Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Nevada
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 Nevada 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.
#17. Lander County
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (510 total)
--- 17.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.9% (200 total)
--- 11.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $295,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
#16. Elko County
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (5,170 total)
--- 9.2% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.2% (2,030 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,978,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#15. Humboldt County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (1,750 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.5% (660 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $963,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#14. Storey County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (420 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.0% (140 total)
--- 37.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $239,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#13. Lincoln County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (570 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (150 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $319,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#12. Washoe County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (50,080 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.4% (14,380 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $28,789,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#11. Eureka County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (210 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.9% (80 total)
--- 22.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $117,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
#10. Douglas County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (5,350 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (1,320 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,293,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#9. Pershing County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (760 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (190 total)
--- 15.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $434,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#8. White Pine County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (1,120 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (370 total)
--- 26.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $601,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#7. Clark County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (257,630 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (88,930 total)
--- 19.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $145,995,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#6. Lyon County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (6,950 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (2,220 total)
--- 29.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,923,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#5. Churchill County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (3,130 total)
--- 18.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (930 total)
--- 15.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,731,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#4. Esmeralda County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (130 total)
--- 20.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (30 total)
--- 19.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $78,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51
#3. Carson City
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (7,560 total)
--- 26.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (2,170 total)
--- 32.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,124,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#2. Mineral County
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (680 total)
--- 38.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 24.3% (200 total)
--- 66.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $383,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#1. Nye County
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (7,100 total)
--- 46.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.3% (1,770 total)
--- 59.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,873,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
