About one in seven American households (13.7%) experienced food insecurity in 2024, and USDA’s report counted 47.9 million Americans facing hunger. The burden falls hardest on marginalized communities. Black households (24.4%) and Hispanic households (20.2%) faced rates far above the 10.1% for non-Hispanic white households. Nearly 1 in 3 American Indian and Alaska Native households (30.9%) were food insecure. The gap persists even among higher earners. Up to 16.6% of high-income Black households were food insecure, versus 4.7% of high-income Asian and Pacific Islander households. Rural and Southern communities, seniors, children, and immigrant families also carry a heavy load. 86% of the counties with the highest food insecurity are in the South and rural, and more than 12 million seniors are affected. Language barriers, fear of seeking help, and limited eligibility for public benefits keep many immigrant and Spanish-speaking families from getting support.
