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 parishes in Louisiana with the highest rate of food insecurity using data from Feeding America. Parishes are ranked by highest percent of population with food insecurity as of 2019.
Gwmackey // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 14.1% (17,860 total)
--- 29.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.5% (6,160 total)
--- 33.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,197,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.01
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 14.2% (7,600 total)
--- 30.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.7% (2,960 total)
--- 55.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,003,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
Patrick Feller//Flickr
3 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 14.2% (28,710 total)
--- 30.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.9% (10,530 total)
--- 43.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,747,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (14,110 total)
--- 32.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.6% (4,490 total)
--- 34.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,523,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (3,230 total)
--- 33.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.2% (1,240 total)
--- 72.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,600,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (4,800 total)
--- 33.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.0% (1,800 total)
--- 78.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,504,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
Infrogmation of New Orleans // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (3,440 total)
--- 34.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.7% (1,200 total)
--- 34.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,891,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (3,880 total)
--- 38.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.5% (1,170 total)
--- 40.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,922,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
DanielCD // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (5,730 total)
--- 42.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.8% (1,820 total)
--- 35.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,862,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
Castor_Creek // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (2,320 total)
--- 43.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.0% (670 total)
--- 30.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,108,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.79
Chris Litherland // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (9,320 total)
--- 43.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.4% (3,130 total)
--- 39.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,786,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.00
Canva
12 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (61,940 total)
--- 45.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.2% (20,540 total)
--- 79.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $37,399,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.53
Infrogmation of New Orleans // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (17,870 total)
--- 45.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.9% (6,260 total)
--- 50.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,569,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (1,560 total)
--- 46.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.0% (530 total)
--- 71.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $751,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.82
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (5,040 total)
--- 46.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.0% (1,670 total)
--- 43.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,541,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
Robinaire // Wikimedia
16 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (20,910 total)
--- 46.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.5% (7,660 total)
--- 61.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,998,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.80
Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (3,880 total)
--- 48.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.9% (1,190 total)
--- 43.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,921,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (39,750 total)
--- 48.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 27.2% (16,030 total)
--- 86.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $20,957,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
Infrogmation of New Orleans // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (7,540 total)
--- 49.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.8% (2,830 total)
--- 56.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,098,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (11,750 total)
--- 49.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.6% (4,830 total)
--- 75.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,856,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (1,410 total)
--- 51.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 27.2% (570 total)
--- 86.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $727,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (8,430 total)
--- 51.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.2% (2,860 total)
--- 58.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,378,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (3,730 total)
--- 52.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.6% (1,270 total)
--- 75.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,997,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (4,550 total)
--- 53.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.6% (1,720 total)
--- 75.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,211,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (22,080 total)
--- 53.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.1% (8,470 total)
--- 78.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,545,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (3,760 total)
--- 54.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.4% (1,030 total)
--- 53.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,834,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
27 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (13,990 total)
--- 54.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 27.2% (6,080 total)
--- 86.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,035,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
Canva
28 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (26,360 total)
--- 56.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.3% (10,270 total)
--- 80.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,132,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (2,480 total)
--- 58.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.5% (690 total)
--- 61.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,249,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
Tjean314 // Wikimedia Commons
30 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (3,810 total)
--- 58.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 27.3% (1,340 total)
--- 87.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,984,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 17.5% (3,450 total)
--- 60.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 27.5% (1,290 total)
--- 88.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,665,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.82
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 17.7% (8,770 total)
--- 62.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.9% (2,850 total)
--- 56.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,566,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 17.8% (1,770 total)
--- 63.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.5% (590 total)
--- 74.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $879,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91
UpAheadDesign // Wikimedia Commons
34 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 17.9% (8,480 total)
--- 64.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.8% (2,550 total)
--- 83.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,556,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
35 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 18.1% (2,870 total)
--- 66.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 27.9% (950 total)
--- 91.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,440,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
David Wilson // Wikimedia Commons
36 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (11,390 total)
--- 67.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.0% (4,250 total)
--- 78.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,956,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
37 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 18.4% (7,480 total)
--- 68.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.9% (2,580 total)
--- 84.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,729,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 18.8% (8,720 total)
--- 72.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 27.7% (3,100 total)
--- 89.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,615,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
39 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.0% (2,580 total)
--- 74.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 30.1% (920 total)
--- 106.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,334,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.0% (4,860 total)
--- 74.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 30.1% (1,880 total)
--- 106.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,302,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.77
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.1% (3,880 total)
--- 75.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 31.2% (1,500 total)
--- 113.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,913,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
42 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.2% (7,520 total)
--- 76.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 30.1% (2,670 total)
--- 106.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,947,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
43 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.3% (2,130 total)
--- 77.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 28.1% (710 total)
--- 92.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,057,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.7% (3,150 total)
--- 80.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 32.1% (930 total)
--- 119.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,584,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
45 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.7% (7,640 total)
--- 80.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 28.1% (2,610 total)
--- 92.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,831,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
46 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.9% (910 total)
--- 82.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 36.2% (390 total)
--- 147.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $471,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
47 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 19.9% (4,020 total)
--- 82.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 31.8% (1,640 total)
--- 117.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,862,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.71
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons
48 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 21.5% (7,230 total)
--- 97.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 30.5% (2,550 total)
--- 108.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,649,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 21.8% (2,460 total)
--- 100.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 36.4% (980 total)
--- 149.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,189,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
50 / 50- Food insecurity rate: 24.7% (1,750 total)
--- 126.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 43.9% (560 total)
--- 200.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $858,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.87
