Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in South Dakota
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in South Dakota
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 South Dakota 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. South Dakota has a child food insecurity rate of 13.5%, which ranks #29 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 South Dakota.
#50. McCook County
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.0% (390 total)
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $210,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#49. Marshall County
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.2% (300 total)
--- 5.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $161,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#48. Brown County
--- 4.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.6% (2,980 total)
--- 4.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,602,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#47. Turner County
--- 4.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.3% (610 total)
--- 4.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $342,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48
#46. Deuel County
--- 4.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.6% (280 total)
--- 5.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $152,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#45. Lake County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.8% (1,000 total)
--- 4.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $570,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#44. Potter County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.5% (150 total)
--- 5.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $81,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#43. Perkins County
--- 3.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.7% (230 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $130,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51
#42. Meade County
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.9% (1,940 total)
--- 4.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $998,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#41. Hughes County
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.4% (1,470 total)
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $790,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#40. Union County
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.8% (1,220 total)
--- 4.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $661,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#39. Hutchinson County
--- 3.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.7% (560 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $303,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#38. Sanborn County
--- 3.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (200 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $114,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#37. Stanley County
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.0% (150 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $81,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#36. Minnehaha County
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.6% (14,640 total)
--- 4.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,873,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#35. Gregory County
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (370 total)
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $200,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#34. Yankton County
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (1,950 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,054,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#33. Clay County
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (1,500 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $811,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#32. Butte County
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.4% (860 total)
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $488,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52
#31. Beadle County
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (1,670 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $905,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#30. Davison County
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (2,000 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,081,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#29. McPherson County
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (210 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $113,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#28. Hanson County
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (280 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $151,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#27. Miner County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (210 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $120,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#26. Haakon County
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (190 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $103,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#25. Codington County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (2,770 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,502,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#24. Moody County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (600 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $342,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#23. Jones County
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.4% (70 total)
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $38,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#22. Lawrence County
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (2,730 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,549,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52
#21. Faulk County
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (300 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $161,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#20. Day County
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (560 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $304,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#19. Tripp County
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (520 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $281,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#18. Bon Homme County
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (660 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $357,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#17. Pennington County
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (11,460 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,186,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#16. Walworth County
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (570 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $316,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44
#15. Brule County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (580 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $313,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#14. Custer County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (860 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $464,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#13. Fall River County
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (850 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $459,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#12. Charles Mix County
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (1,210 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $654,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#11. Lyman County
--- 5.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (540 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $290,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#10. Roberts County
--- 6.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (1,280 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $694,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#9. Bennett County
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (530 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $286,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#8. Jackson County
--- 7.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.1% (660 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $356,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#7. Dewey County
--- 9.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.6% (1,090 total)
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $561,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#6. Corson County
--- 10.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.1% (830 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $460,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44
#5. Ziebach County
--- 12.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.8% (570 total)
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $293,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#4. Mellette County
--- 12.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.5% (460 total)
--- 10.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $248,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#3. Buffalo County
--- 12.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.3% (430 total)
--- 9.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $231,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#2. Oglala Lakota County
--- 15.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 25.8% (3,690 total)
--- 14.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,992,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#1. Todd County
--- 15.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 26.4% (2,720 total)
--- 14.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,468,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35