FRAC’s Hunger & Poverty in America Page includes:
Hunger Quick Facts for 2024
- Overall: About one in 7 households (13.7 percent) experienced food insecurity, or lack of access to an affordable, nutritious diet. An estimated 47.9 million Americans lived in these households.
- 5.4% of U.S. households (1 in 20) experienced very low food security, a more severe form of food insecurity, where households report regularly skipping meals or reducing intake because they could not afford more food.
- Children: 14.1 million children lived in households that experienced food insecurity, a slight increase from the 13.8 million children reported in 2023.
- Race and ethnicity: Rates of food insecurity were higher for Black (24.4 percent) and Latinx (20.2 percent) households. The rate for Black households was more than double the rate of White, non-Latinx households (10.1 percent).
- Rural: A higher portion of households in urban areas (16.0 percent) and rural areas (15.9 percent) experienced food insecurity compared to suburbs (11.9 percent).
- Geography: Households in the Southern region continued to experience higher rates of food insecurity than any other U.S. region, with 15.0 percent of households experiencing food insecurity in 2023.
- The prevalence of food insecurity varied considerably by state, ranging from 9 percent in North Dakota to 19.4 percent in Arkansas (for the three-year period of 2022–2024).
Report: Household Food Security in the United States in 2024
Tables and charts: Statistical Supplement to Household Food Security in the United States in 2024
Updated 1/5/2026
Poverty Quick Facts
- Overall poverty: According to the official poverty rate, 36.8 million people (11.1 percent) lived in poverty in 2023, unchanged from 2022. However, according to the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which accounts for the cost of living and the receipt of social safety net programs, the poverty rate increased by 0.5%, from 40.9 million people (12.4 percent) in 2022 to 42.8 million people (12.9 percent) in 2023.
- Income: After accounting for inflation, real median household income increased by 4 percent, from $74,580 in 2022 to $80,610 in 2023.
- Context: Normally, the SPM is higher than the official poverty rate. In 2020 and 2021, the SPM was lower than the official poverty rate, reflecting the impact of expansions to federal assistance programs during the pandemic. Conversely, in 2022 and 2023, the higher value of the SPM reflects the end of pandemic-era assistance.
Poverty rates using the comprehensive Supplemental Poverty Measure for specific groups:
- Children: 1 in 7 (13.7 percent or 9.9 million) children lived in poverty in 2023, an increase from 1 in 8 (12.4 percent or 8.9 million) children in 2022.
- Race/Ethnicity: Poverty was notably higher in 2023 for Black individuals (18.5 percent), Latinx individuals (20.9 percent), and Native American and Alaska Native individuals (19 percent) compared to White, non-Hispanic individuals, whose poverty rate fell to 8.8 percent. Higher rates of poverty in Black, Latinx and Native communities are due to systemic racism that results in neighborhood disinvestment, occupational segregation, wage discrimination, etc.
- Geography: Nationally, the Western region had the highest average poverty rate (15 percent), followed by the South (13.6 percent), the Northeast region (11.9 percent) and the Midwest region (9.8 percent).
- Role of the Federal Nutrition Programs: The federal nutrition programs lifted more people out of poverty in 2022 compared to 2021 and 2020. In 2023, SNAP lifted 3.4 million people out of poverty, 1.3 million of whom were children, school meals lifted 1.2 million people out of poverty, 651,000 of which were children, and WIC lifted 203,000 people out of poverty, 102,000 of whom were children.
On September 10, 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest reports Poverty in the United States: 2023; Income in the United States: 2023; and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2023.
USDA’s Decision to End 30-Year Food Security Report Will Hide the Struggle of Millions of Families to Put Food on the Table
The USDA’s decision to terminate future Economic Research Service Household Food Security reports is shortsighted and dismisses the need for clarity on the extent of food insecurity for families and struggling communities across the country.
USDA Food Security Report Reveals 47.9 Million Americans Facing Hunger
The latest and final Household Food Security report findings highlight a crisis that is set to deepen as the deepest cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in history take effect.
From Farmers to Families: How H.R. 1 Deepens America’s Hunger Crisis
The budget reconciliation law (H.R. 1) enacted in July 2025 includes the deepest cuts to SNAP in the history of this proven federal nutrition program. H.R. 1 threatens to undermine decades of progress in reducing hunger in America, disrupt the food system, strip food away from millions of people, burden already strained state budgets, and threaten the economy.
