kentucky?

The average funded ratio across all 3 public pension plans in Kentucky is 65.6% (#44 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 Kentucky vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Kentucky Public Pension Plans

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

3 plans · bottom-third average funded ratio (#44 of 51)

Lower funded-ratio band. Kentucky ranks #44 of 51 by average actuarial funded ratio (65.6%), bottom-third among states with a published average.

Avg funded ratio: 65.6%
Total unfunded: $10.33B
Total members: 570,716
Plans tracked: 3

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Kentucky’s 3 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $10.33B at an average funded ratio of 65.6%. 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 KY Kentucky

Kentucky: avg 65.6% funded (9.9 points below the national average) · 1 D/F grades · unfunded $10.33B

AVG 65.6%
UNF $10.33B
MEM 570,716
N 3
DF 1
VS -9.9pt
BEST 89.7%
LOW 32.0%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Wyoming (65.2%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Kentucky (FY2023 plan cards)

1 of 3 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 1 of 3 carry a D or F health grade. How funded ratios are calculated →

Kentucky in the lower-funded third

Health grades and the 65.6% state average (#44 of 51, 9.9 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 Kentucky plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in Kentucky

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
Teachers	1	89.7%	146,534	$24.24B	$2.78B
General State	1	75.0%	421,609	$16.94B	$5.66B
Police & Fire	1	32.0%	2,573	$889M	$1.89B

Every tracked plan in Kentucky

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
Kentucky Teachers Retirement System	Teachers	89.7%	B	$24.24B	$2.78B	146,534	100.0%	5.4%
Kentucky Retirement Systems	General State	75.0%	C	$16.94B	$5.66B	421,609	111.4%	2.5%
Lexington-Fayette County Policemen's and Firefighters' Retirement Fund	Police & Fire	32.0%	D	$889M	$1.89B	2,573	100.0%	10.3%

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

Compare inside Kentucky’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 · Kentucky roster FY2023

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