Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Alabama
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Alabama
Food insecurity is a widespread problem in the United States, with people experiencing food insecurity in every single county in the nation. The nonprofit Feeding America describes food insecurity as "a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life."
Food insecurity hits children particularly hard. The USDA estimates that more than 5.5 million children lived in food-insecure households in 2021. Not having consistent access to enough food can affect cognitive abilities, overall health, moods, and attention spans—not to mention the psychological effects of living with scarcity.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Alabama with the highest rate of food insecure children using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of children with food insecurity as of 2020. Alabama has a child food insecurity rate of 19.8%, which ranks #4 highest among all states.
States with the highest rate of food insecure children
#1. Louisiana: 21.5%
#2. New Mexico: 20.5%
#3. Mississippi: 20.4%
#4. Alabama: 19.8%
#5. Arkansas: 19.7%
States with the lowest rate of food insecure children
#1. North Dakota: 8.1%
#2. Massachusetts: 8.8%
#3. New Jersey: 9.0%
#4. Minnesota: 9.3%
#5. New Hampshire: 9.5%
Read on to see where food insecurity is most prevalent in Alabama.
#50. Jackson County
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (8,710 total)
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,276,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#49. Autauga County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (8,070 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,184,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#48. Winston County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (4,020 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,939,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.00
#47. Lamar County
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (2,380 total)
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,157,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#46. Franklin County
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (4,690 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,134,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#45. Coffee County
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (7,620 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,394,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58
#44. Covington County
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (6,080 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,988,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#43. Lawrence County
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (5,380 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,669,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#42. Henry County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (2,340 total)
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,301,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.45
#41. Marion County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.7% (5,290 total)
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,572,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#40. Walker County
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (11,040 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,394,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#39. Colbert County
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (8,740 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,423,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#38. Crenshaw County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (2,110 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,218,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58
#37. Randolph County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (3,430 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,632,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#36. Washington County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (2,460 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,196,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#35. Tuscaloosa County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (29,840 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $17,311,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#34. Fayette County
--- 5.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.8% (2,930 total)
--- 6.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,424,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#33. Bibb County
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (3,680 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,831,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#32. Houston County
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (16,130 total)
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,883,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.42
#31. Calhoun County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (18,430 total)
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,288,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#30. Geneva County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.4% (4,850 total)
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,421,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#29. Etowah County
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (16,790 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,727,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#28. Jefferson County
--- 6.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.1% (93,140 total)
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $52,481,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.50
#27. Pike County
--- 7.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (5,040 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,881,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.55
#26. Coosa County
--- 7.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (1,500 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $805,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#25. Dale County
--- 8.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (8,440 total)
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,278,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#24. Talladega County
--- 8.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (13,220 total)
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,717,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#23. Mobile County
--- 8.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (65,050 total)
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $34,976,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#22. Chambers County
--- 8.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (5,040 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,532,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#21. Tallapoosa County
--- 8.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (6,420 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,444,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#20. Escambia County
--- 10.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (6,680 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,323,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#19. Russell County
--- 10.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (9,730 total)
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,988,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#18. Monroe County
--- 10.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.3% (3,840 total)
--- 6.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,926,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#17. Choctaw County
--- 11.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.9% (2,160 total)
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,070,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#16. Butler County
--- 12.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (3,210 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,563,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#15. Marengo County
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (3,250 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,701,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#14. Clarke County
--- 12.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.1% (4,560 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,217,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#13. Montgomery County
--- 12.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (35,470 total)
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $19,408,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40
#12. Conecuh County
--- 13.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (1,950 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $973,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#11. Pickens County
--- 14.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.5% (3,720 total)
--- 6.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,074,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#10. Bullock County
--- 15.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (1,620 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $926,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.55
#9. Hale County
--- 17.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.2% (2,840 total)
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,617,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#8. Barbour County
--- 17.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.5% (4,870 total)
--- 7.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,505,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#7. Macon County
--- 20.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (3,030 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,765,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.62
#6. Sumter County
--- 20.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.7% (2,360 total)
--- 6.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,193,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#5. Dallas County
--- 23.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.3% (7,760 total)
--- 8.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,043,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#4. Lowndes County
--- 24.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.1% (2,000 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,110,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.45
#3. Greene County
--- 26.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.3% (1,840 total)
--- 10.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,016,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#2. Wilcox County
--- 26.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.5% (2,270 total)
--- 9.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,140,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#1. Perry County
--- 28.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.9% (2,090 total)
--- 11.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,104,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28