(STACKER) — Every county in the United States is home to people experiencing food insecurity, defined by the nonprofit Feeding America as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.”
The USDA estimates that 89.5% of U.S. households were food secure throughout 2019 — that’s 116.0 million people. The COVID-19 pandemic put further strain on households already experiencing food hardship, with Feeding America estimating that 42 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, may experience food insecurity in 2021. This is a slight improvement from 2020 numbers but still represents an enormous burden for millions of children and adults.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Florida with the highest rate of food insecurity using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of population with food insecurity as of 2019.
Clément Bardot // Wikimedia Commons
#50. Hillsborough County
– Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (164,350 total)
— 6.4% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 15.6% (49,940 total)
— 6.8% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $95,791,000
— Cost per meal: $3.41
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#49. Nassau County
– Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (9,710 total)
— 7.3% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 15.6% (2,580 total)
— 6.8% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $5,864,000
— Cost per meal: $3.53
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#48. Sumter County
– Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (14,570 total)
— 7.3% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.6% (1,780 total)
— 34.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $8,954,000
— Cost per meal: $3.59
Georgia Guercio // Wikimedia Commons
#47. St. Lucie County
– Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (36,550 total)
— 7.3% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (11,190 total)
— 21.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $20,492,000
— Cost per meal: $3.28
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#46. Indian River County
– Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (18,360 total)
— 9.2% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (4,510 total)
— 21.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $12,129,000
— Cost per meal: $3.86
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#45. Lake County
– Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (41,140 total)
— 9.2% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 17.6% (11,750 total)
— 20.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $23,993,000
— Cost per meal: $3.41
Zhukova Valentyna // Shutterstock
#44. Brevard County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (70,100 total)
— 10.1% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (18,160 total)
— 15.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $42,088,000
— Cost per meal: $3.51
Organizedchaos02 // Wikimedia Commons
#43. Baker County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (3,430 total)
— 11.9% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (1,120 total)
— 13.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,813,000
— Cost per meal: $3.09
Georgia Guercio // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Flagler County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (13,350 total)
— 11.9% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (3,430 total)
— 24.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $8,185,000
— Cost per meal: $3.59
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Okaloosa County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (25,060 total)
— 12.8% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (7,140 total)
— 8.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $15,226,000
— Cost per meal: $3.55
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#40. Duval County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (117,700 total)
— 15.6% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.2% (40,650 total)
— 31.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $65,876,000
— Cost per meal: $3.27
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#39. Pinellas County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (121,620 total)
— 15.6% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 16.5% (26,120 total)
— 13.0% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $73,455,000
— Cost per meal: $3.53
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#38. Leon County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (36,930 total)
— 16.5% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 17.6% (9,540 total)
— 20.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $22,480,000
— Cost per meal: $3.56
User:Tim Ross // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Jefferson County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (1,810 total)
— 17.4% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 22.4% (520 total)
— 53.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,041,000
— Cost per meal: $3.37
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#36. Pasco County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (66,920 total)
— 17.4% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (17,720 total)
— 13.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $38,636,000
— Cost per meal: $3.38
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#35. Polk County
– Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (88,770 total)
— 18.3% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (29,540 total)
— 32.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $47,999,000
— Cost per meal: $3.16
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#34. Escambia County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (40,850 total)
— 19.3% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.1% (13,200 total)
— 37.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $23,014,000
— Cost per meal: $3.30
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Walton County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (9,010 total)
— 21.1% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.6% (2,590 total)
— 27.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $6,175,000
— Cost per meal: $4.01
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Volusia County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (71,190 total)
— 22.0% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.7% (17,820 total)
— 28.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $42,060,000
— Cost per meal: $3.46
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#31. Alachua County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (35,680 total)
— 22.9% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 16.5% (7,890 total)
— 13.0% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $21,971,000
— Cost per meal: $3.60
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#30. Charlotte County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (24,510 total)
— 23.9% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.3% (4,510 total)
— 39.0% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $13,994,000
— Cost per meal: $3.34
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Glades County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (1,840 total)
— 24.8% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.1% (440 total)
— 44.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,122,000
— Cost per meal: $3.57
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Gadsden County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (6,240 total)
— 24.8% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 28.1% (2,820 total)
— 92.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $3,184,000
— Cost per meal: $2.98
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#27. Marion County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (48,840 total)
