Hunger in Asian American communities

Hunger impacts Asian American communities very differently. The term Asian American includes communities from many different countries. Every Asian American community has a unique experience in the United States 

Facts about hunger among Asian Americans

  • Harmful racial stereotypes cause many to overlook hunger among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
  • An estimated 6% of Asian Americans are food insecure. That's 1 in 16 people who identify as Asian American.
  • An estimated 19% of Pacific Islanders are food insecure. That's 1 in 5 people who identify as Pacific Islander.
  • Recent immigrants from some Asian or Pacific Island nations face hunger at higher rates. For example, immigrants from Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Myanmar are much more likely to experience hunger.
  • More Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders visit food pantries and soup kitchens due to the economic hardship of the pandemic.
Asian Community Food Insecurity Rate
Asian Indian 3.6%
Chinese 2.3%
Filipino 8.9%
Japanese 3.5%
Korean 4.8%
Vietnamese 7.4%
Other community 12.6%