How many public pension plans does Rhode Island have?

Rhode Island has 2 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 93,410 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Rhode Island's pension system in crisis?

Rhode Island's public pension plans average 60.7% funded (#47 of 51, 14.8 points below the national average) with combined unfunded liability $1.70B. 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 Rhode Island?

The average funded ratio across all 2 public pension plans in Rhode Island is 60.7% (#47 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 Rhode Island vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Rhode Island Public Pension Plans

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

2 plans · bottom-third average funded ratio (#47 of 51)

Lower funded-ratio band. Rhode Island ranks #47 of 51 by average actuarial funded ratio (60.7%), bottom-third among states with a published average.

Avg funded ratio: 60.7%
Total unfunded: $1.70B
Total members: 93,410
Plans tracked: 2

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Rhode Island’s 2 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $1.70B at an average funded ratio of 60.7%. 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 RI Rhode Island

Rhode Island: avg 60.7% funded (14.8 points below the national average) · 1 D/F grades · unfunded $1.70B

AVG 60.7%
UNF $1.70B
MEM 93,410
N 2
DF 1
VS -14.8pt
BEST 98.0%
LOW 23.4%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: District of Columbia (59.8%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Rhode Island (FY2023 plan cards)

1 of 2 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 1 of 2 carry a D or F health grade. How funded ratios are calculated →

Rhode Island in the lower-funded third

Health grades and the 60.7% state average (#47 of 51, 14.8 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 2 Rhode Island plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Every tracked plan in Rhode Island

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
Rhode Island Employees Retirement System	General State	98.0%	B	$10.64B	$214M	86,470	100.0%	-4.1%
Providence Employees Retirement System	General State	23.4%	F	$454M	$1.49B	6,940	100.0%	11.8%

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

Compare inside Rhode Island’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 · Rhode Island roster FY2023

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