— 26.6% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 22.1% (14,580 total)
— 51.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $26,873,000
— Cost per meal: $3.22
Daniel Wilton // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Hernando County
– Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (25,990 total)
— 27.5% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.4% (6,680 total)
— 32.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $13,999,000
— Cost per meal: $3.15
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Gulf County
– Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (2,180 total)
— 28.4% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.2% (510 total)
— 38.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,286,000
— Cost per meal: $3.45
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#24. Suwannee County
– Food insecurity rate: 14.1% (6,190 total)
— 29.4% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.3% (2,040 total)
— 45.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $3,095,000
— Cost per meal: $2.92
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Columbia County
– Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (9,990 total)
— 31.2% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.6% (3,130 total)
— 41.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $5,020,000
— Cost per meal: $2.94
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Calhoun County
– Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (2,110 total)
— 34.9% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.9% (580 total)
— 36.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,214,000
— Cost per meal: $3.36
Bastique // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Okeechobee County
– Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (6,050 total)
— 34.9% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 22.8% (2,030 total)
— 56.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,995,000
— Cost per meal: $2.90
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Union County
– Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (2,280 total)
— 36.7% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.8% (640 total)
— 49.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,330,000
— Cost per meal: $3.41
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Gilchrist County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (2,700 total)
— 37.6% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 22.7% (850 total)
— 55.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,562,000
— Cost per meal: $3.38
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#18. Bay County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (27,310 total)
— 37.6% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.7% (8,060 total)
— 41.8% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $16,294,000
— Cost per meal: $3.49
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Liberty County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (1,260 total)
— 38.5% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.4% (290 total)
— 46.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $740,000
— Cost per meal: $3.44
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Hardee County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (4,110 total)
— 39.4% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.9% (1,560 total)
— 50.0% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,053,000
— Cost per meal: $2.92
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#15. Highlands County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (15,730 total)
— 39.4% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.3% (4,330 total)
— 66.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $8,448,000
— Cost per meal: $3.14
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Jackson County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (7,340 total)
— 40.4% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 23.3% (2,080 total)
— 59.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $4,025,000
— Cost per meal: $3.21
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Hendry County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (6,270 total)
— 41.3% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.1% (2,320 total)
— 44.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $3,078,000
— Cost per meal: $2.87
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Citrus County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (22,460 total)
— 42.2% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 23.6% (5,090 total)
— 61.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $13,439,000
— Cost per meal: $3.50
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Franklin County
– Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (1,870 total)
— 45.9% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 26.3% (500 total)
— 80.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $971,000
— Cost per meal: $3.04
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Taylor County
– Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (3,510 total)
— 47.7% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 25.2% (1,090 total)
— 72.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,767,000
— Cost per meal: $2.94
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#9. DeSoto County
– Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (5,930 total)
— 47.7% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 22.9% (1,650 total)
— 56.8% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $3,146,000
— Cost per meal: $3.10
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Bradford County
– Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (4,480 total)
— 50.5% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 25.5% (1,380 total)
— 74.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,332,000
— Cost per meal: $3.05
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Levy County
– Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (6,610 total)
— 50.5% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 23.3% (1,850 total)
— 59.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $3,416,000
— Cost per meal: $3.02
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#6. Putnam County
– Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (12,210 total)
— 53.2% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 25.6% (4,020 total)
— 75.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $6,474,000
— Cost per meal: $3.10
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Madison County
– Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (3,090 total)
— 54.1% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 29.2% (1,010 total)
— 100.0% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,747,000
— Cost per meal: $3.31
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Washington County
– Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (4,200 total)
— 56.0% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.0% (1,150 total)
— 64.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,096,000
— Cost per meal: $2.92
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Dixie County
– Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (2,870 total)
— 58.7% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 25.0% (750 total)
— 71.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,467,000
— Cost per meal: $2.99
Georgia Guercio // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Holmes County
– Food insecurity rate: 18.0% (3,510 total)
— 65.1% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.5% (930 total)
— 67.8% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,156,000
— Cost per meal: $3.59
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Hamilton County
– Food insecurity rate: 19.0% (2,730 total)
— 74.3% higher than national average
– Child food insecurity rate: 30.3% (830 total)
— 107.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,411,000
— Cost per meal: $3.02