Protect SNAP: Legislative Priorities
Congress must take immediate action to ensure the Farm Bill — or any legislation — reverses the devastating cuts and harmful impacts on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that were included in the budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1. Protecting SNAP is protecting America’s health, economy, and future.
City Playbook: Preparing for the Impacts of H.R. 1 on Food Security and Local Economies
The budget reconciliation law (H.R. 1) represents the most significant retrenchment of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in decades. On paper, H.R. 1 is a federal law. In practice, its burdens will fall squarely on the shoulders of local governments.
FRAC’s City Playbook is designed to help municipal leaders understand the scope of what’s coming, anticipate challenges, and prepare coordinated responses with state, federal, and community partners. Cities that act now will be better positioned to support residents, safeguard their local economies, and maintain public trust.
State Playbook: Supporting State Economic Stability and Strength After H.R. 1 SNAP Cuts
Learn why SNAP matters and how H.R. 1’s wide-ranging cuts undermine this proven federal nutrition program in this Playbook from FRAC and the State Revenue Alliance. The Playbook also covers the budget reconciliation law’s implications for tax policy in the U.S., where state tax codes have long favored the wealthy and well-connected.
Legislative Action Center
Find out how you can get involved in the fight to eradicate hunger at FRAC’s Legislative Action Center.
Who is impacted by hunger?
Veterans Have Fought for Our Country — They Shouldn’t Have to Fight Against Hunger
Read the blog post
Screen and Intervene: Addressing Food Insecurity Among Older Adults
New online course from FRAC and AARP
Addressing Food Insecurity: A Toolkit for Pediatricians
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Nearly 9 million people age 50+ are threatened by hunger every day.
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Despite an improving economy, millions of families still struggle with hunger in every community, and every state.
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Poverty, hunger, and food insecurity disproportionately affect Americans who have communicative, mental, or physical disabilities.
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Certain jobless adults without dependents have time limits on their receipt of SNAP benefits despite their willingness to work.
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Solutions Exist to End Hunger & Poverty
Hunger in America is a serious issue that requires a serious response. When there is talk about improving opportunities for all Americans through education, health care, and the economy, addressing hunger and poverty must be a part of that conversation.
Education
The last thing on a hungry child’s mind is learning. Children are better equipped to learn when they have the nutrition they need. Yet too many low-income children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals are not accessing them. More must be done to increase participation in school meals, summers meals, afterschool meals, and child care meals.
Health care
Research shows that food insecurity is linked with costly chronic diseases and unfavorable outcomes. According to the Root Cause Coalition, the annual costs of hunger to the U.S. health care system are $130.5 billion. Greater investments in nutrition programs would go a long way in addressing obesity and other negative health outcomes faced by low-income Americans.
Economy
SNAP serves as the first line of defense against hunger for millions of Americans. The program also stimulates the economy. Recent census data shows that SNAP lifted 3.6 million people out of poverty in 2016. In addition, USDA research shows that each $5 of SNAP benefits generates nearly twice that in economic activity. Federal nutrition programs can’t do it alone. There must be a comprehensive approach.Recent Publications & Data
See More Resources- Graphic
Summer EBT is returning in 2026! Get the word out by using FRAC’s new poster, which explains eligibility for the program, benefits, and how to apply.
Download the poster - Fact Sheet
Congress must take immediate action to ensure the Farm Bill — or any legislation — reverses the devastating cuts and harmful impacts on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Read the fact sheet
Program (SNAP) that were included in the budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1. Protecting SNAP is protecting America’s health, economy, and future. - Report
The budget reconciliation law (H.R. 1) represents the most significant retrenchment of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in decades. FRAC’s City Playbook is designed to help municipal leaders understand the scope of what’s coming, anticipate challenges, and prepare coordinated responses with state, federal, and community partners.
Read the playbook - Best Practice
The federal Summer EBT Program helps to ensure that more children from households with low incomes have access to adequate nutrition during the summer months. Learn how schools and school nutrition staff can play a critical part in ensuring the success of the program, along with outreach best practices from schools across the country.
Read the fact sheet