Hunger in America

Facts about hunger in America

Millions of children and families living in America face hunger and food insecurity every day.

• Due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 42 million people may experience food insecurity, including a potential 13 million children.
• The pandemic has most impacted families that were already facing hunger or one paycheck away from facing hunger.
• According to the USDA's latest Household Food Insecurity in the United States report, more than 38 million people in the United States experienced hunger in 2020. 
• Households with children are more likely to experience food insecurity. Before the coronavirus pandemic, more than 12 million children live in food-insecure households.
• Every community in the country is home to families who face hunger, including rural and suburban communities.
• Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and visit their local food banks and other food programs for extra support.
• Hunger in African American, Latino, and  Native American communities is higher because of systemic racial injustice. To achieve a hunger-free America, we must address the root causes of hunger and structural and systemic inequities.

Who faces hunger in the United States?

Hunger can affect people from all walks of life. Millions of people in America are just one job loss, missed paycheck, or medical emergency away from hunger. But hunger doesn't affect everyone equally - some groups face like children, seniors, and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color face hunger at much higher rates. Hunger also most often affects our neighbors who live in poverty.

African American hunger ›

Child hunger ›

Latino hunger ›

Native American hunger›

Rural hunger ›

Senior hunger ›