Parishes with the highest rate of food insecure children in Louisiana
Parishes with the highest rate of food insecure children in Louisiana
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 parishes in Louisiana with the highest rate of food insecure children using data from Feeding America. Parishes are ranked by highest percent of children with food insecurity as of 2020. Louisiana has a child food insecurity rate of 21.5%, which ranks #1 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 Louisiana.
#50. West Feliciana Parish
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (1,440 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $745,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#49. Bossier Parish
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (16,680 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,710,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#48. East Feliciana Parish
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (2,190 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,262,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58
#47. Allen Parish
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (3,760 total)
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,867,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#46. West Baton Rouge Parish
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (3,090 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,669,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#45. Caldwell Parish
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (1,600 total)
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $741,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88
#44. Vernon Parish
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (7,710 total)
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,016,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#43. Terrebonne Parish
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (16,690 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,516,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#42. Winn Parish
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (2,120 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,033,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#41. Calcasieu Parish
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.2% (28,770 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,353,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#40. St. Martin Parish
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (7,220 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,599,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#39. West Carroll Parish
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (1,750 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $840,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#38. Rapides Parish
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (18,720 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,660,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.87
#37. Acadia Parish
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (10,790 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,426,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#36. Jefferson Parish
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (60,310 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $32,693,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#35. St. James Parish
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (2,530 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,539,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.78
#34. East Baton Rouge Parish
--- 8.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (57,100 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $33,062,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#33. Jackson Parish
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (2,530 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,338,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#32. Assumption Parish
--- 8.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (3,640 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,939,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#31. De Soto Parish
--- 8.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (4,260 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,066,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.01
#30. Catahoula Parish
--- 8.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (1,550 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $746,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#29. St. Mary Parish
--- 8.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (8,310 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,925,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#28. St. Bernard Parish
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.4% (8,130 total)
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,403,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#27. Union Parish
--- 9.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (3,250 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,607,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#26. Lincoln Parish
--- 9.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (7,840 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,115,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
#25. Ouachita Parish
--- 9.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (24,270 total)
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,697,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#24. Tangipahoa Parish
--- 9.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (21,790 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,686,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#23. Natchitoches Parish
--- 10.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (6,360 total)
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,158,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#22. Avoyelles Parish
--- 10.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (7,350 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,592,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04
#21. St. John the Baptist Parish
--- 10.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (5,360 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,963,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#20. Pointe Coupee Parish
--- 10.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (3,670 total)
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,881,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#19. Iberia Parish
--- 10.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (11,770 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,820,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#18. Webster Parish
--- 10.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.6% (6,830 total)
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,260,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#17. St. Landry Parish
--- 10.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (13,040 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,210,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#16. Washington Parish
--- 11.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.7% (8,210 total)
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,388,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#15. Red River Parish
--- 11.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (1,430 total)
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $714,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#14. Iberville Parish
--- 13.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.2% (4,620 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,368,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#13. Franklin Parish
--- 13.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.0% (3,620 total)
--- 6.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,661,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#12. Caddo Parish
--- 13.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (39,040 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $20,001,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#11. Morehouse Parish
--- 13.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.6% (4,440 total)
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,110,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#10. Evangeline Parish
--- 13.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.8% (6,960 total)
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,536,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#9. Richland Parish
--- 13.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.9% (3,620 total)
--- 6.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,712,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
#8. Concordia Parish
--- 14.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.9% (3,490 total)
--- 6.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,660,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#7. St. Helena Parish
--- 15.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.5% (1,790 total)
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $979,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40
#6. Bienville Parish
--- 16.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.2% (2,570 total)
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,346,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#5. New Orleans
--- 17.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (67,740 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $41,636,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.82
#4. Claiborne Parish
--- 18.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.2% (3,050 total)
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,508,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#3. Tensas Parish
--- 19.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.0% (800 total)
--- 6.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $374,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#2. Madison Parish
--- 22.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.6% (2,290 total)
--- 8.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,139,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#1. East Carroll Parish
--- 30.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 25.9% (1,800 total)
--- 14.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $894,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08