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 Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania has a child food insecurity rate of 13.1%, which ranks #32 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 Pennsylvania.
Michael J // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 50#50. Wyoming County
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.9% (740 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (2,800 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,401,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
Ruhrfisch (talk) // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 50#49. Columbia County
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.2% (1,640 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (7,400 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,982,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#48. Franklin County
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.2% (4,910 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (15,010 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,225,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40
#47. Bradford County
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.4% (1,920 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (6,770 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,499,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 50#46. Lebanon County
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.4% (4,600 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (13,750 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,498,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
Canadian2006 // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 50#45. Bedford County
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (1,390 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (5,460 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,163,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 50#44. Susquehanna County
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.9% (1,130 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (4,360 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,639,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.76
#43. Clarion County
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.3% (1,120 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (4,780 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,294,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 50#42. Warren County
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.5% (1,190 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (4,470 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,277,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Allegheny County
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.7% (35,880 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (131,440 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $77,691,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.67
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 50#40. Delaware County
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (19,820 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (51,730 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $33,231,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.99
Canadian2006 // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 50#39. Somerset County
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (2,130 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (8,330 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,306,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 50#38. Sullivan County
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (100 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (660 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $341,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
Andrew Rodland // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 50#37. Wayne County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.1% (1,370 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (5,800 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,243,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47
Generic1139 // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 50#36. Armstrong County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (2,030 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (7,920 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,857,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#35. Clinton County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (1,270 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (5,000 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,568,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
Doug Kerr // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 50#34. Indiana County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (2,460 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (10,650 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,678,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#33. Tioga County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.4% (1,330 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,010 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,628,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 50#32. Berks County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (15,530 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (42,640 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $23,383,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41
#31. Blair County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.7% (4,160 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (15,390 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,212,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 50#30. Beaver County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (5,360 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (18,690 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,980,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
Joe Calzarette // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 50#29. Huntingdon County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (1,370 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (5,230 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,813,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
Pubdog // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 50#28. Mifflin County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (1,740 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (5,580 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,792,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 50#27. Crawford County
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.9% (2,990 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (10,510 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,395,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 50#26. Jefferson County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.1% (1,590 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,360 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,656,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 50#25. Potter County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.1% (580 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (2,020 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,205,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.70
#24. Pike County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.3% (1,720 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (5,710 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,238,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
28 / 50#23. Greene County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (1,230 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (4,650 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,371,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
Jakec // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 50#22. Schuylkill County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (4,870 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (17,520 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,350,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#21. Elk County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (1,020 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (3,740 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,906,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 50#20. Fulton County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (510 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (1,810 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $992,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 50#19. Lehigh County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (14,860 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (38,970 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $22,401,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57
Publichall // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 50#18. Northumberland County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (3,190 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (11,340 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,795,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
34 / 50#17. Venango County
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (1,770 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (6,660 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,342,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#16. Carbon County
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.0% (2,210 total)
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (7,670 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,015,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
User:Ruhrfisch // Wikimedia Commons
36 / 50#15. Lycoming County
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.0% (4,190 total)
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (13,830 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,547,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
#14. Lackawanna County
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (7,870 total)
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (26,690 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,000,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.49
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 50#13. Lawrence County
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (3,180 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (10,980 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,989,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
Rina Pitucci // Flickr
39 / 50#12. Dauphin County
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.8% (11,730 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (28,100 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,647,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
Pubdog // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 50#11. Clearfield County
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (2,730 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (10,260 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,318,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 50#10. Monroe County
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (6,270 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (17,580 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,922,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51
Publichall // Wikimedia Commons
42 / 50#9. Cambria County
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.0% (4,810 total)
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (17,350 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,120,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
#8. Erie County
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.4% (11,270 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (35,210 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $18,981,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
Nicholas from Pennsylvania, USA // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 50#7. McKean County
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.1% (1,640 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.2% (5,840 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,985,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#6. Mercer County
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.7% (4,440 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (14,740 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,495,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#5. Luzerne County
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.5% (13,530 total)
--- 5.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (41,060 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $22,592,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.42
#4. Fayette County
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.9% (5,510 total)
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (19,880 total)
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,065,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
48 / 50#3. Forest County
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.5% (90 total)
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (1,070 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $514,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 50#2. Cameron County
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.1% (180 total)
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (770 total)
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $392,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons
50 / 50#1. Philadelphia County
- Child food insecurity rate: 30.9% (106,380 total)
--- 14.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (249,890 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $152,010,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.78
