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 North 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.
You may also like: Best private colleges in North Dakota
- Food insecurity rate: 3.4% (170 total)
--- 68.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 5.5% (60 total)
--- 62.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $93,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
- Food insecurity rate: 3.8% (150 total)
--- 65.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 6.1% (50 total)
--- 58.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $84,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
- Food insecurity rate: 4.1% (80 total)
--- 62.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.1% (30 total)
--- 51.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $46,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
- Food insecurity rate: 4.1% (130 total)
--- 62.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 5.6% (40 total)
--- 61.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $78,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.49
- Food insecurity rate: 4.4% (190 total)
--- 59.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 6.5% (70 total)
--- 55.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $121,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.72
You may also like: Hottest Decembers in North Dakota since 1895
- Food insecurity rate: 4.5% (360 total)
--- 58.7% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.0% (120 total)
--- 52.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $201,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
- Food insecurity rate: 4.5% (1,600 total)
--- 58.7% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.1% (700 total)
--- 51.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $968,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
- Food insecurity rate: 4.6% (1,420 total)
--- 57.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.4% (500 total)
--- 49.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $783,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
- Food insecurity rate: 4.7% (90 total)
--- 56.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.7% (50 total)
--- 26.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $52,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
- Food insecurity rate: 4.7% (110 total)
--- 56.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.2% (40 total)
--- 50.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $64,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40
You may also like: Coldest Octobers in North Dakota since 1895
- Food insecurity rate: 4.7% (390 total)
--- 56.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.3% (180 total)
--- 36.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $226,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
- Food insecurity rate: 4.7% (450 total)
--- 56.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.9% (180 total)
--- 39.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $260,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
- Food insecurity rate: 4.8% (4,580 total)
--- 56.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.3% (1,610 total)
--- 50.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,639,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
- Food insecurity rate: 4.9% (120 total)
--- 55.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.7% (50 total)
--- 33.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $71,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48
- Food insecurity rate: 5.0% (350 total)
--- 54.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.2% (120 total)
--- 43.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $215,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
You may also like: Average North Dakota mortgage debt increased to $198,464 in 2024
- Food insecurity rate: 5.1% (170 total)
--- 53.2% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.9% (50 total)
--- 45.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $96,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
- Food insecurity rate: 5.2% (200 total)
--- 52.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.1% (90 total)
--- 24.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $107,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
- Food insecurity rate: 5.3% (120 total)
--- 51.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 6.5% (30 total)
--- 55.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $76,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.71
- Food insecurity rate: 5.3% (280 total)
--- 51.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.3% (90 total)
--- 43.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $157,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
- Food insecurity rate: 5.3% (1,630 total)
--- 51.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 6.6% (530 total)
--- 54.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $970,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48
You may also like: Highest-rated breweries in North Dakota
- Food insecurity rate: 5.5% (320 total)
--- 49.5% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.1% (130 total)
--- 37.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $184,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
- Food insecurity rate: 5.6% (40 total)
--- 48.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.4% (10 total)
--- 42.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $24,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
- Food insecurity rate: 5.6% (50 total)
--- 48.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.6% (20 total)
--- 34.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $32,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.69
- Food insecurity rate: 5.6% (3,840 total)
--- 48.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.6% (1,400 total)
--- 41.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,235,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40
- Food insecurity rate: 5.7% (930 total)
--- 47.7% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.3% (320 total)
--- 36.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $512,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
You may also like: Car insurance rates in North Dakota August 2025
- Food insecurity rate: 5.9% (110 total)
--- 45.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.5% (30 total)
--- 41.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $69,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.69
- Food insecurity rate: 5.9% (140 total)
--- 45.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.2% (60 total)
--- 23.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $77,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
- Food insecurity rate: 5.9% (610 total)
--- 45.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.1% (280 total)
--- 30.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $371,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.56
- Food insecurity rate: 5.9% (640 total)
--- 45.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.1% (220 total)
--- 37.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $353,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
- Food insecurity rate: 5.9% (10,430 total)
--- 45.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.4% (3,320 total)
--- 42.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,846,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
You may also like: Hottest months in North Dakota since 1895
- Food insecurity rate: 6.1% (820 total)
--- 44.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.6% (410 total)
--- 34.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $510,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.64
- Food insecurity rate: 6.2% (160 total)
--- 43.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.6% (50 total)
--- 27.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $89,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
- Food insecurity rate: 6.2% (250 total)
--- 43.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.2% (90 total)
--- 30.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $143,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
- Food insecurity rate: 6.5% (140 total)
--- 40.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.4% (50 total)
--- 28.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $75,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
- Food insecurity rate: 6.5% (210 total)
--- 40.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.4% (60 total)
--- 35.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $120,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
You may also like: National forests with campgrounds open year-round in North Dakota
- Food insecurity rate: 6.6% (430 total)
--- 39.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.9% (180 total)
--- 11.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $246,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
- Food insecurity rate: 6.7% (160 total)
--- 38.5% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.2% (50 total)
--- 23.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $93,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
- Food insecurity rate: 6.8% (170 total)
--- 37.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.2% (60 total)
--- 16.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $97,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
- Food insecurity rate: 6.8% (720 total)
--- 37.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.6% (240 total)
--- 20.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $403,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
- Food insecurity rate: 7.0% (290 total)
--- 35.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.9% (120 total)
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $163,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
You may also like: Highest-rated specialty museums in North Dakota by visitors
- Food insecurity rate: 7.4% (1,540 total)
--- 32.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.7% (530 total)
--- 13.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $861,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
- Food insecurity rate: 7.5% (110 total)
--- 31.2% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.3% (40 total)
--- 11.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $63,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
- Food insecurity rate: 7.6% (5,330 total)
--- 30.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.7% (1,420 total)
--- 33.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,960,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
- Food insecurity rate: 7.8% (230 total)
--- 28.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (70 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $127,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
- Food insecurity rate: 7.8% (320 total)
--- 28.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.0% (130 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $181,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
You may also like: Counties with the most pre-war homes in North Dakota
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (200 total)
--- 18.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.7% (70 total)
--- 6.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $107,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (1,030 total)
--- 18.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.1% (330 total)
--- 17.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $553,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
- Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (1,050 total)
--- 40.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.1% (620 total)
--- 78.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $564,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (2,270 total)
--- 43.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.7% (1,260 total)
--- 76.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,187,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (800 total)
--- 67.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.6% (400 total)
--- 75.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $458,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in North Dakota
