North Dakota Public Pension Plans
4 plans tracked by the Public Plans Database
What the Data Says About North Dakota Public Pensions
North Dakota currently sponsors 4 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering a combined 82,495 active employees and retirees across teacher, police-and-fire, judicial, municipal, and general state systems. The weighted average funded ratio across these 4 plans is 67.9%, with a combined unfunded liability of $2.83B. These disclosures derive from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA and Boston College's Center for Retirement Research.
North Dakota's average funded ratio sits near or slightly below the national public-pension average of 72–75%, indicating moderate funding gaps that require sustained employer contributions and realistic assumption-setting to avoid erosion over the next economic cycle. The $2.83B unfunded liability represents the actuarial shortfall between projected obligations and current assets across all 4 plans, which flows through to state and local budgets over time as amortization payments.
Unlike private-sector pensions, which fall under ERISA and are backstopped by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), North Dakota's public plans rely on the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government entity. That distinction matters for the 82,495 North Dakota workers and retirees covered by these systems: funding shortfalls are addressed through state and local budget decisions rather than federal insurance. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with questions about their specific benefits should consult their plan administrator directly.
| Plan | Funded Ratio | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System | 75.8% | C |
| Bismarck Police Plan | 72.7% | C |
| North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement | 68.6% | C |
| Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan | 54.4% | D |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public pension plans does North Dakota have?
North Dakota has 4 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 82,495 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.
Is North Dakota's pension system in crisis?
North Dakota's public pension plans have an average funded ratio of 67.9% and a total unfunded liability of $2.83B. 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 67.9%, 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 72–75%. Individual plan ratios in North Dakota vary — browse the table above to compare specific plans.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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