How many public pension plans does North Dakota have?

North Dakota has 4 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database, covering 82,495 total members (#48 of 51 by membership book). Types on this roster include teachers, police and fire, municipal, and general state systems where present.

Is North Dakota's pension system in crisis?

North Dakota's public pension plans have an average funded ratio of 66.5% and a total unfunded liability of $2.95B. An average funded ratio in the 60-80% range indicates moderate underfunding that requires attention but is not yet at crisis levels. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.

What is the average funded ratio in North Dakota?

The average funded ratio across all 4 public pension plans in North Dakota is 66.5% (#42 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 North Dakota vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

North Dakota Public Pension Plans

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

4 plans · bottom-third membership book (#48 of 51)

Smaller membership book. North Dakota ranks #48 of 51 by tracked members (82,495), bottom-third membership book among states.

Avg funded ratio: 66.5%
Total unfunded: $2.95B
Total members: 82,495
Plans tracked: 4

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, North Dakota’s 4 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $2.95B at an average funded ratio of 66.5%. 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 ND North Dakota

North Dakota: avg 66.5% funded (9.0 points below the national average) · 1 D/F grades · unfunded $2.95B

AVG 66.5%
UNF $2.95B
MEM 82,495
N 4
DF 1
VS -9.0pt
BEST 75.5%
LOW 54.4%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Ohio (66.0%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs North Dakota (FY2023 plan cards)

1 of 4 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 1 of 4 carry a D or F health grade. How this roster is sourced →

North Dakota grade mix on a smaller membership book

Health grades across 4 plans (82,495 members, #48 of 51) 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 North Dakota plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in North Dakota

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	64.9%	58,851	$4.07B	$1.38B
Police & Fire	1	69.0%	253	$52M	$23M
Teachers	1	67.2%	23,391	$3.17B	$1.55B

Every tracked plan in North Dakota

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
North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System	General State	75.5%	C	$3.94B	$1.28B	57,964	53.3%	9.3%
Bismarck Police Plan	Police & Fire	69.0%	C	$52M	$23M	253	106.5%	6.2%
North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement	Teachers	67.2%	C	$3.17B	$1.55B	23,391	105.2%	8.2%
Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan	General State	54.4%	D	$125M	$105M	887	106.5%	9.5%

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

Compare inside North Dakota’s smaller membership 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 · North Dakota roster FY2023

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