How many public pension plans does South Dakota have?

South Dakota has 3 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 89,978 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is South Dakota's pension system in crisis?

South Dakota's public pension plans average 56.6% funded (#51 of 51, 18.9 points below the national average) with combined unfunded liability $5.05B. 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 South Dakota?

The average funded ratio across all 3 public pension plans in South Dakota is 56.6% (#51 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 South Dakota vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

South Dakota Public Pension Plans

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

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

Lower funded-ratio band. South Dakota ranks #51 of 51 by average actuarial funded ratio (56.6%), bottom-third among states with a published average.

Avg funded ratio: 56.6%
Total unfunded: $5.05B
Total members: 89,978
Plans tracked: 3

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, South Dakota’s 3 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $5.05B at an average funded ratio of 56.6%. 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 SD South Dakota

South Dakota: avg 56.6% funded (18.9 points below the national average) · 1 D/F grades · unfunded $5.05B

AVG 56.6%
UNF $5.05B
MEM 89,978
N 3
DF 1
VS -18.9pt
BEST 78.1%
LOW 22.8%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Iowa (57.4%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs South Dakota (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 →

South Dakota in the lower-funded third

Health grades and the 56.6% state average (#51 of 51, 18.9 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 South Dakota plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in South 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	73.4%	89,679	$15.08B	$4.34B
Police & Fire	1	22.8%	299	$211M	$714M

Every tracked plan in South 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
South Dakota Retirement System	General State	78.1%	B	$14.50B	$4.08B	88,383	100.0%	7.4%
Sioux Falls ERS	General State	68.8%	C	$583M	$264M	1,296	100.0%	13.1%
Sioux Falls Fire	Police & Fire	22.8%	F	$211M	$714M	299	100.0%	14.5%

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

Compare inside South Dakota’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 · South Dakota roster FY2023

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