Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Florida
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Florida
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 Florida 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. Florida has a child food insecurity rate of 15.7%, which ranks #16 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 Florida.
#50. Alachua County
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (33,350 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $20,386,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.80
#49. Pinellas County
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (118,890 total)
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $72,458,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.79
#48. Manatee County
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (44,000 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $25,977,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.67
#47. Flagler County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (12,990 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,964,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.81
#46. Monroe County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (8,520 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,452,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.70
#45. Indian River County
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (17,650 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,940,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.85
#44. Hillsborough County
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (165,220 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $95,642,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#43. Gulf County
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (1,900 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,084,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#42. Lee County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (84,750 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $49,751,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.65
#41. Bay County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (23,830 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,591,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#40. Palm Beach County
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (157,710 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $102,238,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.03
#39. Leon County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (34,920 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $20,675,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.68
#38. Columbia County
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (9,330 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,779,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#37. Calhoun County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (2,000 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,037,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#36. Glades County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (1,710 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $812,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#35. Charlotte County
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (24,000 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,586,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52
#34. Hernando County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (26,250 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,077,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#33. Levy County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (6,060 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,109,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#32. Miami-Dade County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (291,150 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $180,040,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.84
#31. Volusia County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (70,350 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $40,810,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#30. Lake County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (44,100 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $25,112,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#29. Okeechobee County
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (5,270 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,655,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#28. Dixie County
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (2,450 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,257,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#27. Liberty County
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (1,280 total)
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $631,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#26. Suwannee County
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (5,650 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,913,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#25. Holmes County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (3,170 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,543,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#24. Broward County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (210,540 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $127,592,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.76
#23. St. Lucie County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (37,400 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $20,561,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41
#22. Duval County
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (115,780 total)
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $64,630,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47
#21. Escambia County
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (40,300 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,934,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
#20. Hardee County
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (3,860 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,836,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#19. Citrus County
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (21,940 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,828,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.63
#18. Jackson County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (6,520 total)
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,381,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#17. Marion County
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (47,350 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $25,590,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#16. Orange County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (175,830 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $99,867,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.53
#15. Polk County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (93,610 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $50,770,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#14. Washington County
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (4,070 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,981,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#13. Bradford County
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (4,150 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,112,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#12. Sumter County
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (14,800 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,992,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.77
#11. Jefferson County
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (1,770 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,048,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.68
#10. DeSoto County
--- 6.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (5,690 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,959,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#9. Hendry County
--- 6.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (6,210 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,948,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#8. Osceola County
--- 6.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (50,030 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $26,333,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#7. Franklin County
--- 6.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (1,760 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $911,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#6. Highlands County
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.2% (14,820 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,991,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#5. Putnam County
--- 8.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (11,930 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,267,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
#4. Taylor County
--- 8.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (3,330 total)
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,644,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#3. Hamilton County
--- 9.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (2,390 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,232,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#2. Madison County
--- 10.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (3,070 total)
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,602,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#1. Gadsden County
--- 12.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (6,060 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,989,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06