One out of every eight American adults is struggling to afford enough food.
According to October 2023 data from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, nearly 28 million adults nationwide — 12.5% of the adult population[1] — were living in homes where there was either sometimes or often not enough to eat in the last week. This is the highest that figure has reached since the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey indicated that 3.0% of American adults “often” did not have enough to eat in the last week and 9.5% “sometimes” did not have enough food that October. Another 33.8% reported having enough food, but not always the kinds they wanted, while 53.7% could afford and access the kinds of food they wanted at all times.
What is food insecurity?
Definitions of food security and insecurity may vary, but the Department of Agriculture defines it as access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all members of a household. According to the department, a household is considered food secure if it can eat an adequately nutritious diet without resorting to usingemergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other measures.
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The Household Pulse Survey, which began as a data collection project at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, includes questions on whether respondents and their families are having trouble affording food, giving a snapshot of food security in the US from early in the pandemic until now.
How have food insecurity levels changed during the pandemic?
The rate of adults living in homes where they sometimes or often don’t have enough to eat started to rise in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 before falling in 2021. But from August 2021 to October 2023, that percentage grew consistently from 7.8% to 12.5%.
Of respondents with limited access to food, the Household Pulse Survey indicates that 76.8% of people were not eating enough because they couldn’t afford to.
What government support exists for people who can’t access enough food?
The Department of Agriculture provides nutritional support to the American people through a host of programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP participation increased from 37.1 million in January 2020 to 41.4 million in October 2023.
Early in the pandemic, Congress approved additional SNAP funding, raising the average per-person benefit from $121 in February 2020 to $247 by May 2021.
But that additional support ended in March 2023. From February to April 2023, the average monthly value SNAP enrollees received dropped 28% from $246 to $177. The monthly average, adjusted for inflation, remains higher than it was before the pandemic.
From March to October 2023, the percentage of adults in food insecure households increased 1.8 points.
Meanwhile, Congress is yet to approve general funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) — which supports pregnant women, new mothers and their kids — beyond January 2024. WIC supported 6.7 million Americans as of September 2023.
Last updated
November 8, 2023
- [1]
Percentages are based on the total adult population excluding the 'did not report' category.
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FAQs
Americans are struggling to afford enough food. As of October 2023, 53.7% of American adults were able to access and afford the food they wanted all the time. One out of every eight American adults is struggling to afford enough food.
Are 1 in 8 Americans food insecure? ›
Another public health crisis: 1 in 8 U.S. households struggle with food insecurity, government report finds. Nearly 13% of U.S. households were food insecure in 2022, a new USDA report finds. These rates are “significantly higher” than the year before.
What percent of Americans are affected by food insecurity? ›
In 2023, 13.5 percent of U.S. households were food insecure at least some time during the year, meaning the households had difficulty providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources.
How does food insecurity affect adults? ›
Adults who are food insecure may be at an increased risk for a variety of negative health outcomes and health disparities. For example, a study found that food-insecure adults may be at an increased risk for obesity.
What is food insecurity quizlet? ›
Food insecurity. The limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the limited, or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.
Where does the US rank in food insecurity? ›
Rankings and trends
| Rank (113 countries) | Overall score | Affordability |
|---|
| 13th United States | 78.0 | 87.1 |
| =14th Denmark | 77.8 | 92.1 |
| =14th New Zealand | 77.8 | 91.6 |
| 16th Czech Republic | 77.7 | 91.3 |
57 more rowsThe SCS. STs and some sections of the OBCs (lower castes among them) who have either poor land-base or very low land productivity are prone to food insecurity. The people affected by natural disasters, who have to migrate to other areas in search of work, are also among the most food insecure people.
How many Americans are food insecure in 2024? ›
Food Insecurity in America 2024
According to its latest research — averaging three years of study between 2020 and 2022 — about 37.8 million people in America face food insecurity. This challenge transcends geographic and socioeconomic boundaries, affecting urban and rural communities alike.
What percentage of Americans don't have enough to eat? ›
Americans are struggling to afford enough food. As of October 2023, 53.7% of American adults were able to access and afford the food they wanted all the time. One out of every eight American adults is struggling to afford enough food.
Is food insecurity increasing or decreasing? ›
Food hardship continued to rise in 2023, with more than one in four adults (27.0 percent) reporting food insecurity, up from 24.9 percent in 2022. The 2023 rate exceeds the prepandemic level of food insecurity (22.5 percent in 2019). The increase in food insecurity primarily affected lower-income households.
Food insecurity and the lack of access to affordable nutritious food are associated with increased risk for multiple chronic health conditions such as diabetes , obesity, heart disease, mental health disorders and other chronic diseases .
Who suffers most from food insecurity? ›
People experience food insecurity in every community.
However, people in rural communities and the South are often more likely to lack access to enough food. This is because of many factors like poverty, unemployment, and the cost of living.
What are the main reasons for food insecurity? ›
Causes of food insecurity
According to our Elevating Voices Report, people facing hunger struggle with high living costs, expensive housing, unemployment, and low-wage jobs.
What is food insecurity in your own words? ›
Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.
What is the response to food insecurity? ›
UNICEF works with partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to those impacted by food crises through a range of interventions, including: screening and treating children for malnutrition. providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene services to communities where these basic resources are in short supply.
Does food insecurity mean hunger? ›
They Mean Different Things
Hunger is defined as a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat, while food insecurity refers to a regular lack of access to “enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life.”
Are 1 in 6 children food insecure? ›
1 That means that 1 in 6 children (17%) may not have consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.
What race is food insecure in the US? ›
Hunger hits Black communities harder. Black communities are more likely to face hunger. In fact, in 2023, 22% of Black people in the United States experienced food insecurity. This is more than twice the rate of white people.
