Counties With the Highest Rate of Food Insecurity in Washington

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Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Washington

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 Washington 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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#39. Snohomish County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.4% (67,180 total)
--- 22.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.0% (20,050 total)
--- 24.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $40,583,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.53

#38. King County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.7% (190,320 total)
--- 20.2% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.2% (45,690 total)
--- 30.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $126,997,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.90

#37. San Juan County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (1,640 total)
--- 10.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.9% (310 total)
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $982,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.50

#36. Franklin County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (9,420 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (5,020 total)
--- 13.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,812,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99

#35. Clark County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (48,070 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.3% (16,390 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $27,199,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31

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#34. Island County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (8,580 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.7% (2,370 total)
--- 7.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,863,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.00

#33. Kitsap County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (27,730 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (8,070 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $16,337,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.45

#32. Benton County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (21,470 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.4% (8,660 total)
--- 12.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,278,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07

#31. Thurston County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (30,360 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.2% (9,190 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $17,283,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33

#30. Pierce County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (95,250 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (32,580 total)
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $55,333,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40

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#29. Skagit County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (14,190 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (4,480 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,168,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37

#28. Chelan County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (8,690 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (2,930 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,211,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51

#27. Wahkiakum County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (500 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (120 total)
--- 19.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $275,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22

#26. Douglas County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (4,890 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (1,920 total)
--- 19.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,659,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18

#25. Walla Walla County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (6,990 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.0% (2,040 total)
--- 9.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,034,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38

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#24. Skamania County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (1,370 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (420 total)
--- 29.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $788,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36

#23. Whatcom County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (26,130 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (6,330 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $16,126,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.61

#22. Grant County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (11,510 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.0% (5,080 total)
--- 23.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,778,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94

#21. Kittitas County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,640 total)
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (1,150 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,028,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.18

#20. Yakima County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (31,070 total)
--- 13.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (14,310 total)
--- 32.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,860,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99

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#19. Lincoln County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (1,340 total)
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.9% (470 total)
--- 43.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $716,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13

#18. Asotin County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (2,880 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (830 total)
--- 24.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,474,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99

#17. Spokane County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (64,810 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (19,980 total)
--- 21.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $34,980,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16

#16. Garfield County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (290 total)
--- 18.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.0% (100 total)
--- 30.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $152,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06

#15. Jefferson County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (4,120 total)
--- 21.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.7% (850 total)
--- 48.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,279,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.66

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#14. Adams County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (2,610 total)
--- 22.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.1% (1,390 total)
--- 37.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,376,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08

#13. Mason County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (8,470 total)
--- 22.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.0% (2,730 total)
--- 50.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,914,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39

#12. Lewis County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (10,600 total)
--- 24.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.4% (3,260 total)
--- 32.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,748,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#11. Whitman County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (6,800 total)
--- 26.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (1,180 total)
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,048,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48

#10. Klickitat County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (3,020 total)
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (800 total)
--- 29.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,716,000
--- Cost per meal: $5.26

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#9. Pend Oreille County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (1,870 total)
--- 28.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.1% (540 total)
--- 44.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,008,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15

#8. Columbia County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.1% (560 total)
--- 29.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (140 total)
--- 24.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $294,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07

#7. Stevens County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (6,410 total)
--- 31.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.3% (2,040 total)
--- 45.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,424,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12

#6. Cowlitz County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (15,510 total)
--- 33.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.4% (5,000 total)
--- 39.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,293,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13

#5. Clallam County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (11,000 total)
--- 33.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.0% (2,990 total)
--- 57.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,127,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26

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#4. Grays Harbor County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (10,680 total)
--- 34.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.7% (3,250 total)
--- 48.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,329,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47

#3. Pacific County

- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (3,310 total)
--- 39.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.9% (810 total)
--- 56.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,661,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.70

#2. Okanogan County

- Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (6,450 total)
--- 41.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.6% (2,170 total)
--- 54.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,393,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08

#1. Ferry County

- Food insecurity rate: 19.2% (1,460 total)
--- 76.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 28.4% (360 total)
--- 94.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $793,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18