Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Arkansas
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Arkansas
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 Arkansas 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. Arkansas has a child food insecurity rate of 19.7%, which ranks #5 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 Arkansas.
#50. Hot Spring County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (5,330 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,531,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#49. Van Buren County
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.7% (2,930 total)
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,494,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#48. Little River County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (1,760 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $847,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#47. Logan County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (3,730 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,702,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#46. Arkansas County
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (2,610 total)
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,270,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#45. Greene County
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (7,700 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,464,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.79
#44. Randolph County
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.6% (3,150 total)
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,415,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.79
#43. Cleveland County
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (1,170 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $582,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#42. Craighead County
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (17,490 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,087,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.87
#41. Stone County
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.3% (2,430 total)
--- 7.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,233,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#40. Sebastian County
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (21,040 total)
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,831,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#39. Franklin County
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.1% (3,400 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,551,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#38. Calhoun County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (670 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $313,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#37. Cross County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (2,640 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,160,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.73
#36. Marion County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (3,010 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,563,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#35. Bradley County
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (1,620 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $805,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#34. Lincoln County
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (2,010 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $988,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#33. Poinsett County
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (4,330 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,869,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.68
#32. Montgomery County
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (1,630 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $815,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#31. Clay County
--- 7.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.8% (2,760 total)
--- 7.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,223,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.75
#30. Dallas County
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.1% (1,000 total)
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $465,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#29. Izard County
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.1% (2,450 total)
--- 6.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,257,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#28. Polk County
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.8% (3,770 total)
--- 7.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,782,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
#27. Sharp County
--- 7.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (3,130 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,454,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#26. Conway County
--- 7.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.0% (3,750 total)
--- 6.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,711,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#25. Miller County
--- 7.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (7,090 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,551,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#24. Howard County
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (2,010 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $919,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84
#23. Ashley County
--- 8.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (3,330 total)
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,646,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#22. Drew County
--- 8.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (2,830 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,409,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#21. Garland County
--- 8.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.6% (17,410 total)
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,575,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#20. Clark County
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.9% (3,790 total)
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,861,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#19. Pulaski County
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (57,690 total)
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $29,296,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#18. Union County
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (6,210 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,989,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#17. Hempstead County
--- 9.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (3,370 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,545,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#16. Searcy County
--- 9.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.3% (1,600 total)
--- 8.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $829,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#15. Jackson County
--- 9.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.4% (3,270 total)
--- 7.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,527,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#14. Woodruff County
--- 10.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.9% (1,090 total)
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $511,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91
#13. Columbia County
--- 11.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.4% (4,110 total)
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,976,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#12. Nevada County
--- 12.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (1,410 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $640,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.82
#11. Mississippi County
--- 13.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.3% (7,590 total)
--- 6.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,594,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
#10. Ouachita County
--- 14.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (4,000 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,870,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#9. Crittenden County
--- 15.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (8,080 total)
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,059,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#8. Desha County
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.4% (2,010 total)
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $993,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#7. Jefferson County
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (11,080 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,405,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#6. Lafayette County
--- 16.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.7% (1,260 total)
--- 6.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $610,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.01
#5. Lee County
--- 19.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.4% (1,740 total)
--- 7.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $750,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.68
#4. St. Francis County
--- 19.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.5% (4,970 total)
--- 7.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,183,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.73
#3. Monroe County
--- 19.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.3% (1,260 total)
--- 6.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $537,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.65
#2. Chicot County
--- 23.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.7% (2,160 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,073,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#1. Phillips County
--- 25.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.2% (4,020 total)
--- 10.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,960,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03