Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in South Dakota

Written by:
Stacker
February 5, 2022
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Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in South Dakota

Every county in the United States is home to people experiencing food insecurity, defined by the nonprofit Feeding America as "a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life."

The USDA estimates that 89.5% of U.S. households were food secure throughout 2019—that's 116.0 million people. The COVID-19 pandemic put further strain on households already experiencing food hardship, with Feeding America estimating that 42 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, may experience food insecurity in 2021. This is a slight improvement from 2020 numbers but still represents an enormous burden for millions of children and adults.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in South Dakota with the highest rate of food insecurity using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of population with food insecurity as of 2019.

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#50. Union County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.7% (1,340 total)
--- 20.2% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.8% (510 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $726,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#49. Grant County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.8% (630 total)
--- 19.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.0% (220 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $356,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31

#48. Jerauld County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (180 total)
--- 18.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.8% (50 total)
--- 19.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $99,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22

#47. Sanborn County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (210 total)
--- 17.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (90 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $115,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21

#46. Minnehaha County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (16,960 total)
--- 17.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.8% (6,600 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,151,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16

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#45. Hyde County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.2% (120 total)
--- 15.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (40 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $65,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18

#44. Deuel County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.2% (400 total)
--- 15.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.3% (160 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $220,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21

#43. Spink County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.2% (600 total)
--- 15.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.6% (250 total)
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $335,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27

#42. Brown County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (3,650 total)
--- 13.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.7% (1,250 total)
--- 6.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,077,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33

#41. Clark County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (350 total)
--- 12.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.4% (140 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $195,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26

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#40. Turner County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (790 total)
--- 12.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.4% (290 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $428,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#39. Brookings County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (3,290 total)
--- 12.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.8% (900 total)
--- 12.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,941,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.45

#38. Perkins County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (280 total)
--- 11.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.9% (80 total)
--- 11.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $168,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51

#37. Hand County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (310 total)
--- 11.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.1% (90 total)
--- 10.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $171,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23

#36. Hutchinson County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (710 total)
--- 11.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.2% (260 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $397,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27

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#35. Jones County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (80 total)
--- 10.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (20 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $44,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20

#34. Bon Homme County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (680 total)
--- 10.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.7% (210 total)
--- 7.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $378,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25

#33. Hughes County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (1,730 total)
--- 10.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (650 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $948,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21

#32. Haakon County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (200 total)
--- 7.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (100 total)
--- 24.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $112,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27

#31. Moody County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (660 total)
--- 7.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.4% (260 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $360,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19

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#30. Lake County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (1,310 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.3% (430 total)
--- 11.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $715,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19

#29. Butte County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (1,080 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.0% (380 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $615,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33

#28. Yankton County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (2,400 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.3% (730 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,316,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21

#27. Codington County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (3,010 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (1,060 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,689,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28

#26. Faulk County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (250 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.2% (70 total)
--- 9.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $143,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34

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#25. Walworth County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (590 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.7% (200 total)
--- 7.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $333,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30

#24. Pennington County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (12,140 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (4,650 total)
--- 24.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,803,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28

#23. Lawrence County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (2,840 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (710 total)
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,680,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46

#22. Custer County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (980 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.3% (310 total)
--- 52.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $551,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29

#21. Beadle County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (2,060 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (900 total)
--- 24.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,134,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22

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#20. Gregory County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (480 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.3% (170 total)
--- 18.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $277,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38

#19. Davison County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (2,260 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (770 total)
--- 19.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,253,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24

#18. McPherson County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (260 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.6% (90 total)
--- 20.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $148,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32

#17. Brule County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (610 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (230 total)
--- 19.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $354,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39

#16. Tripp County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (630 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.4% (260 total)
--- 39.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $359,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34

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#15. Clay County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (1,640 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.0% (380 total)
--- 9.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $888,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#14. Day County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (650 total)
--- 9.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.6% (240 total)
--- 34.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $368,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31

#13. Charles Mix County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (1,210 total)
--- 19.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.9% (550 total)
--- 36.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $677,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27

#12. Fall River County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (880 total)
--- 20.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.1% (260 total)
--- 51.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $491,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27

#11. Roberts County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (1,370 total)
--- 22.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.0% (640 total)
--- 57.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $783,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34

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#10. Lyman County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (550 total)
--- 32.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.2% (250 total)
--- 52.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $303,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22

#9. Dewey County

- Food insecurity rate: 19.7% (1,150 total)
--- 80.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 28.6% (620 total)
--- 95.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $627,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19

#8. Bennett County

- Food insecurity rate: 20.3% (700 total)
--- 86.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 28.9% (350 total)
--- 97.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $382,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20

#7. Ziebach County

- Food insecurity rate: 22.8% (640 total)
--- 109.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 32.1% (270 total)
--- 119.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $357,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26

#6. Jackson County

- Food insecurity rate: 23.4% (770 total)
--- 114.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 33.9% (350 total)
--- 132.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $431,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27

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#5. Buffalo County

- Food insecurity rate: 23.5% (480 total)
--- 115.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 29.6% (230 total)
--- 102.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $280,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41

#4. Corson County

- Food insecurity rate: 23.5% (980 total)
--- 115.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 33.2% (500 total)
--- 127.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $530,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#3. Mellette County

- Food insecurity rate: 25.0% (510 total)
--- 129.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 34.0% (220 total)
--- 132.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $296,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40

#2. Todd County

- Food insecurity rate: 27.5% (2,810 total)
--- 152.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 34.4% (1,460 total)
--- 135.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,632,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40

#1. Oglala Lakota County

- Food insecurity rate: 27.7% (3,970 total)
--- 154.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 35.7% (1,900 total)
--- 144.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,119,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12

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