How many public pension plans does Virginia have?

Virginia has 5 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 880,670 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Virginia's pension system in crisis?

Virginia's tracked plans carry $56.78B in combined unfunded liability (#8 of 50) at an average funded ratio of 71.9%. That heavier liability book is the lead signal here, not a benefit forecast. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.

What is the average funded ratio in Virginia?

The average funded ratio across all 5 public pension plans in Virginia is 71.9% (#32 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 Virginia vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Virginia Public Pension Plans

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

5 plans · top-third unfunded liability (#8 of 50)

Heavier unfunded book. Virginia ranks #8 of 50 by combined unfunded liability ($56.78B), top-third liability book among states.

Avg funded ratio: 71.9%
Total unfunded: $56.78B
Total members: 880,670
Plans tracked: 5

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Virginia’s 5 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $56.78B at an average funded ratio of 71.9%. 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 VA Virginia

Virginia: avg 71.9% funded (3.6 points below the national average) · 1 D/F grades · unfunded $56.78B

AVG 71.9%
UNF $56.78B
MEM 880,670
N 5
DF 1
VS -3.6pt
BEST 97.6%
LOW 48.4%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Louisiana (71.6%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Virginia (FY2023 plan cards)

1 of 5 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 1 of 5 carry a D or F health grade. How this roster is sourced →

Virginia grade mix with a heavier unfunded book

Health grades against a $56.78B combined unfunded book (#8 of 50) 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 5 Virginia plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in Virginia

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
Municipal	2	92.1%	32,101	$6.68B	$430M
General State	1	65.9%	803,024	$101.82B	$52.59B
Teachers	1	60.9%	42,730	$3.08B	$1.98B
Police & Fire	1	48.4%	2,815	$1.68B	$1.79B

Every tracked plan in Virginia

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
Fairfax County Employees' Retirement System	Municipal	97.6%	B	$4.65B	$115M	28,325	100.0%	7.5%
Fairfax County Uniformed	Municipal	86.6%	B	$2.03B	$315M	3,776	100.0%	10.8%
Virginia Retirement System	General State	65.9%	C	$101.82B	$52.59B	803,024	106.8%	6.8%
Educational Employees' Supplementary Retirement System of Fairfax County	Teachers	60.9%	C	$3.08B	$1.98B	42,730	100.0%	9.6%
Fairfax County Police	Police & Fire	48.4%	D	$1.68B	$1.79B	2,815	100.0%	1.4%

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

Compare inside Virginia’s heavier-liability 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 · Virginia roster FY2023

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